Don’t let Christmas goodwill hurt your pet

 

16 December 2008

Christmas is often a time of overindulgence for us humans and we may be tempted to include our pets. The RSPCA is advising pet owners to think twice before giving their pets treats that are intended for humans and instead, stick to the diet the animal is used to. If in doubt, please don’t risk giving your pet something that could make it sick.

It is well known that dogs, for example, can be seriously affected by chocolate which contains an ingredient called ‘theobromine’ which is toxic to dogs in sufficient quantities.

“It can be very tempting around Christmas to think that the odd bit of something that is appealing to you will be a treat for a pet but in many instances that something may cause serious illness, or worse,” said Richard Barry, spokesman for the RSPCA in Western Australia.

Dogs and cats are also sensitive to onions (cooked or raw) which contain thiosulphate which causes gastroenteritis and haemolytic anaemia making your pet very sick.

Dogs are also very sensitive to macadamia nuts which can cause locomotor problems causing the dog to tremor and in severe cases paralysis of the hindquarters.

And if you are going to give your dog a bone at Christmas, please ensure it is not cooked. Cooked bones can disintegrate and break, potentially puncturing and damaging internal organs.

Another one to look out for is corn cobs which are notoriously difficult to digest and may lodge in the dog’s intestine causing serious damage that could be fatal if not dealt with properly.

And watch out for fat trimmings. Your dog or cat may hover around the Christmas leg of ham but giving them fat trimmings – especially if they are older and female – can lead to pancreatitis which is very painful. To be safe, don’t give in and refrain from giving your pet the fat trimmings from your Christmas meals.

But it’s not all about cats and dogs. Rabbits are also sensitive to chocolate and lollies so stick to rabbit-healthy foods this Christmas, even if you think a special treat is a good idea. It isn’t.