Celebrate safely for our animals

The festive season is intertwined with joy, family tables and moments of relaxation. For pets, however, this period often hides dangers that are not always visible. From festive treats to New Year's fireworks, carelessness — even momentary — can lead to serious, even life-threatening, incidents. Michalis Katsiboulas, professor of Veterinary Medicine, veterinary surgeon and president and CEO of the Attica Animal Hospital, speaks to “NEA Weekend” and explains what to look out for these days.

Sweets are not innocent — they can become a matter of life and death” What are the main dangers of holiday sweets to animals?

“Every year during the holidays we face repeated and serious incidents. Recently, a friendly, half-blooded doggie swallowed a whole panettone with chocolate, raisins and possibly foreign bodies. The quantity and content did not allow either induction of vomiting or gastroscopy. The only safe solution was surgery to remove the contents of the stomach before irreversible complications could occur.”

M. Katsibulas points out that: “Chocolate is toxic to dogs, while raisins can cause acute kidney failure even in small amounts.” When ingestion involves a large amount of sweet, the risk of mechanical obstruction, distension or rupture of the stomach is added — conditions that directly threaten the life of the animal.

“Sugar is bad for the digestive system of animals (not only in cats and dogs, but also in other animals, such as hamsters and rabbits). On festive days, sweets are often found on low tables, bags or boxes easily accessible. One minute of carelessness is enough.”

The festive table is not for dogs

“A little grilled meat, a spoonful of sauce, a juicy bone “to rejoice”. For the dog, any delicacy is tempting, but for his body, it can prove to be burdensome or even dangerous. The most common emergencies at Christmas and New Year are pancreatitis, gastroenteritis, gastrointestinal obstruction, conditions that often require hospitalization or even surgery.”

Especially dangerous, as he points out, is that the symptoms do not always appear immediately. An animal may show well in the evening and experience severe pain, vomiting, or collapse after hours or even days.

His recommendation is clear: “Not offering Christmas treats to your dog, is not deprivation, but care. Love is not proven by food.”

“New Year's Day is not a holiday for all animals.” What happens to animals at the time of fireworks

“Sudden, loud, and unpredictable noises from firecrackers and bangles trigger panic mechanisms, even in animals with no prior history of phobias.”

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In veterinary practice, the days around the New Year are associated every year with increased incidences of animal flight, injuries and accidents. Dogs and cats try to escape from “danger” by getting out of windows, jumping from balconies or fences, resulting in serious injuries. It is not uncommon for falls from a height that lead to fractures, even to heavy injuries of the spine.

“Fear of noise is not a sign of poor education or “overtraining.” It is a normal reaction to stimuli that the animal is unable to interpret or predict.” In animals with underlying cardiac or respiratory problems, intense stress can be dangerous.

“Prevention begins before the time changes”

Michalis Katsiboulas underlines that: “Prevention is our most important tool. Creating a quiet environment, keeping animals indoors, avoiding night walks and communicating with the veterinarian in a timely manner are crucial moves. “Early intervention saves lives. And at the holidays this phrase takes on literal meaning.”

Keep sweets away from our four-legged friends

What to do if your boyfriend eats sweets:

• Do not try to induce him to vomit.
• Don't wait to “see if it passes.”
• Contact your veterinarian or an on-call veterinary center immediately.
• Indicate exactly what he ate, how much and when.

Remember: Early intervention saves lives
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2. The dangers that the festive table hides

What is allowed and what is not for our dog from the festive table

We strictly avoid:

• Fatty meats, sauces
• Cooked bones
• Onion, garlic
• Sweets and table scraps

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Alternatively we offer:

• Stable feed of the animal
• Special treats for dogs

SOS

We explain to our guests how dangerous it is to offer food to our dog and we emphatically ask that they do not.

3. New Year and pets: The fear behind fireworks

• We keep the animal inside the house during firework hours.
• We create a quiet, protected space, where the animal feels safe.
• We avoid late New Year's Eve walks.
• We seek advice from the veterinarian in a timely manner, if our animal presents us with severe anxiety or panic.

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