Summer Time Hazards
Summer is here! It’s
time to get out and enjoy the nice weather and BBQ with friends and family. While
we are all out having great time, we don’t always think about our how our pets
are feeling. There are many hazards and stressors that our pets can encounter
during the summer.
Most
of us include our dogs when grilling or picnicking. Some foods are not good for
your dog to have such as:
1.
Grapes and raisins: 
Anything
containing grapes and raisins (and even currants) are considered to be
poisonous to dogs. Common picnic items like grapes, baked goods containing
raisins (e.g., oatmeal raisin cookies), and trail mix all pose a threat.
While one or two grapes are unlikely to cause a problem (depending on the size
of the dog), accidental ingestion of the Vitus spp. can result in
the following signs:
·
vomiting,
·
abdominal pain,
·
inappetance,
·
diarrhea,
·
lethargy,
·
excessive or decreased thirst or
urination, and
·
acute kidney failure
Unfortunately,
clinical signs often aren’t obvious until days later, when it’s more costly –
and more dangerous – to your pet. Treatment includes decontamination,
aggressive intravenous (IV) fluids, anti-vomiting medication, blood pressure
monitoring, urine output monitoring, and blood work monitoring (to check kidney
function).
2.
Baked goods containing xylitol:
Xylitol is a
natural sugar substitute that is poisonous to dogs. While safe for humans, when
accidentally ingested by non-primate species, xylitol can result in an insulin
spike by the body (with a secondary life-threatening drop in blood sugar). So,
if you have any baked goods, candies, mints, gums, etc. that contain xylitol, keep
them out of reach of your dog. Clinical signs of xylitol poisoning can be seen
as early as 15-30 minutes, and include:
·
weakness,
·
vomiting,
·
collapse, and
·
lethargy (which are all signs of a
low blood sugar).
Really high doses
of xylitol can result in liver failure in dogs, and include signs of black
tarry stool, jaundice (e.g., yellowing of the gums), malaise, walking drunk,
and rarely, seizures and death. Treatment includes decontamination, blood sugar
monitoring, dextrose supplementation, drugs to protect the liver, and
monitoring liver function.
3.
Corn on the cob and peach pits:
While corn on the
cob and peach pits aren’t poisonous per se, these two common picnic items are
very dangerous to dogs. Both of these leftover garbage scraps can easily get
stuck in the intestines and require an expensive abdominal surgery to remove.
Corn on the cob is notorious for being difficult to detect on x-rays, as the
density doesn’t show up well. This makes it harder to diagnose, and potentially
more life-threatening to your dog. Never feed your dog corn on the cob – if you
want, slice the kernels off for him instead. Clinical signs of foreign body
obstructions include:
·
vomiting,
·
drooling (from nausea),
·
abdominal pain,
·
decreased stool production,
·
inappetance, and
·
lethargy.
Believe it or not,
left untreated, these picnic foods can cause the intestines to rupture and,
potentially, death.
4.
Fatty table snacks or bones:
Leftover BBQ bits
(like bones, gristle, and fat) and bones should never be given to your dog…
especially if you own an overweight dog or one of these breeds: Yorkshire
terrier, miniature schnauzer, or Shetland sheepdog. Why? Overweight dogs and
certain breeds are particularly predisposed to pancreatitis, inflammation of
the pancreas. This organ breaks down fat, and when overstimulated from a fatty
meal, can result in the following clinical signs:
·
vomiting,
·
abdominal pain,
·
fever,
·
diarrhea,
·
weakness,
·
inappetance, and
·
death (from organ failure).
When in doubt, keep
these picnic items out of reach. Keep in mind that the sooner that you
recognize that your pet is poisoned, the easier it is to treat and the less
dangerous (and less expensive) it is to your dog. Enjoy your summer with your dog, but pay heed
to these common picnic pet emergencies!
Then there are the
fireworks. If a pet is left unattended around fireworks, they can become
accidentally poisoned or injured. Fireworks contain hazardous
chemicals such as coloring agents, dangerous heavy metals, sulfur and
oxidizing agents such as potassium nitrate. Many of them contain dense
cardboard also, which can result in a problem (e.g., foreign
body obstruction). If fireworks are
accidentally ingested, they can cause gastrointestinal upset in your dog (cats
rarely ingest fireworks, thanks to their discriminating palate!).
Clinical signs of
firework poisoning include:
- Vomiting
- Drooling
- Painful abdomen
- Bloody diarrhea
- Lack
of defecation
- Inappetance/anorexia
- Breathing harder
- Neurologic
signs (e.g., tremors, seizures)
- Kidney injury
- Jaundice
(yellowing of the skin and mucous membranes)
- Bone
marrow changes
More commonly,
pets develop severe anxiety from the noise of fireworks, which can result
in undue stress or even the accidental escape out of the house (in an attempt
to run away from the sound).
Keep your pet
inside while festivities occur. I like to choose the most sound-proof
room, farthest from the noise. Keep the room dark and close all windows and
doors to minimize the sound.
- Use
white noise such as a ceiling fan, air conditioner, radio, TV, etc. to
block out the sounds.
- Provide
your dog some entertainment (such as a stuffed Kong treat) to distract him
from the noise.
- Consider
a Thunder shirt to help reduce anxiety.
- And
of course, medications.
Consider talking to your veterinarian about anti-anxiety drugs or
sedatives that can help pets relax during fireworks.
If your pet may have ingested a foreign object
or has anxiety from loud noises, please call us at our Elk River Clinic
763-441-4000 or our Princeton clinic 763-389-4071.
If something happens after hours, please call
the closest emergency clinic to you.
