Halloween hungry
Dogs have a different take on trick or treating. They do tricks for treats. Some forgo the trick and go straight for a game called “Just Eat the Treat.” Variations of “Just Eat the Treat” are fun, too. These include:
· Swallow the Wrapper · Eat the Cardboard Lollipop Stick · Why Chew the Gum? · One is Not Enough, or Two, Three, or 36.
Most humans are aware that chocolate is not good for dogs. But, no candy is meant for dogs. While accompanying the family trick or treating in the dark, the pet parent may be unaware of any excessive or inappropriate intake. Many children are given small toys instead of candy which dogs can also be attracted to and swallow. If pets vomit, have diarrhea, or show signs of lethargy, a trip to the vet may be in order.
If an immediate case of choking occurs or something is caught in the pet’s throat, there is a choking maneuver to perform immediately. Try to rub the pet’s neck with upward strokes to see if a regurgitation response will occur. If not, pick the pet up by his hind legs-like a wheelbarrow-with his head pointing to the floor. If the item still has not released from the throat, while in the wheelbarrow position, gently squeeze the pet’s mid-section right below the ribcage-just like in the Heimlich for humans. This should pop the hazard out of the mouth. If nothing works, obviously rush the pet to the ER.
Thanksgiving tummy troubles
Black Friday is not only the busiest day for retailers. Veterinarians experience the highest number of emergency visits on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Pancreatitis is the most commonly diagnosed ailment on that day, behind injuries from bone shards. A lick of gravy, or a piece of turkey is no big deal, but dogs find everything that falls on the floor, and when that is not enough, they receive secret ‘handouts’ under the table by mom, then dad, then sis, Auntie Em, Uncle Henry-this is known in canine circles as “Thanksgiving Table Trick or Treating.”
Dogs, being such helpful creatures, will offer to help clean the dishes, pots and pans, too. Unfortunately, many owners think this is fine. It is not, as there are too many leftovers, fatty and salty foods, bone remnants everywhere, and most of this “dish-washing” is performed unsupervised with hosts being busy entertaining and taking their eyes off of the canine cleaner.
Pancreatitis is very, very painful. A canine’s pancreas does not have the insulin-producing capacity to handle an over-abundance of intake. Their digestive systems work much quicker than humans who feel full and uncomfortable, but human digestion takes several hours. Not so for dogs. Once they have the first case of pancreatitis, they will be prone to it for the rest of their lives.
If your dog does not have the obvious vomiting or diarrhea, but moans when lying down, sits face forward with paws straight out in front, or experiences pain around the upper, underside of the body, chances are it could be pancreatitis. He or she needs to be seen by the vet immediately, and during a four-day weekend, a vet practice with regular hours is hard to find. Usually an ultrasound or other expensive diagnostic tests are required and treatment is costly.
In addition, special diets and disruptive care will alter the pet and owner’s routines, and your furry family member will be suffering for at least a week. Unfortunately, this fall celebration of family, friends, food and football becomes nothing to be thankful for year after year for pets and their families.
Fatal fresh fruit, misery meats, and nasty nuts
Pets love a party, particularly the kind where food is displayed on every surface of living space! Plates of cheese and crackers, bowls of nuts, and fruit baskets scattered around to be consumed in a “help yourself” manner rather than a sit-down dinner are very common during holiday open houses.
Dogs are not party poopers-well, not on purpose. When it comes to the “help yourself” rule, “harm yourself” is what usually occurs. They should not eat “cured” meats often found in holiday gift baskets. These meats contain nitrites, possibly leading hemorrhagic gastroenteritis (HGE) which causes dehydration, vomiting with or without blood, and bloody stools. If ingestion occurs, depending on the amount, call your vet for instructions. If the pet was a glutton, or blood is visible, rush him to the vet or vet ER. HGE can be fatal if not treated within 24 to 48 hours.
Not only can pet partiers choke or get tummy problems from the cheesy gift basket foods, as most dogs are lactose intolerant and should not eat much cheese, anyway, but fruit and nuts can be toxic and fatal. For reasons unknown, macadamia nuts are fatal to dogs. Fruit pits and seeds metabolize into cyanide inside of a dogs stomach. This includes grapes, raisins, apples, peaches, et.al. While the flesh is okay in most circumstances, it’s the pits if the pet eats the pits. Go directly to the vet. Do not try to induce vomiting as a hard pit or shell can choke the dog or harm the esophagus on the way back up. (This is the general rule of thumb regarding any food or substance consumed unless advised by your vet to do so at home.)
Visitor voyeurs
During the holidays, kids come home from college or visitors come to stay for a few days. Even the pooch with the best behavior is curious about what is inside all of that luggage or shopping bags arriving with the humans. Keep bags off of the floor or away from any place pets can get to them. A case where a dog’s human sister came home for a visit with candy-coated “energy pills” proved fatal for the little guy as he went through his sister’s open bag while she was sleeping and consumed the irresistible bottle of pills. Sadly, overdosing on caffeine caused heart failure for her furry brother and best friend before she woke up.
By no means is this a comprehensive list or professional treatment plan. Along with vet info and pet ER contact numbers, always have a poison control number available as many veterinarians are on holiday and most pet partying occurs when offices are closed, anyway. Be aware, that most animal poison control numbers will require a fee to be placed on a credit card before any advice is given.
With so much going on and attention moving in several different directions at once, please remember to keep a close eye on the cuddly, curious creatures while celebrating.
Sources:
Dr. Shelly Howard, DVM, Timonium Animal Hospital
Personal Experience