By Dr. Johnathan Pierce
Happy holidays everyone! It is hard to believe that once again we are at that time of year. We all celebrate in different ways, however one thing remains consistent, which is how much we love our pets. Most of us (admittedly, even we veterinary professionals) express this with food. We have a large meal with various dishes varying from traditional and cultural fare to delicacies we would not otherwise have, and it becomes difficult not to share with our pets. Caution is advised as our pets may not be able to “stomach” our holiday fare.
Common ailments we see as a result of sharing table fare are:
Gastritis/Enteritis – Simply put this is vomiting and nausea that results from inflammation of the stomach and small intestine.
Colitis/Diarrhea – Typically this is a result of the table fare causing a shift in the natural bacteria in the colon. This inflames the colon and causes anything from soft stools to frequent, large volume liquid stools.
Pancreatitis – The pancreas is a very important organ that is responsible for secreting the main digestive enzymes that break down food (as well as other important tasks). Ingestion of foods rich in fats are typically, but not always, the cause of inflammation that induces pancreatitis. Pancreatitis can manifest as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea but can become severe, causing a painful belly, lethargy, and dehydration. In rare cases, this can become so severe that the pancreas can release the enzymes into the abdomen causing peritonitis (inflammation of the abdominal cavity) and even necrotizing pancreatitis (in essence where the pancreas can die off).
The tempting smells that waft from our waste containers could cause our pets to help themselves, causing the above illnesses. This is also dangerous as ingestion of not only food can occur but also bones, corn cobs, food containers, etc. could be ingested and cause stomach or intestinal blockages. Make sure that your garbage containers are stowed away in an area that your pet can’t get to.
The above illnesses may take very simple supportive treatment, however could become severe enough to require hospitalization or even surgical treatment. If your pet shows any signs of being ill, please contact your veterinarian.
Have a safe and very happy holiday season!
Island Life Animal Hospital
Dr. Danielle Gallo & Dr. Johnathan Pierce
5901 Sun Blvd., Suite 107, St. Petersburg
727-289-3776
islandlifeanimalhospital.vet