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4601 N. Main 281-422-2821

Animal Medical Center

of Baytown

With the holidays approaching (and they seem to come earlier every year) we need to remind ourselves of some common

pet concerns during these busy times. During the Halloween through New Years hustle and bustle pets can be at risk

for a number of pet maladies.

Chocolate: You have probably heard dogs can not eat chocolate. Dogs can not metabolize chocolate

in the same manner as us. Chocolate toxicity is common during the holidays and can be

mild to severe. Signs of mild toxicity would mainly be nervousness, twitching and

can be as severe as seizures, coma and death. Preventing exposure is the key.

Put the chocolate up!

Toxic Plants: Mistletoe and Poinsettias are especially prevalent around Christmas. There are many other

toxic plants we use as ornamentals as well (i.e. Caladiums). Most of our toxic plants have

a bitter taste and therefore dogs won't commonly consume much (but some of our hard-

headed four-legged friends will). Most cause gastrointestinal upset but signs are not always

severe. One specific and extremely toxic plant is the Sago Palm. All parts of the Sago Palm

are toxic and can cause severe liver disease and death.

Pancreatitis: Pancreatitis is a severe inflammation of the pancreas and is very common in dogs.

It most often occurs when a dog eats "stuff" it should not eat. Usually this is a fatty meal

(but not always). Meat scraps and oil for frying turkeys are common culprits. Pancreatitis

can be costly to treat and can be severe enough to cause death. Again, prevention is the key.

Avoid exposure.

Foreign Body Ingestion: Dogs and cats are drawn to different and shiny things. Our pets will eat tree

ornaments and tinsel. These products can cause intestinal obstruction requiring surgery.

Cold Weather: Every year, I get calls asking how cold can it get before I bring my dog in.

How cold is too cold? The answer is not simple. Some dogs are more tolerant to cold,

have a thicker coat or have a better doghouse. Always err on the side of caution.

My personal dogs come in if the temperature gets below 50 degrees. These dogs are

acclimated to outside weather. Your dog may be less tolerant to the cold. Windbreaks,

shelter and bedding all play a role. You don't want your baby freezing outside while you are

warm and toasty.

NEWS UPDATES and ARTICLES

This Months article by Dr. Bruce Meuth

Holiday Pet Tips