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Question:
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"I know that chocolate and poinsettias are poisonous to dogs, but are there other hazards I should be watching out for during the holidays?"
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Roast turkey. Wrapped gifts. Sweet potato pie. Guests. Decorated trees. Truffles. Like kids, dogs love the food, the smells, and the excitement of the holidays. So before you sit down for Thanksgiving dinner or host a holiday party, be sure to read this checklist of holiday health hazards.
And remember: if you suspect that your dog has eaten something toxic, call your vet or your local veterinary emergency hospital immediately. Do not induce vomiting unless you are advised to do so by a veterinarian, and do not call a poison-control hotline unless you are unable to reach a local veterinarian. Most veterinarians are very well informed about what is and isn’t toxic, and a nearby veterinarian can start treating your dog immediately if needed.
Leftovers and Scraps
Think twice before treating your dog to holiday leftovers. The sudden influx of treats could give your dog a terrible stomachache, complete with vomiting and diarrhea. Worse, overindulgence in high-fat foods (such as gravy, turkey skin, cookies, candy, piecrust, and so on) could trigger a bout of pancreatitis that could land your dog in the hospital on IV fluids for a few days.
As for turkey bones and raw giblets or turkey parts, they are absolutely off limits: turkey bones can perforate a dog’s intestines, and raw poultry often is contaminated with salmonella bacteria. Make sure your dog can’t get into your kitchen garbage can. Remember, too, to tell your housemates, guests and family members why they should not slip your dog treats.
Chocolate
Yes, chocolate is toxic to dogs. It contains theobromine and caffeine, both of which can cause tremors, heart arrhythmias, and seizures at high doses. And because of its high fat content, chocolate also can trigger a painful bout of pancreatitis.
Unsweetened baking chocolate contains about ten times as much theobromine as milk chocolate. The most severe reactions occur when dogs eat more than the following amounts of unsweetened chocolate: about 4 ounces (4 squares) for a 20-pound dog; about 8 ounces for a 40-pound dog; and about 12 ounces for a 60-pound dog.
Fortunately, most cakes, cookies, and candies contain lower levels of chocolate than that, so if your 80-pound Lab steals a chocolate cake from the counter, he may vomit and have diarrhea, but he's unlikely to have heart arrhythmias and seizures. Nevertheless, to be safe, don’t give your dog any chocolate.
Macadamia Nuts
Surprisingly, macadamia nuts can cause weakness or paralysis in dogs. The exact substance that triggers the reaction is unknown. Usually, a dog will develop weakness or paralysis in the hind legs within about 24 hours of eating macadamia nuts, then gradually regain strength over several days. The toxic dose is very small--as little as 1 ounce of nuts for a 20-pound dog--so never leave macadamia nuts where a dog (or cat) can reach them.
Candy
A potentially bigger hazard than chocolate is the mesh bags holiday candy is sometimes packaged in—if eaten, mesh bags can block a dog's stomach or intestines and might even have to be removed surgically.
Poinsettias, Holly, and Mistletoe
Of these three holiday plants, poinsettias are the least toxic; they contain compounds that can cause vomiting or sores in the mouth or on the skin, but chewing on poinsettias is unlikely to be fatal. Holly leaves and holly berries are intermediate in toxicity. They contain alkaloids that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, or sedation. Mistletoe berries are the most toxic of the plants listed. They can cause vomiting, diarrhea, heart arrhythmias, sedation, or coma.
The severity of any poisoning depends on the size of the dog, the amount eaten, and other factors, so don’t panic if you catch your dog chewing on a centerpiece—just call your veterinarian right away.
Christmas Trees
Christmas trees and wreaths (pine, spruce, balsam fir) do not contain poisonous chemicals per se, but eating them (or their artificial relatives) can certainly cause an upset stomach—that is, vomiting and diarrhea. Dogs often will try to drink from Christmas-tree stands, so don’t doctor the water with anything to keep the tree fresh. The water also is a breeding ground for bacteria and molds that can upset your dog’s stomach, so it’s wise to fashion a cardboard lid for the stand to keep your dog from drinking the water.
Holiday Decorations
Cloth or stringlike materials, such as ribbon and garlands, can obstruct a dog's intestines if they're swallowed. And biting into an electric cord, of course, may deliver a potentially serious electric jolt to your hound (and cause mouth burns). So use your best judgment about what your dog is likely to find tempting: you may need to place out of reach such decorations as strings of lights, ornaments, tinsel, gift ribbon, or garlands.
Liquid Potpourri
Liquid potpourri is usually warmed over a candle or electric burner on a counter or table where dogs can't reach it, but be aware that drinking the potpourri or licking traces of it off the fur can cause serious chemical burns to the mouth, skin, esophagus, and stomach. Because cats can and will hop up on a table to sniff the warm, inviting scent, if you have a cat, you should ban liquid potpourri from your house.
Alcohol and Tobacco
If your dog eats anything that comes his way, be sure to keep ashtrays and glasses of wine or beer out of reach. In a dog, alcohol can cause weakness, depression, and staggering. Tobacco can cause drooling, vomiting, weakness, and coma.
Crowds
Along with the risk that your dog might polish off a turkey carcass or nibble at mistletoe, there are other issues to consider if you host or attend a big party. Is your dog shy around groups of people? Will there be small children at the party who might torment your dog? Is there a chance that your dog might bite a guest out of fear? If so, your best bet is either to designate a secure room as off-limits to guests and let your dog hide out there or to board your dog in a kennel during the party.
Even if your dog is a party animal, be careful that he doesn’t slip out the front door as your guests are arriving and leaving.
Travel
If your dog doesn’t like traveling, the best holiday gift you could give him is to find a way for him to stay home. If he's coming with you, here are some travel tips:
In a car. The safest place for your dog to ride is in a carrier or crate. Tragedies can occur when cars are in minor fender-benders and unsecured dogs smash into the dashboard or flee, terrified, into oncoming traffic the instant you open the car door to check for damage.
If your dog gets carsick, click here for a list of prevention tips.
In a plane. Dogs that are small enough to fit in an airline-approved carrier under the seat are allowed to ride with you on flights within North America. But before you pop your Yorkie into a carry-on bag, first clear it with the airline: every carrier has different rules and fees.
If your dog weighs more than 20 pounds or you're traveling overseas, your dog will have to travel in the airplane’s live-cargo compartment. Because of the risks involved, this should not be done lightly: consider whether your dog wouldn’t be better off being boarded at home.
If you're set on bringing your hound, click here to read a long list of airplane travel tips on urbanhound's message board.
Dogs should not be tranquilized for air travel unless they are likely to become hysterical. The risk is that a groggy, sedated dog will be less able to adapt to changes in temperature and other environmental conditions during the trip than a fully awake dog will.
If you'd like more information about these and other common household toxins, including antifreeze, see urbanhound's "Poison!" section by clicking here. Enjoy the holiday season--and stay safe.
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