Holiday Hazards

Silica gel packets - These are included as desiccants (moisture absorbents) in shoeboxes, electronics, medications, food, and is the active ingredient in those 'crystal' cat litters. Since silica gel comes in paper packets or plastic cylinders, dogs and cats find them fascinating. They are not toxic, but are a frequent cause of concern for pet owners for one reason; they say “Do not eat” on them. They are still potentially harmful as an intestinal obstruction could result if they are eaten.

Chocolate is a potential problem any time of year but is usually included in holiday hazards discussions. It seems to be more of a dog problem, but cats can certainly get into trouble with it too. Toxicity depends on the type of product that is eaten. A slab of baking chocolate contains much more of the toxin than milk chocolate candy, which would, in turn, contain much more than say, chocolate cake. If your pet ingests chocolate, and you need to call your veterinarian or emergency clinic, they will want to know how much of what products were ingested, and how much your dog weighs. Symptoms range from vomiting in mild cases to a life threatening situation if enough is ingested.

Christmas tree water -Many people use Christmas tree preservatives in their tree water. These preservatives are primarily diluted sugar and fertilizer. Most pets that drink tree water develop no signs. Occasionally we can see mild GI signs, and rarely, bacterial/fungal contamination of the water may lead to more severe signs. So, this is another "toxin" that really isn't, but the package says to call poison control if ingested so people assume the worst.
The tree itself – Dogs and cats both may chew on fresh or artificial trees. There are many types of tree used as Christmas trees, pines, firs, and spruce, but they all can produce the same symptoms of vomiting, abdominal pain, and depression. If enough needles are ingested they could form a foreign body.  As an aside, if the pet gets pine sap on its fur, use something oily (olive oil, mayo) to remove it. It works much better than shampoo.

Poinsettia - The toxicity of poinsettias is generally overrated. Most dogs and cats have minimal signs or mild GI upset if ingested. The plants do contain diterpene esters,  potentially toxic substances,  but large quantities must be ingested for more than mild signs to develop. Most pets need no treatment.

The Christmas cactus is another common holiday plant. It is considered to be non-toxic. Just like any other plant material, ingestion may cause mild GI upset. Most pets will not require care for vomiting.

Holly is not commonly ingested as it is a 'prickly' plant. However, when it is brought inside as a decoration, cats appear to find it quite tasty. All parts of the holly plant are considered to be toxic, but the good news is that true toxicoses not generally expected. Most ingestions cause mild GI irritation and depression.

Mistletoe is a name that applies to a large number of plants with varying toxicities. The plant contains lectins, but ingestion of a few leaves or berries will generally cause just a mild gastritis. If purchased in a store, the berries frequently have been removed and replaced with plastic "berries" which can be a foreign body. Large ingestions may require treatment, but most pets just nibble and vomit.

Amaryllis are common ornamental bulb plants, forced to bloom at Christmas time.  All parts of the plant are toxic, however the bulbs are the worst. With cats, they usually only eat the foliage and flower which only causes drooling, vomiting and diarrhea. Dogs might decide to dig up the bulb which might result in more serious symptoms requiring emergency treatment and hospitalization.

Lilies aren't necessarily a Christmas plant, but we do still find them in bouquets this time of year. Easter lilies, tiger lilies, day lilies, and others with similar appearance cause acute renal failure in cats. Even minor exposures (bite on a leaf, ingestion of pollen) may result in toxicosis, so all feline exposures to lilies should be considered potentially life-threatening!! Do not allow these plants in the home if you own a cat. Dogs are generally not affected however.
Liquid Potpourri is commonly used during the holiday season. Pets are often exposed by direct ingestion or dermal exposure from simmer pots or spills. Exposure of dogs and cats to some types of liquid potpourris can result in severe mouth, skin, or eye damage. Liquid potpourri is a combination of cationic detergents and essential oils. Local tissue injury resembles that seen with exposure to other corrosives. Cationic detergents can also cause systemic toxicity resulting in severe illness, so the range of problems from mild to severe is quite wide and these products should best be kept out of the home as well.

Nuts of all types are popular during the holidays, but Macadamia nuts are the only ones considered a toxicity threat. Dogs are the ones affected. Symptoms range from mild to severe but most dogs recover completely within 72-96 hours of ingestion.

Ingestion of rising bread dough can be life-threatening to dogs. The animal's body heat will cause the dough to rise in the stomach. Ethanol is produced during the rising process; and, the dough may expand several times its original size. Signs seen with bread dough ingestion are associated with ethanol toxicoses and foreign body obstruction may include severe abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, incoordination, and depression.

Care should be taken with grapes and raisins as they have been shown to cause kidney failure in dogs when eaten in quantity.

Xylitol is a naturally occurring sugar substitute. Use of xylitol has recently expanded in popularity, and xylitol is found in many sugar-free gums, candies, and other foods. Dogs appear sensitive to xylitol, as ingestion of small amounts can result in rapid, life-threatening hypoglycemia (no known toxicity exists for humans). Larger doses have been associated with acute liver failure.

Holiday hazards not related to toxins are worth a mention here. Any rich foods or foods which are not a usual part of a pet’s diet can be a problem. Simple vomiting and/or diarrhea would be the most common symptoms related to giving holiday treats, but pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas, could also result. When the pancreas becomes involved, there are more persistent symptoms and a greater time to complete recovery. Hospitalization may be required with pancreatitis and at its worst, it can be life threatening.

The ingestion of foreign material by pets is another concern for pet lovers during the holidays. Packaging, tinsel, new toys, and decorations of all kinds can be a temptation for dogs and cats alike. Dog and cat proofing a house is a big job this time of year, and can seem like an impossible task.  Stay safe !