Christmas and Potential Dangers to Pets

Eat, drink and be merry is probably more synonymous with the Christmas season then any other time of the year. Excessive amounts of food and drink are typical at this time and the propensity to share comes with the season. Beware some of this sharing could be detrimental to your cat or dog.   Several foods that are safe fore human consumption may pose a serious health risk to your cat or dog. As dogs are far more indiscriminate in their eating habits then cats they are far more likely to eat potentially toxic substances and suffer the toxic consequences.  What to avoid feeding or leave lying around that may be hazardous to your pet.

 Chocolate and cocoa based products

This is the most commonly seen toxin ingested by pets in urban households. The chief toxin in these products are theobromine and to a much lesser extent caffeine. Dark chocolate, backing chocolate and cocoa powder contain the highest concentration of theobromine (> 14mg/kg) followed by semi sweet and milk chocolate (2- 5 mg/kg) and white chocolate that has such low concentrations as to be considered not toxic. Toxic consumption in dogs depends on the size of the dog, how much chocolate was consumed and the type of chocolate consumed. As such a 20kg dog would need to consume about 200g of milk chocolate to start to show mild symptoms of chocolate toxicity. Take the same 20kg dog and feed it 200mg of semi sweet chocolate it would show severe symptoms of chocolate toxicity.  The same 20kg would only need 70g dark chocolate or 40g of cocoa powder to show severe symptoms. Check out the Internet for chocolate toxicity calculators for dogs.

 Initial symptoms of intoxication are generally observed 2 to 4 hours after ingestion with peak toxin levels occurring about 10 hours after ingestion. Initial clinical symptoms include restlessness, drinking excessive amounts of water, urinary incontinence, vomiting and occasionally diarrhoea. As the intoxication progresses the following symptoms are seen, muscular rigidity, loss of coordination and balance, seizures and coma. Death may occur due to cardio respiratory failure. NO antidote is available for chocolate toxicity. Treatment consists of trying to void the stomach of any remaining chocolate and supportive veterinary care.

 Onions, garlic, leeks and chives

These are all bulbous plants of the Allium genus and contain organosulfoxides that are toxic and remain toxic even if cooked, dried or processed.  Dogs and even more so cats are highly susceptible to Allium toxicoses. An average size (4kg) cat would only need to consume 20g of onion to show symptoms. A 4 kg dog would need to consume 100g of onions to show symptoms. (20 kg dog would need to consume ½ kg of onions to show symptoms).

 Symptoms are normally seen one or more days after consumption. These symptoms are normally related gastro intestinal system (loss appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain) and the damage to red blood cells with ensuing anaemia (pale to yellow mucous membranes, rapid respiratory and heart rates and dark yellow to drown urine). Death can occur. NO antidote exists for this toxin. Treatment is directed at trying to void (vomit or gastric lavage) of the plant if consumed within 2 hours of presenting to the vet. Once clinical signs are evident (1 or more days after consumption) treatment is symptomatic and supportive. Severely anaemic animals may require a blood transfusion.

 Grapes and their dried products

Grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants ingested raw or in cooked products like fruit cake, mince pies and snack bars have been reported to cause kidney failure in dogs. The toxic agent and the exact mechanism of grape induced kidney damage remain unknown. To compound this a huge variation in the susceptibility of dogs to the toxin in grapes and their dried products exists. Dogs have remained asymptomatic after eating 1kg of raisins while other have developed renal failure after eating four to five grapes in an eight kg dog.  As such ingestion of any quantity of these products should be considered as a potential clinical problem.

 Presenting symptoms include lethargy, gastro intestinal (grapes may be seen in vomitus or seeds in diarrhoea) and are followed by renal failure often within 24 hours (excessive drinking, excessive urinating). Treatment is directed at voiding the grapes especially in the first two hours after consumption. Supportive care with the emphasis on kidney support by aggressive intravenous fluid therapy for a minimum of 3 days after ingestion advised.

 Macadamia Nuts

Macadamia nuts seem to feature prominently on the Internet due to their potential toxic effects on pets. Macadamia nuts are popular not only as plain nuts eaten for snacks but also in cakes, cookies and candy. Toxicity has only been reported in dogs, the toxin has not yet been identified and the toxic dose rate seems very variable. Symptoms normally seen 12hours after ingestion and include lethargy, vomiting, tremors, ataxia, lameness, stiff gait. No deaths have been reported and most animals are expected to recover with minimal veterinary intervention.

 Bones

That leg of lamb and or ham as well as any other cooked bones. Cooked bones become brittle and splinter more easily with a greater potential for fragments to get stuck, cause perforations and constipation in the digestive system. Birds all have hollow bones that also splinter easily wether raw or cooked.  Dogs and cats will find those bones don’t leave them lying about and when discarding them think about preventing your pets ability to pilfer the bin.

 Skewers and fat soaked strings from roast have the potential to cause obstruction of the gastro intestinal system.

Fatty foods, and all the fat drippings from roasts dramatically increase the risk for vomiting, diarrhoea and pancreatitis.

Alcohol, cats and dogs are very sensitive to alcohol and even small amounts can cause death.

Christmas decoration can seem like just another toy to play with for both cats and dogs. However decorations may be swallowed and caused obstruction of the gastro intestinal system.

 By avoiding the potential hazards described above have a very jolly Christmas with your pets in the Top End.