Christmas is an exciting time of year, for pet owners and pets alike. Our animals love that over the holiday period we spend more time at home with them.
Unfortunately, the Christmas period is often a time where there are an increased number of hazards and toxins in the home. Prevention is always best, we recommend to keep as much as possible out of paws reach.
When new people are coming in and out of the house, it is important to set the ground rules for what can and cannot be fed to your pet as a treat. If possible, keeping them in a safe area away from a party may be best.
Mistakes can still happen but fortunately, with the quick action of pet owners in an emergency, we can quickly see your pet, and often remove the toxin.
As an after hours veterinary care provider, we aim to to be here to service you when you need us most. Our hours reflect the busiest times for pet emergencies and we offer an outpatient service to all non life-threatening emergencies and urgent care consults to help reduce the load on local emergency centers, and reduce wait times for pet parents.
Our clinic has extended hours and are available every day (except Christmas day).
Below are the common Christmas toxins we encounter:
Christmas pudding and fruit mince pies
These products contain sultanas that are known to cause acute kidney injury in pets.
Fortunately, if the ingestion is witnessed, they can be brought into Adelaide Veterinary Walk In Clinic and we can remove many of the sultanas by inducing vomiting safely and with supervision.
Chocolate
Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine that are both toxic to dogs. With small amounts of chocolate ingestion, most often with milk chocolate, the signs may be limited to vomiting and diarrhoea. However, if a large amount of chocolate is ingested, or dark, cooking or cocoa powder are ingested, then more severe signs can include agitation, elevated heart rate, seizures and even death.
Chocolate has a toxic dose based off weight, so if you have a small dog, even a relatively small amount of chocolate can cause toxicity.
Fortunately, if the ingestion is witnessed, they can be brought into Adelaide Veterinary Walk In Clinic and we can by inducing vomiting safely and with supervision.
Charcoal can be used to absorb any chocolate that remains in the stomach after vomiting has finished.
Ham and BBQ meats
Ingestion of high salt and high fat meats can lead to vomiting and diarrhoea known as gastroenteritis. Some pets are also more susceptible to a condition known as pancreatitis, and in these pets they can develop severe signs that require hospitalisation.
If your dog or cat may have ingested these foods, and is suffering from reduced appetite, vomiting or diarrhoea, we recommend to be seen quickly by a veterinarian.
Batteries and Children's toys
Many Christmas trees will be full of presents under them, which may include small objects that your pet could swallow, and even worse, batteries.
Batteries are extremely dangerous if ingested, as the acid within them can cause rapid erosion of the gastric lining and ulceration.
Small toys and parts of toys can be swallowed, leading to gastrointestinal obstruction. If caught quickly, we can often safely remove the toy from the stomach before a much more extensive surgery is required if left inside to get stuck.
Cherries
Cherries are toxic in the leaves, stems, and pips, and in small pets can cause an obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract. Cherries contain cyanide, which can quickly become deadly if left untreated. If you see your pet ingesting cherries, we recommend presenting to Adelaide Veterinary Walk-In Clinic as soon as possible, as we are able to evacuate the stomach quickly before it leads to an emergency situation.
Whilst these are the most common toxins that we are going to see over the Christmas period, there are many more that are already in your home. If you are ever concerned about something your pet has ingested, or unsure if they could have ingested, please call and speak to our friendly and knowledgeable vet and nursing team on 08 7123 2996. Alternatively, just walk into our clinic during business hours.
If your pet has ingested something harmful, don’t wait. Call Adelaide Veterinary Walk-In Clinic at 08 7123 2996 to speak to one of our knowledgeable team or walk in during business hours. We are located at 52 Main North Road, Prospect, co-located with Paws at Prospect. https://www.avwic.com.au/
For more information on foods that are toxic to dogs and cats, visit the ASPCA
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