Welcome to Middlebury Animal Hospital

This fall we are seeing more ticks than ever. Ticks have a 2-year, four stage life-cycle. They need a blood meal to molt into the next stage or to lay eggs in the adult stage. Ticks can be a vector (carrier) for a number of diseases. In the Northeast our main concern is Lyme Disease.

Tick control is easier said than done. There are a variety of products to manage tick exposure. Unfortunately none are 100% effective. Frontline is a product that will control ticks and fleas for one month following application. It can be used on dogs and cats. The ticks need to be exposed to the product over a period of 1-2 days before they are killed. This is one reason you may still see ticks while using Frontline. The Preventic collar is an effective means of tick control for dogs and works for 90 days. It is not effective when wet and may react with some medications. No matter what product used, there are still apt to be some ticks present.

In general, it is unlikely that ticks will infest a home so premise products should not be necessary.

Cold Weather Hazards*

During the colder weather pets need a little extra care. Falling temperatures and wind chill can threaten a pet’s life. Some things to be mindful of:

Be aware of the temperature when pets go outside. Short-coated dogs may need a sweater during extended periods of exposure to the elements.
Outdoor dogs need an elevated, dry dog house with a flap over the door to keep drafts out. The bedding in the dog house needs to be clean and dry.
Feeding requirements for pets may change during colder weather. Outdoor dogs need more calories to produce body heat – so increase the amount of food, being careful not to overfeed. Indoor dogs may require less food in winter due to less exercise.
Outdoor pets should have a constant supply of fresh water and check regularly to make sure it is not frozen.
Remember that warm vehicle engines may attract cats. As a precaution, bang on the hood of the car to scare away cats before starting the engine.
Antifreeze has a sweet, pleasant taste. Very small amounts can be lethal to pets! A teaspoon of antifreeze can be deadly to a cat or small dog. Thoroughly clean up any spills and store antifreeze in tightly closed containers in secure cabinets. If you think a pet has ingested antifreeze, contact a veterinarian immediately!
Ice melting products can irritate the skin and mouth of pets. Depending on the ingredients of a particular ice melt product and the quantity consumed, signs of ingestion may include excessive drooling, depression, vomiting, or electrolyte imbalances.
Rat and mouse poisoning products are used more frequently during colder weather. Be sure to place all rat and mouse bait in places inaccessible to pets. These can be lethal if ingested by a pet!

Holiday Hazards*

Food & Beverages

It is important to keep pets on their normal diet. Even a small change in diet can result in your pet having severe indigestion and diarrhea. Older pets or very young pets are at an increased risk for these problems due to delicate digestive systems. It is also very important not to give pets poultry bones – these can splinter and cause blockages! Onion, onion powder, greasy, spicy, fatty, or spoiled foods can cause digestive problems. Moldy foods can cause tremors or seizures. Also, make sure pets do not help themselves to these hazardous foods by raiding unattended garbage cans!
Chocolate is harmful to pets. In general, the less sweet the chocolate, the more toxic it is to your pet. Unsweetened baking chocolate contains almost seven times more theobromine as milk chocolate. A ¼ ounce of baking chocolate ingested by a 10 pound dog can cause vomiting, diarrhea, seizures, hyperactivity, increased thirst, increased urination, and rapid heart rate. Chocolate toxicity does not appear to be as troublesome for cats; although if they ingest a large enough amount of chocolate it may cause problems.
Alcoholic beverages can cause serious problems for pets. Keep alcoholic drinks away from pets – it can cause alcohol poisoning. If ingested, the pet can become VERY sick, weak, become severely depressed, or go into a coma!
Yeast dough is dangerous for pets. Ingested uncooked yeast dough can rise in the stomach causing severe pain. Pets may experience abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, disorientation, and depression. Alcohol is the breakdown product of rising dough – which can lead to alcohol poisoning. Many cases like this involve surgical removal of the dough.
Coffee, in its many forms (ground, beans, chocolate covered espresso beans), can harm pets. Coffee contains caffeine, which is a stimulant. Depending on the amount ingested and the size of the pet, restlessness, excitation, increased heart rate, tremors, or seizures can be seen.
Macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs. These nuts can cause muscular weakness, depression, vomiting, disorientation, tremors, abdominal pain, and muscle stiffness in dogs. The effects can last for 1 – 3 days. This reaction has not been reported in any other species.
Grapes and raisins have been reported to cause harm to pets. Recent reports have implicated grapes and raisins in causing the development of kidney failure in dogs following ingestion of a large amount of grapes or raisins. There has been one case of renal failure reported in a cat upon ingestion of raisins. Veterinary toxicologists at the Animal Poison Control Center are currently investigating these cases to determine the causative agent or disease process.

Plants

Be careful with holiday plants and floral arrangements. Some of the plants to watch out for are:
Lilies – commonly used varieties include Tiger, Asian, Japanese Show, Stargazer, and Casa Blanca. They can cause kidney failure in cats.
Yuletide plants – commonly used plants such as mistletoe and holly berries. Dogs or cats eating mistletoe can suffer gastrointestinal upset and cardiovascular problems. Holly can cause vomiting, nausea, diarrhea and lethargy if ingested.
Poinsettias – They are considered very low in toxicity; however, if ingested they can cause mild vomiting or nausea.
Ivy – All parts of the plant are low to moderately toxic. They can cause vomiting or nausea if ingested.
Hibiscus – If ingested by pets, this plant may cause vomiting or bloody diarrhea.

Christmas Tree Hazards

Be mindful of your pet’s safety with decorations. Pet-friendly ornaments can be used – such as dried, non-toxic flowers, wood, fabric, or pinecones. Hanging animal safe ornaments on lower branches where pets are apt to come in contact with them and hanging family treasures on higher branches might be a safe decorating option. Be careful when using ribbons or tinsel; these can become lodged and cause intestinal blockage if ingested by pets. Glass ornaments and “angel hair” can cut the tissues of the mouth, esophagus, or gastrointestinal tract if ingested – possibly requiring surgery.
Christmas tree water may contain fertilizers which are hazardous to pets. If ingested, pets can experience stomach upset. Also, stagnant water under the tree makes an ideal breeding ground for bacteria – which can cause nausea and diarrhea if ingested by a pet.
Electric cords can electrocute your pet if they chew on them. Remember to cover up or hide electric cords to eliminate your pet’s exposure to this hazard.
Batteries contain corrosives. If a pet ingests these, they can suffer from ulceration to the mouth, tongue, and the entire gastrointestinal tract.

Other Holiday Hazards

Keep candy wrappers, cellophane, and aluminum foil away from pets. If pets ingest these they can cause vomiting and intestinal blockage.
Make sure all string used to secure roasted turkey or ham and netting are disposed of properly. If eaten by a pet, string and netting may cause serious intestinal problems requiring emergency surgery to save the pet’s life.
Nicotine should be kept away from pets. If ingested, tobacco products can be fatal to dogs and cats. Signs of nicotine toxicity often develop within 15 – 45 minutes from the time of ingestion. The signs include excitation, salivation, panting, vomiting, and diarrhea. Muscle weakness, twitching, depression, coma, increased heart rate and cardiac arrest can follow.
Liquid potpourris can be harmful to pets. These popular household fragrances are commonly used during the holidays. Pets may ingest the liquid, rub against leaky bottles or simmer pots containing the potpourri, or spill the container of hot liquid on them. Animals exposed to some types of liquid potpourris can have severe oral, dermal, or ocular damage.

*References: Richardson DVM, Jill A. Veterinary Poison Information Specialist. “Winter and Holiday Hazards for Cats.” ASPCA/National Animal Poison Control Center. The CC/SPCA’s Winter and Holiday Tips Harbison, Sandra. “Winter and Your Pets.” The University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine. Animal Poison Control Center. “Winter Holiday Hazards for Pets.”