As heard on WICC Tuesday morning by Dr. Claudia Giuliani. HALLOWEEN PET DANGERS FROM THE CANDY BASKET AND BEYOND!!! Ah, Halloween! One of the busiest chocolate holidays of the year! As Halloween Night approaches, keep in mind that some human treats can be potentially deadly for your dog or cat! Help keep your dog and cat safe by being aware of some of the common poisons found in your childs trick-or-treat bag this year. CHOCOLATE If your dog likes to sneak in one or two chocolate mini bars, it likely wont cause a problem (as there is very little real chocolate in candy). However, during this fall holiday, dogs have a tendency to gorge and eat massive amounts of chocolate candy all at once. Keep your candy jar or your kids Halloween stash away from food-motivated dogs (e.g. Labrador Retrievers, Mixed-Breed Dogs). When it comes to chocolate, the ingredient methylxanthine (e.g. thebromine, caffine) can be poisonous to your dog. Thankfully, cats rarely develop Chocolate poisoning because they rarely gorge on more than 1 or 2 pieces. Mild ingestions typically result in agitation, vomiting, diarrhea and excessive panting. Larger amounts can result in heart-toxicity: abnormal heart arrhythmias (abnormal rhythms), an elevated heart rate, and a very high blood pressure. Massive amounts can result in neurologic signs like tremoring, seizuring, or, rarely, death. When it comes to Chocolate, keep in mind that the darker and more bitter the chocolate, (e.g. Bakers Chocolate, Dark Chocolate) the more poisonous to your dog. SUGARLESS SWEETS Another danger in your kids Halloween stash is sugar-free candy. Xylitol, a natural, sugar-free sweetener, can result in low blood sugar and even liver damage when ingested by dogs. Certain candies, mints, baked goods and gums can contain large amounts, resulting in xylitol poisoning. Clinical signs are weakness, vomiting, lethargy, collapse, a racing heart rate and generalized malaise can be seen. When xylitol is ingested in dogs of more than 0.5 g/kg, clinical signs of jaundice (e.g. yellowing of the skin), vomiting, black-tarry stool and liver failure can be seen. RAISINS Once in a while, you will have a healthy neighbor who gives away small boxes of raisins during Halloween. Raisins, grapes and certain currants can cause acute kidney injury when accidentally ingested by dogs. Clinical signs may not show up for days, after severe damage to the kidneys has already occurred. Signs such as inappetance, vomiting, belly pain, halitosis (bad breath), excessive or decreased thirst or urination, generalized malaise, and increased kidney values may be seen. LIQUID POTPOURRI This one is a BIG danger to our feline friends! As fall commences, pet owners often may use simmer potpourri pots to instill scents of pumpkin and cinnamon around the house, When the liquid potpourri is ingested by cats, the essential oil may cause corrosive burns to the mouth. Clinical signs of drooling, mouth pain, anorexia, pawing at the mouth, difficulty breathing, and malaise may be seen, Rarely, liver failure and lung failure can occur. GLOW STICKS AND JEWLERY If you sue glow sticks to put on your childs costume during Halloween, heed caution. While this glowing jewelry may add extra light into your childs life, it is poisonous to cats. Cats seem to chew on these toys, and accidentally ingest the chemical within. While it is not very poisonous, this chemical has a very bitter taste, resulting in drooling, oral pain, inappetance and vomiting. If you think that your cat chewed into one, turn off the light and look for the presence of glowing liquid, and then remove the chemical carefully from your cat. This can be done by flushing the taste out of the mouth (offering something tasty like chicken broth or milk) and by bathing your cat with liquid dish soap to get the remaining liquid off the fur. As cats are fastidious groomers, they may expose themselves to more of the bitter chemical if it is still on their fur. Keep your pets safe during this Halloween. Rather than spend the night in the emergency with your pet, pet-proof all these items away instead! IF YOUR DOG OR CAT DOES GET INTO SOMETHING POISONIOUS, MAKE SURE TO CONTACT YOUR VETERINARIAN OR ANIMAL POISION CONTROL IMMEDIATELY FOR LIFE SAVING CARE.
Posted on: Wed, 29 Oct 2014 15:50:56 +0000