Keep the Holidays Happy
The holiday season is a great time with festivities, family, and friends. We decorate the house and cook large meals. We get together and share stories between old friends and make new acquaintances. But we have to be careful what we decorate with and what we share with our furry friends. .
During the holiday season several ornamental plants and flowers are used to decorate the home. Most common are Corn cobs, Christmas trees, Poinsettias, American Holly, Christmas Cactus, Amaryllis, and Mistletoe. Theses look pretty but can be dangerous. Watching where we place them can help prevent a tragedy.
Corn cobs make a great Thanksgiving decoration. But many a dog has thought they make great chew toys and/or snacks. This can lead to an obstruction. Signs of this usually consist of not eating/drinking, vomiting, and diarrhea. Unfortunately being plant based they do not always show up on radiographs. Sometimes further radiographs using barium to highlight it needs to be done. Surgery is almost always required if present.
Christmas tree is a broad term that covers many types of pine trees. There are Douglas Fir, Balsam Fir, Black Spruce, Blue Spruce, White Spruce, Scotch Pine, Norway Spruce, Red Pine and Red Spruce. The good news is that the needles and sap are not poisonous. But if enough needles are eaten it can create a foreign body that needs surgical removal. The water treatments to keep the trees fresh are non toxic so accidental ingestion usually does not cause a problem. In a rare occasion upset stomach may occur.
Poinsettias receive the most talk about being toxic. In reality their toxicity is less then thought. It requires a large amount of leaves and plant material to be eaten to be toxic. The most common effect seen is vomiting and this usually stops with out any treatment being needed.
American Holly has dark waxy green pointy leafs and red berries. All parts of the plant are toxic. Symptoms seen consist of stomach irritation and depression. They are mild and most can be treated at home by increasing fluid intake and just monitoring. Sometimes they change out the real berries with plastic berries. These can create an obstruction that would require surgery.
The Christmas Cactus has waxy flattened segmented branches with notches along the margins and a red flower at the end. This is plant is non toxic but ingestion can sometimes cause mild upset stomach due to the physical properties of the plant material. No treatment is needed for this.
Amaryllis is a bulb plant that flowers around the Christmas holiday. This makes it a favorite for this time of year. All parts of the plant are toxic with the bulb being the most toxic. Ingestion of the bulb or a large quantity of plant material can cause lethargy, low blood pressure, weakness, tremors, and seizures. Minor to mild ingestion causes drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea. Treatment is needed in both cases. Fluids to flush out the system, activated charcoal to decrease absorption if caught soon enough, and meds to settle down the stomach.
Mistletoe has green oblong leaves with white berries. It is usually hung in clusters and brings good luck to those who kiss under it. Unfortunately if ingested it brings bad luck in the form of mild stomach upset. If a large amount is consumed then we need to induce vomiting , monitor hydration, electrolyte levels and cardiovascular function. Similar to Holly sometimes the real berries are replaced with plastic berries and can be a source of an obstruction.
Besides the plants, ingestion of other decorations such as tinsel, garland, and ornaments can lead to stomach problems. Most of these are non toxic but can cause obstructions that present as vomiting, diarrhea, or inappetance. Surgery may be required. Dough ornaments have large amounts of salts, so salt toxicity is possible. Treatment is balancing electrolyte levels and fluids to flush out the system. Sometimes your pet will do this on their own by drinking and urinating large amounts.
During the holiday get togethers some enjoy alcoholic beverages. Leaving these beverages sit may attract our furry friends to partake with them. Drinks with milk; alcoholic eggnog, white Russians; are particularly attractive to cats. Unfortunately they are light weights and this can lead to alcohol poisoning . Watch for intoxication signs such as wobbliness, falling over, stupor, and vomiting. In worse cases we see seizures, coma, and even death. Hospitalization with fluids and monitoring temperature and blood sugar may be needed.
I am not a drinker but do love my food. This makes the holidays extra sweet for me, all puns intended. Certain foods are no no’s for our furry friends. Any meat with a bone still in it or the bone itself, onions, garlic, grapes or their dry friends raisins, and chocolate. Bones are foreign bodies waiting to happen. Onions and more recently reported garlic can cause anemia in dogs if ingested in mild to moderate quantities. The peel on grapes/raisins can be toxic to the kidneys in large enough quantities. That is why grape extract is not toxic but whole grapes are. Chocolate can be toxic but the quantity needed depends on the type of chocolate and size of the dog. Milk chocolate is the less toxic then dark chocolate which is less toxic then bakers chocolate which is less toxic then chocolate liquor . Signs of toxicity are vomiting, diarrhea, heart racing, hyperactivity, tremors, seizures. This can lead to death. If ingested contact your veterinarian and they can help you determine if treatment is needed.
Hopefully this will help you keep your furry friends safe and allow you to stay home this Holiday season. But if you do happen to have any problems know your veterinarian is a phone call away to help guide you.
God Bless and Happy Holidays,
John Maniatty V.M.D.
P.S. The silicon gel packs are not toxic but in small pets can possibly cause obstructions or diarrhea.