The Early Show

Thanksgiving Dinner Pet Dangers

November 25, 2008 / 10:16 AM EST / CBS

In just two days, we'll all gather around the table to dig into a sumptuous meal.

But there's one family member who shouldn't get any Thanksgiving dinner: the family pet.

The Early Show's resident veterinarian, Dr. Debye Turner Bell, cautioned that you shouldn't give Fido or Fluffy anything from the T-Day table, no matter how much they beg.

Cats and dogs aren't used to the heavy seasoning we put in foods, or the high fat content. And sometimes, even a little bit can cause stomach irritation and result in vomiting and diarrhea. And no one wants to deal with that on Thanksgiving, least of all your poor pet!

So, resist those pleading eyes, and forlorn whines. Treat your pet with a little of his or her regular kibble or pet treats. It's better for everyone.

Plus, there are some human foods that are toxic to your pets. So letting Fido have a spoonful of the Thanksgiving dressing could end up causing a medical emergency.

Here are some foods that can be very dangerous to your pet:

BONES

The holiday turkey or chicken will provide lots of tantalizing bones, but don't feed them to your pet. Small bones or bone chips can lodge in their throat, stomach, and intestinal tract. These bones break into very sharp splinters. They can then cause extensive damage to the stomach and gastro-intestinal tract after they're swallowed. Sometimes, a bone can even puncture the small intestines, creating a life-threatening or even fatal situation. Ham bones can also get stuck in the throat, stomach, or intestines. Beware of steak bones, as well.

ONION AND GARLIC

These contain sulfides, which can cause the destruction of red blood cells, and are toxic to animals, particularly cats. Onions and garlic can cause a disease called Heinz body anemia. Foods spiced with onion and/or garlic, or even onion powder or garlic powder, shouldn't be given to pets.

RAISINS AND GRAPES

Many people use raisins while baking during the holiday season, or grapes in fruit salads. But, they could pose a choking hazard, so keep them out of reach. It isn't known what substance in grapes and raisins causes the problem, but cases have shown that ingestion of either can cause significant kidney damage.

AVOCADO

Poisons in the avocado fruit, pit, and leaves can cause a buildup of fluid in the lungs, heart, pancreas, and abdomen. Accumulation of fluid in the lungs can cause difficulty with breathing. If the fluid buildup is severe enough, oxygen deprivation leading to death can occur.

WALNUTS AND MACADAMIA NUTS

These can cause pancreatitis in dogs, resulting severe vomiting and diarrhea.

CHOCOLATE

What would the holidays be without boxes of chocolate and warm cocoa? And, though it may be tempting to sneak your pet a little piece -- DON'T! It can be toxic, or even fatal, to dogs and cats (chocolate poisoning occurs most frequently in dogs, but other animals are susceptible, too). The amount of toxicity depends on the amount of a substance called theobromine in the chocolate. Unsweetened cocoa is usually the most toxic, and milk chocolate is usually the least (the amount found in white chocolate or chocolate-flavored dog treats is usually negligible). Chocolate poisoning requires emergency medical treatment. So, always keep chocolate well out of reach. Just 1/2 ounce of baker's chocolate per pound of body weight can be toxic. It would take a lot more of milk chocolate to do serious damage, but that would still upset an animal's stomach.

TOMATO STEMS AND LEAVES, AND POTATO SKINS

These contain a poison called oxylates that can cause tremors, seizures and dangerously abnormal heartbeat. They can also cause gastrointestinal upset. Cats are especially susceptible to this toxin. Just one cherry tomato can be near-fatal to a cat.

MUSHROOMS

Mushrooms can produce damage to a number of internal organs, including kidneys, liver, and the central nervous system. Seizures, coma, vomiting, even death can occur if a dog eats mushrooms.

CHEWING GUM

Gum and candy containing the artificial sweetener Xylitol can cause a severe drop in blood glucose in dogs. As soon as 30 minutes after eating Xylitol, the dog can begin to show signs of depression, loss of coordination, and seizures.

BEER

The hops in beer are particularly harmful to dogs. While most responsible humans wouldn't knowingly give their dog alcohol, it's a good possibility that, if your dog is left unsupervised, she will get into almost anything, including your alcoholic beverages. Alcohol can cause intoxication, panting, fever, racing heart, liver damage, even coma, seizures and death.

If you notice any change in your pet's normal behavior, contact your veterinarian or local emergency clinic right away. Keep an eye out for vomiting, diarrhea, lack of coordination, depression, excessive salivation, lethargy, or excessive drinking or urination.

IF YOU THINK YOUR PET HAS BEEN POISONED: Seek medical attention immediately. One great resource is the ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Animal Poison Control Center:1-888-4-ANI-HELP or (888) 426-4435. The center is the best resource for any animal poison-related emergency, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It's dedicated to helping animals exposed to potentially hazardous substances by providing 24-hour veterinary diagnostic and treatment recommendations. The Center has specially-trained veterinary toxicologists on-duty around the clock. They also have an extensive collection of scientific journals and books, as well as sophisticated databases available nowhere else. And, the center's clinical experiences collected over the past ten years can be rapidly reviewed for diagnostic and treatment insight.

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