Christmas is fast approaching, and several Norwegian homes have already been decorated with what belongs to the holiday. But much of the nice Christmas decorations and good Christmas food can be very harmful to our pets. To give the four-legged friends a safe holiday season, veterinarians ask pet owners to be extra careful. Åshild Roaldset is general manager of Animal Protection and a trained veterinarian. She says it is easy for the animals’ well-being to be quickly forgotten in the stress of Christmas. Diffuse symptoms – People decorate and are in the Christmas mood these days. Then it can be easy to forget that a lot of decorations can be harmful to the animals. Several popular Christmas plants can cause great discomfort for cats and dogs. The symptoms are very varied and diffuse and can vary from slight weakness to kidney failure. Many people are also unenthusiastic when Christmas flowers end up in the shop: – Many probably also forget to put the plants more inaccessible to the animals, says Roaldset. In addition, she points to Christmas decorations, wrapping paper and Christmas ribbons as things many people don’t think about that can harm the animals. – You bring out things in the home that you don’t normally have. Åshild Roaldset is the general manager of Animal Protection. She hopes people will take extra care of the livestock at Christmas. Photo: Bjørne Østrem Djukastein / news Norwegians spend over half a billion a year on insuring their pets, and many dog owners end up at the vet during Christmas. – Most of the inquiries are from concerned dog owners. There are not a few four-legged friends who receive treatment at Christmas time, says Torbjørn Brandeggen, communications advisor at Tryg Forsikring. Brandeggen says that fatty Christmas food or Christmas sweets are often the culprit. Scum bag with gift ribbon Linda Bakken Bøe is a veterinarian and part owner at Dyrlegene Bodø. She tells news that many pet owners do not think about what has happened when their animal is poisoned. – Many people contact the vet with sick pets with unclear symptoms. You may not think that they may have eaten a flower or an unfamiliar food, she says and adds: – You cannot test or detect most of the poisonings that are linked to the festive season. Often we guess. If a cat ingests ribbons, it can cause great pain. Photo: Hannah Noste / news Bøe says that the scariest thing they see at Christmas are animals that have eaten gift ribbons. – It settles in the intestine and can cause major and life-threatening damage, she points out. Cats and dogs that have swallowed gift ribbons often need surgery. Raisins Raisins can cause serious poisoning in dogs. All ingestions should be treated as potentially serious. The lowest amount of raisins that has caused kidney failure is 2.8 g/kg. Symptoms: vomiting is the first clinical sign, usually 2-24 hours after ingestion. Anorexia, diarrhea (bloody), abdominal pain, lethargy for the next 12-24 hours. Development of acute renal failure with polydipsia, polyuria, dehydration, oliguria or anuria 24 hours to a few days after ingestion. Treatment: Emetics can be considered up to 6 hours after ingestion. A single dose of charcoal can be given up to 24 hours after ingestion. Liquid treatment for 48-72 hours after ingestion. In symptomatic animals, monitor kidney values at least every 24 hours for up to 72 hours after ingestion. Source: felleskatalogen.noChocolate Dog/cat: Individual variations. <15 mg/kg no to mild symptoms are expected. 20 mg/kg produced mild poisoning. 40 mg/kg produced moderate to severe poisoning. 50-60 mg/kg produced severe poisoning. 80-300 mg/kg has resulted in death. Symptoms: Vomiting, restlessness/hyperactivity, tachypnea are early clinical signs. Diarrhoea, polyuria, polydipsia, ataxia, tremors, tachycardia are common. In severe poisoning hypertension, hyperthermia, arrhythmias, convulsions, coma. Pancreatitis can occur 24-72 hours after ingestion. Freedom from symptoms usually within 12-72 hours after ingestion. Treatment: Recommended for ingestion >20 mg/kg. Ventricular emptying and charcoal if indicated. Repeated dosing of charcoal (every 4-6 hours for 24 hours) has a good effect. Source: felleskatalogen.noJulestjerneCan cause low acute poisoning. Hypersalivation, vomiting, altered level of consciousness. The symptoms are usually self-limiting. Treatment: Give drink. Source: felleskatalogen.noLiljeHund: Low acute poisoning. No to mild symptoms are expected. Cat: Any ingestion (including pollen) is potentially serious. Symptoms cat: vomiting, hypersalivation, anorexia, dehydration, kidney failure. Convulsions, pancreatitis in rare cases. Treatment cat: treatment is recommended for all ingestions. Early and aggressive treatment is important. Source: felleskatalogen.noJulekaktusSymptoms: Mild GI symptoms (hypersalivation, vomiting, diarrhoea, anorexia). Ataxia is seen in cats. Treatment: Give drink. Source: fuelskatalogen.noAmaryllis Ingestion of the onion or large amounts of plant material can cause moderate to severe poisoning. Symptoms: Usually symptoms within 2 hours of ingestion. Mild GI symptoms (hypersalivation, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia), lethargy are common. Symptom relief usually within 24 hours. In case of moderate to severe poisoning restlessness, weakness, dyspnoea, hypotension, tremors, convulsions. Treatment: Ventricular emptying and coal if indicated are considered for large intakes or ingestion of the onion. Symptomatic treatment. If an antiemetic is indicated, maropitant is the first choice. Source: felleskatalogen.no Raisins and chocolate are the worst Bøe also has a lot of experience with dogs that have to be monitored due to eating food they shouldn’t have. – It is food that is not necessarily reserved for Christmas, but which increases in quantity around Christmas time, she says. The vet mentions chocolate and raisins, among other things. Ingestion of this can cause serious damage to dogs. Veterinarian Linda Bakken Bøe asks owners to call a vet if they are unsure, and that much can be resolved by a phone call. Photo: Josef Benoni Ness Tveit / news Raisins can cause kidney failure, and all consumption of raisins must be treated as potentially serious, according to the joint catalogue. All products containing cocoa beans can potentially cause poisoning in dogs. 140 grams of chocolate is enough to kill a 25 kilo dog. If you are unsure, get in touch Bakken Bøe recommends anyone who suspects that the animal has been poisoned to call the emergency telephone number of a veterinarian. – Tell me when it happened and how much it is. Think about how much the animal weighs. This is of great help to us. If you are unsure, she recommends that people call anyway. – Much can be clarified over the phone. It is better to contact once too much than once too little. In addition, she encourages not to have food on the table, even if it is Christmas. – And remember how tempting it is to unwrap and taste all the gifts in an unguarded moment. You never know what you will get, and many times this leads to a different Christmas.
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Gift bands, chocolate and raisins can be fatal for dogs and cats – news Nordland
