The Christmas It is a time of the year when we enjoy being with our loved ones. At least that is the intention. And when we talk about loved ones, that includes both humans and pets. In fact, our Dogs and cats they can become more family than some people with whom we share blood. Therefore, it is normal that we want them to also enjoy the food and entertainment typical of these holidays. But there is a problem and that is that, no matter how much we feel them as the same, we are different species and what feels good to us can be very dangerous for them.
In a recently published article in The Conversationthe vet Leticia Fanucchi has talked about some of the foods who send to the emergency services lots of Dogs and cats each Christmas. But it’s not just about food. there are also some typical decoration plants of these parties that can be very dangerous for them.
It is important to know these dangerous foods and plants for our pets, so we can share Christmas with them in a much safer way for everyone. No matter how much those eyes make us adorablethere are things that it is better that we do not share with them.
If you have dogs or cats, be careful with these foods
To begin with, you must avoid very fatty foods. At Christmas it is common for us to abuse a little more fat. It’s not good for us either. But the truth is that both dogs and cats can experience the consequences much sooner. A single serving can send them to a veterinary emergency with an inflammation of the pancreas, known as pancreatitis. The symptoms of it are mainly vomiting and diarrhea. It is important to keep this in mind; since, if a solution is not sought in time, the damage can spread to other organs, such as the kidneys. In addition, it is possible that blood coagulation problems are generated, with all that that implies.
You also have to be careful with garlic, onion and shallots. They are harmless food for humans. However, they are very toxic, both for dogs and cats. This toxicity can cause red blood cell breakdown and, as a consequence, a anemia very intense. The symptoms are again diarrhea and vomitingalthough to them can be added lethargy and jaundice. The latter manifests itself with a yellowish coloration of the skin, eyes, nails and gums of our pets.
And what would Christmas be without bread, biscuits and other baked goods? For humans they can be more or less healthy, depending on the amount of sugar or fat they contain. But for them they will be dangerous as long as they carry fresh yeast. This is reactivated with heat. And the body temperature of both dogs and cats is higher than ours. Therefore, although yeast does not reactivate in our stomach, it can in yours. If it happens, start ferment sugarsproducing ethanol, which is also even more dangerous for them than for us. Given this, it is clear that we should not let them take alcoholic drinks.
Since we enjoy Christmas desserts so much, we may want to share them with our pets. However, if we want to give them a dessert, it is best to resort to their usual sweets. We should not share ours with them, as there are several components that can make them sick.
For example, something as simple as the Chocolat It contains a multitude of substances that are dangerous for dogs and cats. especially the methylxanthines can cause poisoning that occurs with symptoms such as tremors, increased heart rate, vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness and even seizures.
Even healthy desserts can make them sick. For example, there are fruits, such as grapes, which are especially dangerous. They contain tartaric acidcapable of causing kidney failure in both dogs and cats. Therefore, on New Year’s Eve we can see the chimes with them, but without tasting the grapes.
Finally, we may want to take care of ourselves or we may need to avoid sugar for whatever reason. In that case, we may resort to sweeteners such as xylitol. In our case it is safe, but in dogs and cats it can cause a sudden discharge of insulin that, in some cases, even causes the death of the animal. It is necessary to avoid that they take it and, in case it happens, go to the veterinary emergency room as soon as possible. And no, sugar doesn’t do them any good either, so don’t give them traditionally sweetened desserts either.
The Christmas plant problem
Not only Christmas foods are a problem for dogs and cats. You also have to be careful with some typical plants of these parties especially with two.
On the one hand, we find the case of the poinsettiaalso known as pascuero (Euphorbia pulcherrima). This is dangerous for our pets because of its sap, which is found throughout the plant. Nothing happens because they rub against the flowers or even because they smell or touch them. On the other hand, if they bite it and swallow some sapthey can suffer from intoxication that causes them mucosal irritation, hypersalivation and vomiting. It is not deadly, but it is not pleasant either, so it is best to be careful and avoid these plants, especially if we have puppies, who are much more likely to nibble on everything they find.
On the other hand, another Christmas plant that can be dangerous for dogs and cats is the mistletoe (Phoradendron flavescense). This is common in the decoration of some countries, where there is a tradition of hanging it on the door frames so that couples can kiss under it. It’s very pretty, yes. However, our pets can cause from vomiting and profuse diarrhea to labored breathing. They may even end up causing shock and death due to cardiovascular collapse a few hours after ingestion.
Therefore, it is best to also avoid this plant if we have pets at home. After all, any place is good for kissing. At Christmas and at any time of the year.