Finally, the holidays are here! Bring on the candy for Trick-or-Treaters, turkey and pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving, and ham for Christmas. Don’t forget all the chocolate. You know who else has high expectations for our holiday food – our beloved 4-legged pets. It’s no fun to keep them from joining the holiday fun and snacks, especially when they whine, plead, and beg to scoop some bites from your big Christmas appetizer platter. After all, who’s a good boy?
There are so many special treats you can purchase for Man’s Best Friend so they can join the festivities: doggy biscuits, bones, bakery treats, and more. Dogs can be sneaky, though. When you least expect it or walk away for 5 seconds to find out what Grandma and Grandpa want to drink, your dog found a way to pull the dessert from the counter and is helping himself! A small bite of pie would not have been so bad, but half a pie? Cookies? Brownies? At best, it will magically appear on your spotless floor or in your poop-free yard later that day or the next.
Call the vet!! – Wait!
It’s Christmas morning. Is the vet open? Can you get your guests to move their cars in time? Is it that serious? When should you call the vet for something your dog ate?
Chocolate
Dogs process chocolate slower than humans, but before you panic and speed dial the vet, take into consideration the size of your dog and how much chocolate he ate and swallowed. If it was a small amount, you can relax, scold your dog, assign a guard for the kitchen, and carry on with the merry day. If it was a large amount watch out for tremors or seizures. If that occurs, or strange, erratic behavior, call that vet! They would have something that would help induce vomiting or can prescribe other helpful treatment.
Sugar
It is not an instant killer if your dog has some sugar, but just as for humans, too much of a good thing ends up hurting after a while. One major thing to watch out for is if your dog has consumed foods with certain sweeteners, like Xylitol, found in gum and other sugar-free foods. The FDA warns of its dangers to dogs and this would be prime time to contact your vet.
Fruits and veggies
Not everything healthy to humans is healthy to dogs. Grapes, for example, are not the number one choice for doggie treats from your plate! The number one symptom to keep an eye on is vomiting. If it happens once, your dog is probably getting the bad food out of their system. However, if your dog vomits multiple times, especially in one day, go call the vet.
Vomiting is a common symptom for many foods gulped down by puppies and full-grown dogs of all sizes. If there is constant diarrhea or other issues showing up in your dog’s poop, SCOOPERS will notice since we become familiar with the size, shape, and frequency of the poop in your yard. If something is consistently off with their poop pattern, we will let you know so you can make any important decisions regarding your dog’s safety and care.
Of course, if at any point you think symptoms are serious, there is no harm and no shame in calling the vet or any other animal emergency line. Life is too valuable.
From all of us at SCOOPERS, have a safe Halloween, a Happy Thanksgiving, and a very Merry Christmas!
Photo by Noelle Otto from Pexels
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