Editor’s note: The University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital is a sponsor of Chambanamoms.com.
Aren’t the holidays a lovely time? Twinkling lights, delicious food, gathering with kith and kin. These are occasions for partaking in beloved traditions and making memories. Unfortunately for many of our pets, the experience can be a little more fraught.
I’d like to introduce one of the cutest, most amenable cats we’ve worked with in quite some time: Bo. Behind her bright eyes and disarming personality, though, she has a mischievous streak. It was just this trait that brought her into the urgent and convenient care service at the University of Illinois recently.
Apparently Bo was enamored of a string and decided it might make a good snack. She tried to give it back by vomiting it, but only a portion came out. Quick action on the part of her owners allowed them to cut a portion of it off — wisely, they did not attempt to pull it — but Bo changed her mind and decided she’d rather swallow it back down. This led to multiple additional episodes of vomiting and, of course, worry on the part of her owners that the string may be causing internal problems.
I mention Bo in this column because, while pets may ingest foreign material at any time of the year, the opportunities to do so multiply during the holidays. From ornaments to strings of light to the murky water in the tree stand, there are many new and interesting things brought into the home around the holidays.
Signs of a problem associated with chewing on or ingesting foreign material include vomiting, poor appetite, and low energy level. One particular concern is chewing on electric cords, such as strings of lights. These can cause burns to the mouth and, in severe cases, difficulty breathing.
Another concern arises when pets ingest human food. Some human foods are safe for pets, but many holiday treats cause big problems for our dogs and cats. You may be aware that chocolate is toxic to pets. It’s less well known that other sweet treats are too rich for pets or contain artificial sweeteners, like xylitol, which can cause problems with blood sugar and the liver. Lastly, foods that are high in fat can cause gastrointestinal disturbances and even pancreatitis.
A final concern involves all the people coming and going during the holidays. The risks start right at the front door, with pets attempting to escape. Or pets so excited that they jump on guests. Pets that are nervous or unfamiliar with the guests are more likely to bite or scratch.
Additionally, when visitors bring their own pets to your house, precautions should be taken to ensure a low-stress introduction. I recommend careful monitoring, especially around food and toys, which can trigger aggression in some pets.
How can these risks be minimized? For starters, it’s important to understand your pet’s predilections for getting into mischief. Your elderly dog may not be interested in chewing up strings of lights but is an expert-level table beggar. Your spunky cat would never deign to drink stagnant water from a tree holder but cannot resist the tinsel.
Once you’ve identified those things that are most likely to trip up your pets, take action! Leave the tinsel off the tree, warn guests not to feed the dog, provide a comfortable and quiet place for your pet during the yearly gathering.
If your pet does become ill, it’s helpful to have a plan. Keep your veterinarian’s number handy, as well as the number of the closest urgent care and 24/7 emergency clinic. For those in the Champaign-Urbana area, the closest ER is at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital. Another great resource in cases of toxicities is the ASPCA Poison Control Center (888-426-4435).
Want to know how the saga of Bo and her string wound up? Thankfully X-rays did not show any problems. She received fluids for dehydration and lots of TLC at home. She made a full recovery and, so far, has steered clear of any more string!