Yuletide Hazards Unveiled: A Vet's Insight on the Top 5 Christmas Toxins Lurking in Your Home 🚫🎄

Hey there, fur-iends! Dr. Pauly here, dropping some holiday knowledge to keep those tails wagging safely through the festive season. So, grab a cup of cocoa (keep it away from the pups, though!), and let's chat about the top five Christmas hazards that could turn your dog's holiday into a not-so-merry one.

1. Xylitol: The Grinch in Disguise Picture this: Your pup discovers a sweet stash of 'Extra' gum, sugar-free treats, artificially sweetened peanut butter, multivitamins, or sauces or jams that left were unattended. Cue the "oh-so-innocent" canine caper. But beware! Xylitol, the sneaky sugar substitute, is like the Grinch of the canine world. Even in very small quantities it can cause a dangerous crash in blood sugar within minutes, as well as acute liver injury.  Symptoms can include vomiting, loss of coordination, weakness and collapse.  Trust me, nobody wants that on their Christmas wish list.

*That's also why it's important to only use DOG-SAFE PEANUT BUTTER (Xylitol-free) when giving peanut butter to your dog (including our scrumptious treats) 

2. Chocolate: Naughty, Not Nice We all know chocolate and Christmas go together like Santa and cookies. But for dogs, it's a big no-no. Theobromine, the not-so-sweet component in chocolate, can be toxic to our furry friends. The amount of toxicity depends on 3 things: the size of the dog, the amount of chocolate and the type of chocolate.  There's even an online calculator!  https://www.vets-now.com/dog-chocolate-toxicity-calculator/

Dark chocolate in particular is like the coal in their stocking, so keep those cocoa concoctions out of reach! If your pup gets into the chocolate stash, well, that's a howliday hazard you'd rather avoid.

3. Raisins: Grapes Gone Rogue Decking the halls with bowls of grapes or raisins? Think again! These seemingly harmless snacks can lead to a real-life nightmare for your pup. Toxicity is not 'dose dependent', meaning some dogs can have a bag of grapes with no issues whilst for others even 1 raisin can be disastrous.  We believe we are closer to knowing what the toxic culprit is ('tartaric acid', which is found in grapes as well as tartar sauce and merengues - also very dangerous) but the dose remains a mystery. 

Grapes, sultanas and raisins can cause kidney failure and severe pancreatitis in dogs, so a prompt visit to the vet within minutes to a few hours can be life-saving.  There, your dog may be induced to vomit, followed by dosing with 'activated' charcoal to mop up any remaining toxins in their guts, and possible hospitalisation for monitoring and IV fluids.  

4. Tinsel: The Shiny Snare Ah, the allure of tinsel—festive, shiny, and oh-so-enticing to curious canines. But let's be real, folks: Tinsel is the glitter of the Christmas tree world, and we all know how that stuff sticks around. Ingesting tinsel can lead to serious health issues, like blockages and intestinal twists. Imagine how irritating it would feel to the lining of your bowels!  Stick to dog-friendly ornaments, and save yourself from the tinsel tangle.

5. Mistletoe & Holly: A Merry Mishap Waiting to Happen Kissing under the mistletoe may be romantic for us, but for our furry pals, it's a risky rendezvous. Mistletoe and holly can cause nausea, vomiting, upset tummies and much worse for dogs. So, keep those plants on a high shelf—unless you want your pup's version of a Christmas kiss to involve a trip to the vet!

BONUS toxicity: This is included because we'll all be spending a lot of time together indoors, creating more opportunities for people & doggie mischief. 

The last, but by no means least, toxin to be aware of is...

Vapes!  You might enjoy a good ol' puff of those fruity or minty vapours, but trust me, your dog doesn't share the same enthusiasm. Dogs, being the curious creatures they are, might be tempted to investigate that strange-smelling cloud you're blowing, leading to eye and respiratory irritation. 

However, the biggest risk is if your dog chews on the canister - even a small lick of the liquid stuff can be dangerous. These e-liquids often contain nicotine, which can be seriously harmful to dogs. Nicotine poisoning can lead to a range of symptoms from upset tummies to more severe issues. Signs include vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, agitation, rapid breathing, abnormal, low or high heart rhythms, tremors, muscle weakness, wobbliness, high or low blood pressure, respiratory depression, seizures, coma and death.  When I see a young, stumbling 50kg dog with a heart rate of 250 (that's a-LOT) I ask the vape question.  So, let's keep those vapes away from our pups and ensure a hazard-free hangout. 🐾💨

In the jingle-jangle of holiday advice, just remember: the best present for your four-legged fam is a dash of prevention! Keep the festivities light, bright, and out of paw's reach.

Because nothing spells Christmas like the cozy chaos of gift wrap, the unmistakable scent of freshly baked BARKYBAKEY treats, and the rhythmic jingle of collars as your fur babies prance around the tree in sheer joy! 🎁