Kristel-Marie Ramnath
Christmas is a time for indulgence in rich, fatty foods and many pet owners find it hard to resist the pleading eyes of a begging animal, especially when we give into our own cravings more readily during this season. Sharing food with a pet is a great way to bond, but caution must be exercised because not all human foods are safe for animals. The following are some of the more common foods to refrain from giving your pet.
• Sorry, no black cake allowed! Alcohol has the same effect on the livers and brains of pets but it only takes a little bit to cause intoxication, coma and death in animals. Raisins and currants used in fruit cakes contain a toxin which can damage their kidneys.
• Well-done, not rare steak—and throw away those bones. Raw meat may contain bacteria such as Salmonella and E coli, which can cause vomiting and diarrhoea. Bones from fish, poultry or other meats should not be given because they can splinter and cause laceration of the digestive system and/or become lodged in your pet’s throat—so they also pose a choking hazard.
• Hide that box of candy—sugar can lead to obesity, dental problems and possibly diabetes, and artificial sweeteners (such as Xylitol) in sugar-less foods can cause very low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) resulting in vomiting, weakness and collapse; and in high doses can cause liver failure. Chocolate contains theobromine, a compound that is a cardiac stimulant and a diuretic. After your dog has eaten a large quantity of chocolate it may seem that he is unaffected because the signs of sickness may not be seen for several hours. Symptoms include staggering, laboured breathing, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, tremors, fever, heart rate increase, arrhythmia, seizures, coma, and death.
• Go easy with the nuts—while snacking on almonds is okay, be careful with portion size as nuts are full of fat. Avoid macadamia nuts—they contain an unknown toxin which can affect the digestive and nervous systems and muscle of pets.
• Lactose-free for pets—milk and other dairy products have high-fat contents and some adult dogs do not have sufficient amounts of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down the lactose in milk. Lactose intolerance leads to gas and diarrhoea, though small amounts of yogurt and cheese are usually fairly well-tolerated.
• Careful with cooked meals—we love to use onions and garlic in anything we prepare, but they contain sulfoxides and disulfides, and more specifically the toxic ingredient thiosulphate; which can damage red blood cells causing anaemia, laboured breathing and liver damage.
• In significant amounts, nutmeg can be toxic, causing hallucinations, stomach pain, and possibly even seizures. Other spices can be dangerous too, so it’s best not to feed dogs tidbits from Christmas lunch.
Too varied a diet will lead to upset tummies and a breakdown of the pet’s normal eating habit and you may find he is reluctant to go back to his ordinary diet. Caution your guests and kids against giving the pet treats so you can control the diet and avoid an emergency trip to the vet on Christmas Day.
Have a Merry Christmas!
Copyright © Kristel-Marie Ramnath, 201i