IndexArticles
16th Dec 2008
The beginning of the festive season marks a time of family, celebration and over-indulgence. Amidst the warm and fuzzy atmosphere of giving and receiving, there is a strong temptation to include your pet too – after all, they are a member of the family, why should they miss out on all the fun? Buried deep within the trappings of the silly season however, lurks a number of potential health hazards threatening to cloud the health and safety of your four legged family members.
While throwing your dog or cat the odd food scrap from the table during Christmas lunch or dinner may seem like a generous reward for a year’s worth of love and loyalty, vets and nutritionists agree that holiday foods such as chocolate, ham and chicken bones are no healthy gift for your dog or cat.
Dr Lisa Larman of Ormeau Vet Clinic recommended that highly fatty foods such as ham and chicken legs be kept well away from your animals during the festive season.
“If you are feeding your dog or cat loads of fatty foods there is a chance that they may develop pancreatitis, which can be expensive to treat and not become apparent until your animal is taken to the vet and we have a closer look,” she said.
Dr Kathryn James from Nerang’s ‘The Vets’ added Christmas pudding, as well as foods with garlic and barbequed onions to the list of commonly ingested foods which are dangerous to dogs and cats during holiday time.
“Garlic in large quantities can lead to anaemia in your pet,” she said.
“Often people barbecue onions and throw them to the dog ,and that can be quite dangerous as well”.
Dr Fran Musca of The Cat Clinic concurred that the holiday season posed a number of potential dangers to the health of our four legged counterparts.
She also stated, however, that cats were far more discerning than their canine cousins when it came to dietary indiscretions.
“Things like chocolate toxicity hinges on the amount of chocolate that is ingested, and I am yet to treat a case of chocolate toxicity in a cat- they either don't like it or don't eat enough of it to be a problem,” she said.
Dr Musca further pointed to the dangers posed by Christmas baubles and decorations to curious kittens eager to play with and eat things like tinsel and small tree decorations.
“Small strands of tinsel may cause some vomiting but may be able to be passed through the intestines - larger pieces of tinsel or any small decoration if swallowed could cause an intestinal obstruction,” she said.
“This manifests as a very uncomfortable and unwell cat that is likely to be vomiting copiously”.
Dr Musca encouraged cat owners to supervise cats if they are playing with Christmas trinkets, and also suggested the possible use of a child's rail around the Christmas tree to guard against inquisitive felines.
Despite the potential hazards of the festive season however, all is not lost. For the diligent and dedicated pet owner, there exists a range of healthy and safe ways to include your family pet in the celebrations.
Owner of Pola Paws Pet Treats Nicole Hammond highlighted carob chocolate as a safe alternative to normal chocolate as it had the taste and texture of a ‘high value’ treat for those who wanted to give their pet something special.
“If you are looking for treats to keep your pet occupied while the rest of the family enjoys Christmas lunch, go for something like a beef tendon which will take your dog a bit longer to chew and is also good for their teeth,” she said.
Nutritionist Dr Larman also suggested soaking your cat and dog’s existing dry food in water before remoulding and re-baking it into festive Christmas shapes or cookies which can be wrapped and placed under the tree.
“The same can be done with tinned food, as long as it is of a high quality,” she said.
“Just flatten it on a baking tin and re-bake it in the shape and size you want”.
With the majority of pet stores stocking a wide range of Christmas themed products, from toy -filled miniature stockings to turkey flavoured biscuits and treats, there is no reason for your pet to miss out on a festive treat.
However Ms Hammond urged consumers to be discerning when purchasing these kinds of processed foods.
“Stay away from treats that are imported, highly processed, and full of colours and flavouring,” she said. ‘Always check the list of ingredients on all treat packaging.’
While all this may appear to be overwhelming advice, in reality, keeping a close eye on pets and the foods which guests feed them, in addition to ensuring that all food scraps are safely secured in the bin outside, will result in the safe and happy festive season that both you and your pets deserve.
© Paws & Claws Magazine 2008
