Vet Talk
with Martin Leith BVetMed MRCVS
W
ith the festive season fast
approaching it is time to
indulge, celebrate and fill our
homes with lots of tasty treats.
Unfortunately, it is only too
common for our four-legged
friends to join us in our Christmas
celebrations and help themselves
to that box of chocolates or the
occasional mince pie!
Ho! Ho! WHO... has eaten
all the chocolates!?!
Keep in mind the ingredients in
gravy stock, and not just the
vegetables themselves! Vomiting
and diarrhoea often follow but
the main effect is damage to red
blood cells and anaemia, and this
can be serious.
Although one of the most common
intoxications we see in your pets, it
is not only chocolates that are dan-
gerous for our pets. Whether it’s the
kitten eating tinsel or a Christmas
pudding that goes missing, there
are many hidden dangers to our
furry friends, from toxic foods to
dangerous seasonal plants. t Artificial sweeteners contain
xylitol and can result in dangerously
low blood glucose levels. Only
give pet-friendly treats to your
cats and dogs on Christmas day!!
We have seen many potentially life
threatening cases that could easily
be avoided with a little extra care,
and these are our top tips to avoid
a visit to the vets this Christmas. t Decorative plants can also be
toxic and advice should be
sought if your pets come into
t Keep Christmas decorations well
out of reach as cats; they particularly
enjoy tinsel and baubles.
contact with poinsettia, holly,
lilies, mistletoe and even ivy.
The most important thing to
remember is if an accident with a
poisonous pudding does occur, or
the chocolate does find its way into
the tummy of an inquisitive pet, we
are always at the end of a phone to
help with any concerns and are on
call if needed. Toxins are nearly
always very time-sensitive, so the
sooner you can get in contact with
one of the team, the better.
Finally, everyone at Leadon Vale
Veterinary Centre would like to
wish our friends and patients the
very best festive period and a
Happy New Year!
t Keep all edible presents under the
tree out of reach until Christmas
morning. Dark chocolates are
particularly poisonous and can
cause the most severe side
effects. Also, be aware of edible
tree decorations and make sure
they are well out of reach of any
peckish pets!
t Christmas pudding, cakes and
mince pies can contain grapes,
currants, raisins and sultanas and
ingestion of even small quantities
can cause severe kidney failure.
t Onions and leeks are best kept
on your plates, as tempting as it
might be to plate up a mini
Christmas dinner for your pet!
To advertise call 01684 833715 or email: [email protected]
60
24 hour Emergency Cover 01531 632276