It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year!

We wish all our patents families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

It’s the time of celebrations and family get togethers. Please don’t forget that this is also the time of increased possibility for your pets getting hold of foods that shouldn’t. These are some of the most common problem causing foods at Christmas:

Mince Pies and Christmas Puddings

These are synonymous with Christmas. However, they contain grapes, raisins, currants and sultanas that are toxic to dogs– which means no mince pies for your dog! Also keep them out of animals reach.

Chocolate

Chocolate contains a stimulant called theobromine, a bit like caffeine, which, while tasty, is severely poisonous to cats and dogs. This can cause excitement or even seizures. Unfortunately, dogs love chocolate and will help themselves if they can get to it.

Blue Cheese

While delicious to us, blue cheese contains a substance called roquefortine C, which dogs are extremely sensitive to.

Bones

At this time of year, we often cook far more meat than usual, and this normally results in more bones lying about. Once cooked all bones become brittle and splinter easily. This can lead to larger fragments getting ‘stuck’ causing obstructions. But smaller pieces can also cause gut irritation and perforation

Macadamia nuts

Often lurking in biscuits or eaten as a Christmas snack, these nuts cause severe illness in dogs. Within 12 hours of ingestion macadamia nuts can cause dogs to experience weakness — especially in the hind limbs — depression, tremors, vomiting and hyperthermia, which is increased body temperature.

Alcohol

Keep an eye on your pets when you are drinking alcohol to make sure they don’t try and steal any. Also, be aware of foods that contain alcohol such as alcoholic chocolates.

Keep the safe and have a wonderful Christmas.

Yours Blackwater Valley Vets