The holidays are a time for celebration, indulgence and gathering around delicious food but, for our pets, this season can also present some very real dangers. Many of the traditional holiday foods that we enjoy can lead to gastrointestinal upset, toxic exposures, or even life-threatening emergencies for dogs and cats. While happily including them in the festivities, to keep our four-legged furries healthy and safe, these common holiday foods should not be fed to the family pet:

1) Chocolate: Whereas a dog eating one or two "M&Ms" candies may not cause much of a problem, a small amount of gourmet chocolate can be a big problem. Chocolate contains methyxanthines which, in quantity, can be toxic and lead to overstimulation of the central nervous system and cardiovascular system, and even death. There are different types of chocolate and they vary in their methylxanthine and caffeine content. Read more about chocolate and chocolate toxicity. 

2) Grapes, Raisins and Raisinets: Ingestion of grapes, raisins and baked goods with raisins can be serious - regardless of the amount consumed (grape seed extract is not generally considered a threat). There are a couple of known possible mechanisms by which they cause toxicity, however some animals can experience an idiosyncratic (an unusual or unexpected) reaction to these foods. A toxic reaction results in acute kidney injury and clinical signs can include: vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and polydipsia (increased thirst / water consumption). These signs can develop within 24 hours to several days after ingestion and progress to depression, tremors and hypovolemia. Key findings in bloodwork that suggest acute kidney injury include elevations in BUN and creatinine, hypercalcemia (elevated serum calcium) and hyperphosphatemia (elevated serum phosphorus). 

If ingestion is known to be recent, induction of vomiting can be effective in recovering the grapes or raisins and minimizing the chance of absorption and toxicity. If a patient is known or suspected of having eaten grapes or raisins, hospitalizing them for intravenous fluid administration can help to prevent actual kidney injury. These patients should have bloodwork monitored for 72 hours (daily and then 12 to 24 hours after discontinuing IV fluids). Clinicians may recommend another recheck of bloodwork / kidney function two to three days after discharge from the hospital. In severely affected pets with kidney damage, renal replacement therapy (if available) may be of benefit - this includes hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis.

The prognosis is generally good if patients are treated early and have not developed signs of acute kidney injury at the time of presentation to the veterinary clinic for care. For those with clinical signs and for those whose urine production declines (an indication of reduced kidney function or kidney failure), the prognosis is much worse.

3) Turkey / Ham and Bones: These foods can be high in fat and lead to pancreatitis - even if consumed in small quantities. Bones from these meats can also be hazardous as they can splinter or become lodged in the esophagus.

4) Alcohol: Alcohol is absorbed quickly by the GI tract of pets and can cause serious side effects. Hops (a key component in beer) are particularly dangerous to pets and can cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, ataxia (wobbly gait), altered mentation, difficulty breathing, tremors, acidosis, coma and even death.

5) Cooking Staples (bread dough, eggs, milk and salt): Raw bread dough can rapidly rise within a dogs’ stomach and cause vomiting, bloating / painful abdomen, ataxia (wobbly gait), blindness and ethanol toxicosis. Raw or undercooked eggs / meat can lead to Salmonella infections and should not be fed to pets. Pets do not possess significant amounts of lactase (the enzyme that breaks down lactose in milk), therefore ingestion of milk and other milk-based products can cause diarrhea. Signs of salt toxicity include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, elevated body temperature, seizures and even death.

6) Spices: Sage and Nutmeg are two spices considered unsafe for pets. These spices can cause gastrointestinal upset and neurologic signs. Cats can be particularly sensitive.

7) Onions, garlic and chives: These foods contain sulfides which can cause hemolytic anemia in pets. Onions are more toxic than garlic, and cooking does not reduce their toxicity. Cats are more susceptible than dogs.

8) Macadamia nuts: Consuming these nuts can lead to weakness, depression, vomiting, tremors and hyperthermia in dogs. Signs usually appear within 12 hours of ingestion and can last approximately 12 to 48 hours.

9) Xylitol: Xylitol is a sugar alcohol which is used commonly as a sugar substitute in low-carbohydrate products, gums and candies (as well as toothpaste and mouthwashes). Xylitol is toxic in dogs and can lead to hypoglycemia and liver failure. Clinical signs can be seen within 15 to 30 minutes of ingestion and include vomiting, depression, lethargy, weakness, ataxia (wobbly gait), and seizures. 

A xylitol dose of 50 mg/kg can trigger hypoglycemia and a dose of 500 mg/kg is toxic to the liver. As a point of reference, 1 piece of gum contains approximately 1000 mg of xylitol. Therefore, one piece of gum containing xylitol (1000 mg) could cause hypoglycemia in a 40 pound dog!

If there is known exposure / consumption and the pet is not symptomatic, induction of vomiting should be considered. While activated charcoal is sometimes administered for many types of toxic exposures, it is not of much benefit with xylitol because it is a small alcohol and does not bind to charcoal. Blood glucose should be monitored in these asymptomatic patients and they should be fed small frequent meals. Symptomatic patients may require hospitalization and their care plan may include the intravenous administration of dextrose and dextrose-containing IV fluids and monitoring of bloodwork (serum potassium and liver enzymes - ALT, AST, Alkaline phosphatase). Most dogs recover if treatment is implemented early and, if indicated, aggressive liver support is provided (SAMe, Marin, Milk Thistle, acetylcysteine). Learn more about liver disease.

Pets are not typically accustomed to the levels of activity that can ensue during a holiday gathering. This can be stressful for them. Some are mischievious and will access counter tops where foods are placed or rummage through garbage cans. To keep pets safe and sound, families might consider keeping their pets apart from the commotion - perhaps a kennel or crate, or confined to a room distant from the noise. If people feel the need to share table food with their pets, low fat foods (no seasonings or butter) are generally safe considerations including:

• Potatoes - baked or steamed white or sweet potatoes
• Vegetables - steamed or boiled string beans, green peas, broccoli, carrots, butternut squash
• Cranberry or apple sauce - a very small amount of unsweetened cranberry or apple sauce is okay to share