To ensure a happy and safe holiday season for you and your pets, Critter Sitters Extraordinaire, LLC, recommends that pet owners be cautious of the following:
Dark and baker’s chocolate. While milk chocolate is not poisonous, it will cause your pet to have an upset stomach. On the other hand, dark chocolate and baker’s chocolate contain high levels of theobromine and caffeine. Animals are extremely sensitive to both and ingesting either type of chocolate could be fatal.
Xylitol. This sugar substitute causes a dog’s blood sugar to drop quickly. This poisoning can be treated, but causes liver failure if not treated properly.
Macadamia nuts. Dogs experience severe weakness in their back legs, appearing paralyzed, after ingesting macadamia nuts. Dogs usually recover from this condition within three days.
Avocados. Avocados pose a serious threat to birds. Avocados cause respiratory distress in birds, causing fluid to build up in their lungs.
Bread Dough. When bread dough is ingested it continues to rise, causing an intestinal blockage.
For information on additional human foods that can be toxic to animals, see our article “Toxic Love: Dangerous Foods for our Animal Companions” on our website.
If your pet ingests any potentially harmful product, call your vet or a local emergency animal hospital immediately or call the ASPCA’s National Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 (charges may apply).
Critter Sitters Extraordinaire, LLC offers pet owners these helpful hints to keep pets out of danger, while still enjoying the food, fun and festivities that accompany the holidays. We hope that your holidays are safe and filled with joy!
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