Do You Still Have Treats?

Halloween may be over but there is still plenty of candy lying around. Please use extra caution to make sure candy is kept away from pesky paws. While family members are enjoying their Halloween goodies for weeks after the holiday, pets can easily get into the candy stash too. Chocolate is toxic to both cats and dogs. Sugary treats like candy corn can give them a stomach ache or lead to a pancreatitis flare-up. Even sugar-free hard candies and gum can be problematic as they often contain xylitol which can cause a severe drop in blood sugar. Candy wrappers and lollipops can cause dangerous intestinal blockage. Please do all you can to keep Halloween treats in a safe place away from pets. Halloween may be over this year but the risk to pets still remains.

March is Pet Poison Prevention Month

 

Many common household items are poisonous to pets.  

The most common food toxins for pets are chocolate, xylitol (sugar-free chewing gum), grapes, raisins, caffeine, onions & macadamia nuts. The degree to which a food can be fatal depends upon the size, health and age of the animal and the amount ingested.  Medications and medicated candies (e.g. THC gummies) are another huge potential toxin as it is so easy to accidentally drop a pill on the floor.   Some pets are curious and will be attracted to the bottle of medication and ingest it.  Yard fertilizers, insecticides, rat poison and even some plants can harm pets too.  Keep purses, backpacks and especially medications in a secure location far away from pesky paws.  Ingestion of poisons can be fatal.   If you think your pet has ingested toxins, call your vet & the Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 immediately.

Caffeine And Other Food Toxins Are Harmful To Pets

Many common foods that people eat are toxic to pets. The degree to which a food can be fatal depends upon the size, health and age of the animal and the amount ingested by the pet. Most pet owners are aware that chocolate and grapes are toxins but may not realize that there are other ingredients such as caffeine that can be harmful to pets. Caffeine is found in chocolate but also in many drinks, energy bars, candies and of course coffee drinks. While we may safely consume coffee, a few sips of your latte to an elderly small pet could have dangerous consequences. Caffeine affects the nervous system and heart in pets and can cause tremors, elevated heart rate, difficulty breathing and worse. In a busy household, pets can get into all kinds of things so be sure to keep coffee grounds packed safely in a closed trash can (some dogs are attracted to them) and potential food toxins off the counter. If your pet does ingest any of these harmful food toxins, please contact your veterinarian right away.