Pets at Christmas

[Guest DaveW]

Just listening to the radio this morning a vet was giving out warnings to dog owners about feeding their dogs Christmas stuff I did not realise could be toxic to them.

He said never feed your dog any products containing grapes, or grape products and that also means things like left over Christmas pudding that contains currents or raisins which are simply dried grapes.

"The consumption of grapes and raisins presents a potential health threat to dogs. Their toxicity to dogs can cause the animal to develop acute renal failure (the sudden development of kidney failure) with anuria (a lack of urine production). The phenomenon was first identified by the Animal Poison Control Center (APCC), run by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). A trend was seen as far back as 1999. Approximately 140 cases were seen by the APCC in the one year from April 2003 to April 2004, with 50 developing symptoms and seven dying. Strangely many dogs can ingest large amounts of grapes with impunity so it is not sure that the observed cases of renal failure following ingestion are due to grapes only. Clinical findings suggest raisin and grape ingestion can be fatal, but the "mechanism of toxicity" is still considered unknown."

Never feed anything containing onions, that includes things like stuffing or even gravy if it has any onion products in it so look on the gravy mix packet to see.

http://voices.yahoo....dog-434169.html

The last thing was never feed the dog or cat chocolate as evidently the theobromine it contains is toxic to them.

"Serious poisoning happens more frequently in domestic animals, which metabolize theobromine much more slowly than humans, and can easily consume enough chocolate to cause chocolate poisoning. The most common victims of theobromine poisoning are dogs, for which it can be fatal. The toxic dose for cats is even lower than for dogs. However, cats are less prone to eating chocolate since they are unable to taste sweetness."

All the above may damage various of a dogs or cats organs and some can even cause it to have fits. It is well known some animals can eat things that are toxic to humans since we are all different animals, but many don't seem to realise things that are non-toxic to us may be toxic to them. Different mammals can safely consume foods that will kill others. For instance rabbits can eat plants that will kill a sheep.

DaveW

[Heather]

all of the above is very true but also poinsetta plants are poisonous to dogs and cats so watch out if your animal has a habit of chewing them

[Kobione]

Good of you to at least help spread the word, Dave. Our 3 are OK this chrissie - just had the usual diet for dogs in this house - braised turkey hindquarter and specialised doggie chocs!

[NannyFerret]

all of the above is very true but also poinsetta plants are poisonous to dogs and cats so watch out if your animal has a habit of chewing them

Also any part of any Lily is highly poisonous to animals too.

It's really surprising how many people feed chocolate and dried fruit to their animsls thinking that they are being kind.

I would rather offend someone by telling them than to let an animal die or be very ill needlessly.

[Leon]

Also any part of any Lily is highly poisonous to animals too.

It's really surprising how many people feed chocolate and dried fruit to their animsls thinking that they are being kind.

I would rather offend someone by telling them than to let an animal die or be very ill needlessly.

we had a very nasty experience with lilies, within a few hours of chewing them our Bengal was violently convulsing on the floor, 2 days on a drip at the vet, He survived then 3 months later disappeared! ungrateful bugger.

[FUJI]

One of our moggies chewed.......Lilly's

Lilly was furious..........she was wearing them at the time ;-O

FUJI