Trick or treat or a trip to the ER

Photo Credit: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1306743

I saw this title on a veterinary newsletter that I subscribe to and I had to steal it.  It is so true and there may be some dangers around Halloween that you have not yet considered.

The first and most obvious emergency we see around Halloween is chocolate toxicity.  Chocolate contains two compounds, both in the class of chemicals called methylxanthines, to which dogs and cats are particularly sensitive.  The first is caffeine.  The second is theobromine.  In general the more bitter or darker the chocolate the more theobromine the chocolate contains.  The smaller the dog the less it takes to cause toxicity.  Methylxanthine toxicity can cause increased heart rates, hyperactivity, tremors and even death.  Sometimes we also see increased thirst, increased urination and lethargy.

Photo credit: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/683215

Chocolate and other candies also contain a lot of fat and sugar.  Dogs and cats are not designed to digest this level of fat and sugar.  High fat meals can result in vomiting, diarrhea and in severe cases pancreatitis.  Pancreatitis is a severe inflammation of the pancreas in the abdomen.  The pancreas is the organ that produces insulin in the body as well as most of our digestive enzymes.  Pancreatitis leads to severe vomiting, diarrhea, pain in the abdomen and can be life threatening. 

Another toxin we are seeing more and more with candy or gum ingestion is toxicity from a sugar substitute called xylitol.  Dogs are extremely sensitive to xylitol and even a small amount can lead to a severe drop in blood sugar called hypoglycemia.  Severe hypoglycemia can cause seizures and collapse.  Xylitol also has effects on the liver leading to sudden liver failure, problems with the ability to clot the blood and hemorrhage.

It is very, very important to keep your Halloween candy away from your pets.  If you think that your pets have gotten into the candy contact your nearest open veterinarian immediately for emergency treatment.  If we catch the ingestion early it may be possible to induce vomiting, hopefully limiting the toxic effects.  This should be done under the supervision of a veterinarian so that the signs of toxicity can be looked for and treated as needed.

Photo Credit: www.dogtripper.com

Have a safe and fun Halloween!