Beware of Tricks or Treats

The upcoming holidays of Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas provide great joy, family reunions, a lot of celebration and plenty of gifts and candy.  .  Here are some tips on how to avoid a trip to the animal ER!


By:  David G. Beauchamp, DVM


Drs. Beauchamp, Brazik, and Claypool can all recount cases where pets eat too much of the wrong type of food and develop a severe condition called pancreatitis.  We will treat more pancreatitis cases during this time of year than any other season.

Pancreatitis means inflammation of the pancreas.  When pets consume foods that are extremely fatty (like the skin of turkey or chicken), this can lead to inflammation.  Enzymes normally released by the pancreas can cause both local and systemic effects.  Although some cases are mild, all of our staff can recall far too many situations where the pet died from this condition.  The sad thing is, many of these deaths could be prevented by taking simple precautions.  This includes immediate examination by our veterinarians!

Pets with pancreatitis can quickly become painful in their abdomen and often have persistent vomiting. Certain breeds of dogs, dogs on specific medications and pets with immune problems are more prone to this condition.  This is especially true with cats. Veterinarians will recommend blood work and several days of hospitalization and treatments for pets with pancreatitis.

But, it’s not only the skin of the turkey or any excessively fatty foods that can cause problems.  Obstructions and perforations of the intestines from eating the bones of the bird are very common.  

Of course, the holiday bird is not the only food issue at this time of year.  With an abundance of chocolates and even sweet foods containing Xylitol, these wonderful holiday treats can cause serious problems.  Chocolates can cause heart issues or seizures and xylitol treats can set off potentially fatal blood sugar crashes or liver failure in dogs.

Other holiday favorites, like rum balls, eggnog or even fruitcakes might contain alcohol.  Intoxicated pets can experience seizures and respiratory failure.

Grapes, raisins, currents, macadamia nuts, extremely salty foods or foods prepared with a lot of onions and/or garlic are all potentially dangerous as well. 

Use pet friendly treats like green beans, carrots or even a handful of dog kibble if you want to share your holiday feast.  Let your guests know the family rules about sharing from the table so that friends don’t unknowingly cause a problem.

If you can’t trust your pet, or maybe your dinner guests, it might be best to let your pet have his own room during mealtime.  When dinner is over, be sure to remove all temptations from tables or counters and place all trash behind a secure door. Far too many pets are drawn to the smell and raid the trash can when the owner is not watching.

During the Halloween season, some pet owners like to dress their pets in "scary costumes".  It is best to remember that pets can scare as easy as people so in many cases it is best to let the pet wear his/her "birthday suit".  As the pet owner, you are legally responsible to prevent your pet from endangering any neighborhood guests.  Having your pet updated for rabies vaccination can prevent many a legal problem during the holidays.

As many cat owners can attest, cats are very attracted to hanging decorations.  Unfortunately, cats can swallow these decorations leading to an intestinal obstruction and expensive surgery.

Remember, our veterinary staff is the best source of information if a holiday emergency occurs.  So have our phone number handy (910-371-3440). Don’t be afraid to call and ask questions if you are concerned.  However, be warned, using online “pet forums” for advice could end up costing you valuable time. 

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Dr. David Beauchamp owns Leland Veterinary Hospital, 508 Village Rd, Leland, NC 28451.  You can visit our practice on the web www.myvetonline.com/lelandvh.  Like Us on Facebook.