ABC-Animal - Nutrition Chronicle
Moderation for Everyone
Your pet loves eating bits of food it finds on the floor, or begs for food at the table….and all of your guests fall under the spell of its big eyes! Maybe you’re not aware of it, but without wishing to sound alarmist, this is very risky for your four-legged friend!
There always tends to be an abundance of food and extras of all kinds during the Christmas season, and our pets, who have the same desires as we do, also take advantage of this abundance. But their digestive systems are less adapted to a variety of foods, and indigestion is a frequent occurrence at this time of year.
Toxic Foods
If ingested, chocolate, sugar, onions, grapes, alcohol and certain Christmas plants (poinsettia, holly…) become toxic for cats and other pets.
So avoid giving your pet these extras, such as turkey and chicken bones (which can be deadly), cake, candies, chocolate ornaments, punch, appetizers, and fatty foods. Buy your pet treats designed for animals or present its regular food in a special way.
Many cases of simple indigestion improve through fasting for 24 hours. But certain situations may require a visit to the vet or even a surgical intervention (as in the case of swallowing turkey or chicken bones).
You’d rather enjoy the festivities than wiping up the consequences of your pet’s excesses, or even worse, making an emergency visit to the vet’s office? Then be vigilant, because prevention is the best way to make sure you all have a happy holiday every year.
With all our hearts, we wish you a joyful holiday season and a very happy new year.
Alain Aspirault, D.V.M.
Veterinarian
Ancienne-Lorette Veterinary Clinic
Québec, Canada
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