Laura Cuddy sees many pet emergencies around Christmas time in her veterinary clinic in Summerhill, Co Meath.
“Christmas is a busy time for us,” she says. “Pets eating something they shouldn’t is a really common one.
“Many people may not realise the dangers of dogs eating fruits such as grapes, and dried fruits like raisins and sultanas,” says Laura, who founded Veterinary Specialists Ireland with fellow vet Turlough McNally in 2019, to provide exemplary advanced specialist care to small animals.
“These foods, common at Christmas time in plum pudding, mince pies and Christmas cake, are the top risk for dogs,” she says.
“They can cause kidney failure in animals, so in general we recommend that nobody intentionally feeds any of these to their pet.”
Christmas can mean a lot of chocolate lying around also – another danger for animals.
“Cats don’t have a sweet tooth, but dogs, like us, do. They will steal sweet things if they get the opportunity and eat the wrappers too,” says Laura, who has also been a guest on The Vet Pod podcast, a new podcast for vets and vet nurses in Ireland.
“Dark, expensive chocolate is particularly dangerous, because it contains theobromine, which dogs cannot metabolise. This can make them very ill. Symptoms can range from increased heart rate to death.
“Even a small amount of something like Belgian chocolate eaten by a small dog can become serious quite quickly, but it is easily treatable if we know they’ve done it.”
Sugar substitutes like xylitol, present in things like sugar-free chewing gum, are also dangerous for dogs, she states.
“Most people don’t know that. Dogs will often go through people’s handbags and take things like chewing gum, so you have to be careful about what you have in there. Xylitol causes low blood sugar in dogs and, again, if treated it is usually fine, but equally it can be quite toxic and cause liver problems. They will eat medication in blister packs too.”
Letting dogs near the tins that the turkey or goose was cooked in is not a good idea either, says Laura.
“Keep the dish away. Turkey and goose fat is something that dogs obviously love, but it is pretty bad for some breeds – for example miniature Schnauzers, who are very prone to pancreatitis and can’t metabolise fat as well as other dogs. Severe inflammation of the pancreas can land them in the hospital for a couple of weeks if it’s bad enough.”
She advises letting your pets have a couple of extra treats over Christmas, but keep them to their normal routine.
Bones are another no-no. “Cooked bones are worse than raw ones, because dogs can’t digest them,” Laura says. “Once they’ve been cooked they can’t break them down and they will often swallow them in one piece without chewing them.
The bone can then get stuck in the oesophagus or it can go further down and block up the stomach and intestine. That can mean a scope and a camera going down to pull it out or surgery, depending on where it is.”
Rapid response
The key to successful treatment when animals have consumed any kind of toxin is getting them to a vet quickly.
“If we can get them within an hour, it’s very easy treatment compared to having to deal with the consequences if it gets beyond the stomach.”
Making the animal vomit is the primary strategy, but charcoal treatment may follow in the case of some toxins.
“Pets may be able to go home within a few hours, or need to be hospitalised for advanced care, up to dialysis, depending on their condition.”
Dangerous objects
Things like cocktail sticks or children’s toys can also cause intestinal blockages or perforations and may require endoscopy or surgery to remove them.
Christmas decorations are danger items for both cats and dogs too, Laura advises.
“Some dogs are known offenders,” she says. “If you have a dog who is very prone to swallowing things, you have to be super careful around this time of year.
The key to successful treatment when animals have consumed any kind of toxin is getting them to a vet quickly
Cats also love tinsel, ribbon and string, and it can be super serious if they swallow that. It can get stuck under the tongue or cause intestinal perforations, which may require emergency surgery.”
Bringing plants like mistletoe, holly, ivy and poinsettia into your home at Christmas can create risks for pets too.
“These can be quite poisonous, so it would be better to consider artificial versions of these plants,” she says.
Electrocution risk
Lights on your Christmas tree can be a very serious risk, leading to electrocution and death. “Puppies will chew on whatever they can find even if it happens to be an electric cable. We would recommend that dogs be supervised at all times, or if it’s a puppy, confined in a crate while in that room so that they can’t get into mischief.”
She also advises unplugging fairy lights from the mains any time they are not in use.
“At least then nothing bad will happen. Electrocution isn’t awfully common, but it can cause burns on the roof of the mouth or even death, so it is a serious risk.”
Alcohol and drugs
Knocked over beer cans and glasses of alcohol can pose risks for animals too.
“Even a small amount of alcohol is dangerous, so never leave beverages unattended or within reach, and clean up spills quickly,” she says.
In her clinics, drug ingestion by dogs is now more common than alcohol ingestion, however.
“Some people are baking marijuana into brownies and the pets are stealing them so they’ve got both chocolate and marijuana toxicity. It wouldn’t be uncommon to see this.”
Ibuprofen, the common over-the-counter, anti-inflammatory medication is often an issue too.
“We see a lot of this around Christmas time when dogs get into handbags. It can be problematic as it causes liver failure.”
Snow globes
Other decorations around the home at Christmas time can also create health problems – namely snow globes.
“Liquids in them can vary, but many of them contain ethylene glycol or anti-freeze which causes kidney failure in dogs, so if ever these ornaments break be sure to clean up the mess quickly and don’t let pets lick the liquid. Anti-freeze is sweet, so they will drink it. Likewise if they drink anti-freeze spilled in your garage – they need to go to the vet immediately.”
Stress
What about cats? How does Christmas affect our feline companions?
“Cats are susceptible to stress,” Laura says. “They don’t like changes in routine. It’s their space, so if it’s suddenly a busy house with kids running round, cats can become unwell. If they already have urinary problems, for example, these can get worse because of the stress.”
She advises assigning them a safe space in the house and also using pheromone diffusers to keep them calm.
“These plug in just like an air freshener and will diffuse hormones that the cats’ mothers would have had. This makes them feel safe.”
Rabbits
Rabbits are now the third most-common pet in Ireland and many live in family homes.
“Rabbits have a delicate digestive systems, so getting into food that can upset their stomach can be life-threatening.”
She also points out that rabbits shouldn’t be kept outside in winter unless they have a heated hutch because of the risk of frostbite to their ears.
Winter worry
Another winter worry for pet owners in winter is them ingesting rat poison.
“It is one of the most common emergencies that we see at this time of year,” Laura Cuddy explains. “Again, getting treatment in time is key.
Vet Laura Cuddy is helping keep our pets safe.
“Also, when laying poison keep it in their box so that your dog can’t get into them. If it does happen, bring the package to the vet as it is helpful for us to know what it was and how much they’ve eaten.
“Treatment involves making them vomit, followed by vitamin K tablets,
or injections to prevent bleeding disorders.”
Laura Cuddy has guested on The Vet Pod, the new CPD-accredited podcast series intended exclusively for veterinary professionals. It is hosted by veterinary consultants Charles Chavasse and Natasha Mitchell. See patreon.com/TheVetPod or vetspecialists.ie
Keep grapes and dried fruits away from pets (for example, mince pies and Christmas cake). Dispose of turkey bones safely straight away. Skinless and boneless white meat such as turkey is okay for dogs and cats, but be careful that it’s not covered in fat, salt or gravy. Your pets should stick to their normal food.Keep chocolate, sweets, medications, alcohol and drugs away from pets.Dog and cat-proof your tree by hanging decorations up high. Supervise animals in the room where the Christmas tree is and unplug from mains when tree not in use.Make family and visitors aware of the dangers of poisonous plants and of feeding rich foods to animals. Read more
Keep asthma at bay and breathe easy this winter
Health: ‘It’s vital that women get perinatal help if they need it’
Laura Cuddy sees many pet emergencies around Christmas time in her veterinary clinic in Summerhill, Co Meath.
“Christmas is a busy time for us,” she says. “Pets eating something they shouldn’t is a really common one.
“Many people may not realise the dangers of dogs eating fruits such as grapes, and dried fruits like raisins and sultanas,” says Laura, who founded Veterinary Specialists Ireland with fellow vet Turlough McNally in 2019, to provide exemplary advanced specialist care to small animals.
“These foods, common at Christmas time in plum pudding, mince pies and Christmas cake, are the top risk for dogs,” she says.
“They can cause kidney failure in animals, so in general we recommend that nobody intentionally feeds any of these to their pet.”
Christmas can mean a lot of chocolate lying around also – another danger for animals.
“Cats don’t have a sweet tooth, but dogs, like us, do. They will steal sweet things if they get the opportunity and eat the wrappers too,” says Laura, who has also been a guest on The Vet Pod podcast, a new podcast for vets and vet nurses in Ireland.
“Dark, expensive chocolate is particularly dangerous, because it contains theobromine, which dogs cannot metabolise. This can make them very ill. Symptoms can range from increased heart rate to death.
“Even a small amount of something like Belgian chocolate eaten by a small dog can become serious quite quickly, but it is easily treatable if we know they’ve done it.”
Sugar substitutes like xylitol, present in things like sugar-free chewing gum, are also dangerous for dogs, she states.
“Most people don’t know that. Dogs will often go through people’s handbags and take things like chewing gum, so you have to be careful about what you have in there. Xylitol causes low blood sugar in dogs and, again, if treated it is usually fine, but equally it can be quite toxic and cause liver problems. They will eat medication in blister packs too.”
Letting dogs near the tins that the turkey or goose was cooked in is not a good idea either, says Laura.
“Keep the dish away. Turkey and goose fat is something that dogs obviously love, but it is pretty bad for some breeds – for example miniature Schnauzers, who are very prone to pancreatitis and can’t metabolise fat as well as other dogs. Severe inflammation of the pancreas can land them in the hospital for a couple of weeks if it’s bad enough.”
She advises letting your pets have a couple of extra treats over Christmas, but keep them to their normal routine.
Bones are another no-no. “Cooked bones are worse than raw ones, because dogs can’t digest them,” Laura says. “Once they’ve been cooked they can’t break them down and they will often swallow them in one piece without chewing them.
The bone can then get stuck in the oesophagus or it can go further down and block up the stomach and intestine. That can mean a scope and a camera going down to pull it out or surgery, depending on where it is.”
Rapid response
The key to successful treatment when animals have consumed any kind of toxin is getting them to a vet quickly.
“If we can get them within an hour, it’s very easy treatment compared to having to deal with the consequences if it gets beyond the stomach.”
Making the animal vomit is the primary strategy, but charcoal treatment may follow in the case of some toxins.
“Pets may be able to go home within a few hours, or need to be hospitalised for advanced care, up to dialysis, depending on their condition.”
Dangerous objects
Things like cocktail sticks or children’s toys can also cause intestinal blockages or perforations and may require endoscopy or surgery to remove them.
Christmas decorations are danger items for both cats and dogs too, Laura advises.
“Some dogs are known offenders,” she says. “If you have a dog who is very prone to swallowing things, you have to be super careful around this time of year.
The key to successful treatment when animals have consumed any kind of toxin is getting them to a vet quickly
Cats also love tinsel, ribbon and string, and it can be super serious if they swallow that. It can get stuck under the tongue or cause intestinal perforations, which may require emergency surgery.”
Bringing plants like mistletoe, holly, ivy and poinsettia into your home at Christmas can create risks for pets too.
“These can be quite poisonous, so it would be better to consider artificial versions of these plants,” she says.
Electrocution risk
Lights on your Christmas tree can be a very serious risk, leading to electrocution and death. “Puppies will chew on whatever they can find even if it happens to be an electric cable. We would recommend that dogs be supervised at all times, or if it’s a puppy, confined in a crate while in that room so that they can’t get into mischief.”
She also advises unplugging fairy lights from the mains any time they are not in use.
“At least then nothing bad will happen. Electrocution isn’t awfully common, but it can cause burns on the roof of the mouth or even death, so it is a serious risk.”
Alcohol and drugs
Knocked over beer cans and glasses of alcohol can pose risks for animals too.
“Even a small amount of alcohol is dangerous, so never leave beverages unattended or within reach, and clean up spills quickly,” she says.
In her clinics, drug ingestion by dogs is now more common than alcohol ingestion, however.
“Some people are baking marijuana into brownies and the pets are stealing them so they’ve got both chocolate and marijuana toxicity. It wouldn’t be uncommon to see this.”
Ibuprofen, the common over-the-counter, anti-inflammatory medication is often an issue too.
“We see a lot of this around Christmas time when dogs get into handbags. It can be problematic as it causes liver failure.”
Snow globes
Other decorations around the home at Christmas time can also create health problems – namely snow globes.
“Liquids in them can vary, but many of them contain ethylene glycol or anti-freeze which causes kidney failure in dogs, so if ever these ornaments break be sure to clean up the mess quickly and don’t let pets lick the liquid. Anti-freeze is sweet, so they will drink it. Likewise if they drink anti-freeze spilled in your garage – they need to go to the vet immediately.”
Stress
What about cats? How does Christmas affect our feline companions?
“Cats are susceptible to stress,” Laura says. “They don’t like changes in routine. It’s their space, so if it’s suddenly a busy house with kids running round, cats can become unwell. If they already have urinary problems, for example, these can get worse because of the stress.”
She advises assigning them a safe space in the house and also using pheromone diffusers to keep them calm.
“These plug in just like an air freshener and will diffuse hormones that the cats’ mothers would have had. This makes them feel safe.”
Rabbits
Rabbits are now the third most-common pet in Ireland and many live in family homes.
“Rabbits have a delicate digestive systems, so getting into food that can upset their stomach can be life-threatening.”
She also points out that rabbits shouldn’t be kept outside in winter unless they have a heated hutch because of the risk of frostbite to their ears.
Winter worry
Another winter worry for pet owners in winter is them ingesting rat poison.
“It is one of the most common emergencies that we see at this time of year,” Laura Cuddy explains. “Again, getting treatment in time is key.
Vet Laura Cuddy is helping keep our pets safe.
“Also, when laying poison keep it in their box so that your dog can’t get into them. If it does happen, bring the package to the vet as it is helpful for us to know what it was and how much they’ve eaten.
“Treatment involves making them vomit, followed by vitamin K tablets,
or injections to prevent bleeding disorders.”
Laura Cuddy has guested on The Vet Pod, the new CPD-accredited podcast series intended exclusively for veterinary professionals. It is hosted by veterinary consultants Charles Chavasse and Natasha Mitchell. See patreon.com/TheVetPod or vetspecialists.ie
Keep grapes and dried fruits away from pets (for example, mince pies and Christmas cake). Dispose of turkey bones safely straight away. Skinless and boneless white meat such as turkey is okay for dogs and cats, but be careful that it’s not covered in fat, salt or gravy. Your pets should stick to their normal food.Keep chocolate, sweets, medications, alcohol and drugs away from pets.Dog and cat-proof your tree by hanging decorations up high. Supervise animals in the room where the Christmas tree is and unplug from mains when tree not in use.Make family and visitors aware of the dangers of poisonous plants and of feeding rich foods to animals. Read more
Keep asthma at bay and breathe easy this winter
Health: ‘It’s vital that women get perinatal help if they need it’
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: