Christmas is a hazardous time for dogs. And, though you may think the possibility of a problem is remote, it isn’t. Veterinarians see many dogs that succumb to conditions that could have been avoided. By being aware of the risks, you can take precautions.

Chocolate is the most common poisoning at this time of year. A miniature Dachshund I saw had discovered and eaten two bars of 70 percent cocoa wrapped under the tree. Within 30 minutes, his muscles started twitching. It then progressed to convulsions. By this time, Baron was at my hospital.

I gave Baron an injection of Valium to stop the seizures, and then I made him throw up. Copious amounts of dark-brown vomitus graced the table. The muscle twitches eventually subsided as the toxin wore off. But, because Baron was a 12-year-old dog with an arthritic spine, the convulsions were hard on him. He was very sore for the next few days.

The toxin that causes these nervous signs, which is more prevalent in dark chocolate, is called theobromine. Chocolate also contains caffeine which can make a dog pace for hours. The sugar in it can trigger indigestion with vomiting and diarrhea.

The solution – don’t leave chocolate out on a table or wrapped where a dog can find it. If people give you presents, ask if there is anything edible in them before you put them under the tree.

Besides chocolate, rich food can take its toll. It can cause rebellion of the stomach and intestines, but it can also induce a potentially life-threatening disease called pancreatitis.

Max the Golden Retriever suffered from this condition last Christmas. He went into the kitchen while the people were eating and cleaned out what was left in the roaster – a partially-stripped turkey carcass – as well as the fat and liquid around it. Max began vomiting a few hours later. Many bones came up. The vomiting continued, and by the next morning, he was depressed and not interested in food or water.

A radiograph showed more bones in the gastrointestinal tract, but they were small and considered inconsequential. A blood test was in order. It revealed that Max had a horrible case of pancreatitis. In this condition, the pancreas becomes inflamed and releases enzymes into the surrounding tissue, literally digesting itself. Max spent three critical days in the hospital on intravenous fluids, medication to control vomiting, painkillers for the pain, as well as antibiotics. He survived. Some dogs are not so lucky.

Though Max would be considered an extreme example, any dog can develop pancreatitis if they are given food they are not used to. High fat meals are especially bad. This is easy to avoid – don’t feed extras (or at least not in substantial amounts) and don’t give dogs access to a kitchen filled with food.

Electrocution is another threat to dogs. While I’ve seen several dogs who bit the extension cord to the Christmas lights, only one has survived. Most of the victims are puppies because they chew things more than adults.

In one horrible incident, the owners came home and found their Jack Russell dead on the floor with the cord through his mouth. The one lucky survivor, a Sheltie, was rummaging around under the tree and he was suddenly thrown back by the jolt in his mouth. He burned both upper and lower jaws behind the canine teeth, but it did heal. The solution – hide the cord under duct tape and don’t let the dog play with it.

Tinsel is a major hazard. Dogs, and especially cats, love to play with it. The issue is that if they eat it, the tinsel can cut the inside of the intestine and cause death. If you are a responsible pet owner, don’t put tinsel on the tree.

Two favourite Christmas plants that are toxic are poinsettias and mistletoe. Poinsettias are not too severe, mainly causing mouth sores as well as vomiting and diarrhea. Mistletoe berries can create drowsiness or confusion, as well as heart problems. Keep these out of reach from dogs. Cats can be poisoned from lilies. This plant can irreversibly damage kidneys.

And just one more note – some dogs like to bite batteries. The acid in them burns the mouth and lips. If you see a dog indulging, rinse the mouth. Keep batteries out of reach.

Something to have on hand at Christmas is hydrogen peroxide. If a dog eats chocolate or something undesirable, you can make him vomit. The dose is five milliliters (one teaspoon) for each five pounds (2.3 kilograms) body weight. If it fails and the dog hasn’t vomited in ten minutes, you can repeat it. This is best done under veterinary supervision. Even if it works, contact your veterinarian or an emergency hospital for more directions.

Keep your home free of hazards for your pets this Christmas. This will keep him safe and avoid visits to the emergency hospital.

Dr. Louise Janes D.V.M. & Dr. Jeff Grognet D.V.M.
Mid-Isle Veterinary Hospital
5-161 Fern Road West
Qualicum Beach, BC
Tel (250) 752-8969

See all articles by Dr. Louise Janes D.V.M. & Dr. Jeff Grognet D.V.M.