Top five holiday poison control center calls (and what this means for your dog!)

With so many tempting treats around, your mischievous dog may have snuck some pie, eggnog or even rooted around in your guests’ purses or coat pockets during your holiday celebration. It’s not really a surprise that the holidays are a busy time for calls to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. 

 

However, you may be surprised at some of the items that make the list:

1. Chocolate 
   Chocolate tops the list—and for good reason! Chocolate is prevalent in our homes, especially during holiday celebrations. Even wrapped up as a gift under the tree, dogs can smell mouth-watering chocolates and, unfortunately, they’re eager to chow down when the opportunity arises. The darker the chocolate, the more theobromine (the toxic component) it contains and more dangerous to dogs.
   
2. Tree preservatives and tree water
   A tree creates a festive mood in your home during the holidays but can also bring added issues for dog owners. Not only can the tree preservative cause gastrointestinal upset, but it can be double trouble if the water is also contaminated with bacteria. The water may also contain pesticides that have leached out of the tree, making it a triple threat.
   
3. Poinsettias
   Just as trees add a festive flair, other plants like poinsettias play a big part during the holiday season. The milky sap from poinsettias is primarily a mucous-membrane irritant causing skin irritation and if ingested, your pup may drool or vomit.
   
4. Medication
   Acetaminophen (Tylenol) and NSAIDs (Advil, Aleve) are toxic to dogs. The larger the dose ingested, the greater the risk, but even small doses can be toxic or even deadly. Cold remedies and allergy medications may help you or your guests breathe easier; however, they can cause toxic effects in dogs.
   
5. Alcohol
   Your dog may sample mulled wine, eggnog and other festive drinks right out of your guests’ glasses, but even spills licked up by your dog can be a problem. Alcohol is quickly absorbed by dogs, leading to alcohol poisoning.
   
    

Dogs can be quite sly when sampling a drink or a making a snack out of chocolate or decorative plants. A few precautions will help keep them out of harm’s way:

• Avoid leaving wrapped boxes of chocolates under the tree. Keep advent calendars, gift boxes and chocolate figurines out of reach or inside closed cupboards.
• Make sure your dog can’t access the tree stand water. Use a lid from an ice cream container to slip around the trunk and cover the water. Alternately, look for a dog-friendly tree stand with a built-in cover. Keep your dog’s water bowl filled with fresh water so the tree water is less appealing.
• Find dog-safe festive arrangements and plants. Poinsettias may be better left out of your holiday decorating—or at least far out of your pet’s reach.
• Make sure all your guests keep their purses, bags and backpacks closed. Nosy dogs can quickly snatch medications stored in plastic bags or chocolates stored for later. Keep coats, bags and purses behind closed doors if possible.
• Keep all drinks out of reach. Move chairs or other furniture to prevent your dog from jumping up to reach higher surfaces to sample alcoholic beverages, the punch bowl or hot chocolate.
• Remind guests not to give your dog any food. Have fun, dog-friendly treats available instead.

If you believe your dog has eaten something toxic, don’t panic. If possible, figure out what was eaten, then contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435 right away.

Wellness questions, toxic ingestion, upset belly—no matter what comes up this holiday, support is only a few taps away. Stay connected with free 24/7 Live Chat!* >>

*Live Chat with a licensed veterinary professional is free for VCA clients through the myVCA mobile app, available at Apple’s App Store and Google Play.