12:45pm Tuesday 22nd December 2009
I WOULD ask you to spare a thought for the vets and veterinary nurses who are on call over the festivities who may not spend as much time with their families as they might have wished.
We all overeat at Christmas and our pets are no exception. While it’s tempting to give our pets treats that we ourselves enjoy, some of these can actually be harmful to them.
The most common ones to avoid are: l Chocolate: the higher the cocoa content the more dangerous the chocolate. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhoea or hyperactivity.
As time passes you’ll see an increase in the dog’s heart rate, which can cause arrhythmia (a disturbance in the heart beat), restlessness, hyperactivity, muscle twitching, increased urination or excessive panting.
This can lead to hypothermia, muscle tremors, seizures, coma and even death.
l Christmas pudding: this contains raisins and sultanas, and there have been reports of dogs developing renal failure after eating even very small quantities of them.
Grapes can potentially cause the same problem.
l Onions: pets affected by onion toxicity will develop haemolytic anaemia where their red blood cells burst while circulating in the body.
Pets affected by onion poisoning will suffer from vomiting and diarrhoea, will show no interest in food, and will be dull and weak.
The red pigment from the burst blood cells appears in an affected animal’s urine and it becomes breathless.
The poisoning occurs a few days after the pet has eaten the onion. All forms of onion can be a problem, including dehydrated onions, raw onions, cooked onions and table scraps containing cooked onions and/or garlic.
l Left over takeaways or even baby foods: These are not a good diet for your pet.
I should remind all cat owners that lilies pose a significant risk, and all parts of the plant, including the flower and pollen, are poisonous, leading to possible kidney failure and death.
I want to mention some final thoughts for cat owners at Christmas. It really is sensible to try to keep your cat in as much as possible over the Christmas period, particularly at night.
As we know, the nights are so long at this time of year that cats face a far greater chance of injury, especially from road accidents.
I think it is fair to say that at Blake Veterinary Group road accidents are probably the most common cause of an emergency call-out.
Injuries range from the minor, such as grazes, right the way up to fractured limbs, ruptured diaphragms and, sadly and all too often, death.
Some of the fractures can be quite severe, and not only difficult, but costly, to mend.
Don’t forget, too, that at this time of year car owners are more likely to be changing or topping up the anti-freeze in their vehicle’s radiator.
We have all read in this paper or seen on the news the dangers to cats of anti-freeze. If your cat ingests it there is every chance that if they survive they will certainly suffer from long-term kidney problems.
So, when you’re tucked up in front of the fire sipping a glass of something nice and warming, and nibbling a mince pie, make sure your cat is tucked up next to you, safe and sound.
I hope all our readers have a happy Christmas, and remember: please don’t buy a pet for Christmas.
You have heard this every year, but it is a real commitment and responsibility, so think first and consult your veterinary surgery, who can help you come to a decision that takes into account your needs, the animal’s needs and your lifestyle.
If you make the right choices you will have a loving and friendly companion.
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