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News from the College of Veterinary Medicine University of Illinois 3225 Vet. Med. Basic Sciences Bldg. 2001 S. Lincoln Ave. Urbana, IL 61802 |
November 24, 2008 Release on |
| Contact: |
Chris Beuoy 217/244-1562 beuoy@illinois.edu |
Tips to Prevent Emergency Trips to the Veterinarian over the Holidays
URBANA - You may not especially like your Aunt Gertrude, but you probably won't bite her when the extended family gathers for a Thanksgiving meal. The same may not be true for four-legged members of the family that don't get along."The biggest problem I see over Thanksgiving is bite wounds," says Dr. Mauria O'Brien, one of three board certified emergency and critical care specialists at the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital. "We suture a lot of wounds during this time of year."
Dr. O'Brien has advice for pet owners who will be bringing their dogs along to a home where other pets live: Introduce dogs that are unfamiliar slowly, and keep all pets on a leash until you know they get along.
Other holiday safety tips for dog owners include:
- Avoid sharing your feast with Fido. Rich, fatty foods can cause to gastrointestinal upset ranging from vomiting and diarrhea to, in some cases, life-threatening pancreatitis.
- Foods that are toxic to dogs include chocolate, raisins, grapes, and macadamia nuts. Eating raw bread dough may lead to illness and intoxication, especially in small dogs.
- Xylitol, an artificial sweetener commonly found in sugar-free gums, can cause liver failure in dogs; as little as one piece can be toxic.
- Keep kitty out of liquid potpourri, which can cause ulcers in the mouth as well as gastrointestinal and dermal irritation.
- Lilies are also toxic to cats, so remove them from any bouquets that cats can reach.