Please be careful with your pets this Holiday Season and watch what they eat.  Happy Holidays everyone.

Rich, Fatty Foods

Rich, fatty foods, such as turkey skin, bacon, sausages, hot dogs, fruit cake, plum pudding, or deep-fried foods can be quite dangerous to dogs susceptible to attacks of pancreatitis. Often you may not know that your dog is susceptible until he is very sick with his first attack. As breed predispositions go, it is often the smaller, more energetic breeds like miniature or toy poodles, cocker spaniels, miniature schnauzers, and other small terrier-type dogs who seem particularly prone. However, any dog may have a problem. It is best to avoid these foods altogether. Signs of pancreatitis generally include an acute onset of vomiting (sometimes with diarrhea) and abdominal pain, which may be evidenced as a hunched posture or “splinting” of the abdomen when picked up. The dog may become very sick quickly and often needs intensive fluid and antibiotic therapy.

Dairy Products

Dairy products are not generally dangerous, unless they contain a lot of fat, but they are usually digested poorly by both dogs and cats, who have little or none of the enzyme required to digest the lactose in milk. Just like lactose-intolerant people, lactose-intolerant dogs can develop excessive intestinal gas (flatulence) and may have foul-smelling diarrhea. It is best to avoid most dairy products altogether, although small amounts of cheese or plain yogurt are tolerated by most dogs, since these products have less lactose than most.

Overeating in General

The holiday “pig out” is not just confined to people. There are many instances of dogs doing the same thing, either because some owners want their dogs to have their share of holiday goodies or because the dogs have stolen some goodies of their own. Some of these goodies are rich enough to cause pancreatitis in susceptible individuals.

Overeating, coupled with excitement, exercise, and/or excessive water drinking, can cause a life-threatening condition (primarily, but not exclusively in large breed dogs) called “gastric dilatation and volvulus” syndrome, known more commonly as “Bloat.” You should learn the symptoms, so that you can call an emergency facility IMMEDIATELY if you see the symptoms. Typical signs are:

• A distended abdomen, which, when thumped with a finger, sounds like a tight, air-filled drum
• Intense abdominal discomfort (possibly seen initially as a very “preoccupied” look on the dog’s face
• Non-productive retching or vomiting
• Rapid development of severe weakness and shock. This is a rapidly life-threatening emergency. You MUST contact your veterinarian or emergency clinic IMMEDIATELY.