Leftover New Year’s Eve Food Can Be Harmful to Cats and Dogs: What to Do If Your Pet Gets Into It

veterinarian and veterinary researcher, however, I know that very common foods — some of which are very popular during the holidays — are dangerous for pets.

Here are some food-related problems that veterinarians regularly encounter in emergency rooms around the holidays, and what to do if they occur.

The fat

Turkey with gravy is probably one of the most popular holiday dishes. And most dogs and cats would agree with their humans that roast turkey is a delicious meal.

However, the fat found in turkey skin — and the fatty foods that can accompany it, such as gravy, butter or bacon — are not suitable for cats and dogs. Pets who swallow too much fat can develop pancreatitis — inflammation of the pancreas, the organ that helps break down fats, proteins and carbohydrates.

Pancreatitis causes digestive enzymes to leak from the pancreas, eventually “digesting” itself. If left untreated, this inflammation can affect other organs, such as the kidneys and liver, and even cause blood clots.

The most common symptoms of pancreatitis are vomiting and diarrhea. A pet that appears to be suffering from pancreatitis should be taken promptly to the nearest veterinary hospital or veterinary emergency room. Blood tests will be done there, including a specific test for pancreatic enzymes called pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity or PLI.

The treatment of this inflammation mainly consists of treating the symptoms. The animal receives fluids intravenously to help restore electrolyte balance, as well as anti-nausea and pain medications to stop vomiting. Antibiotics, liver protectants and probiotics may be necessary, as well as a special diet.

Onions are no, and bread is average

If turkey was the only problem! Many other foods that people like to eat during the holidays can be harmful to pets.

Several species of allium used for holiday cooking, such as leek, garlic, onion, chives and shallots, are good for human health. For dogs and cats, however, they are toxic. If animals consume it, they can develop hemolytic anemia — a low number of red blood cells. Symptoms of the disease, which usually appear a few days after ingesting food, include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and jaundice.

To treat hemolytic anemia, veterinarians perform blood tests to determine if a transfusion is necessary. They treat the symptoms of allium poisoning with an intravenous solution, antioxidants, and anti-nausea medications.

Yeast foods, like some breads, are also a part of holiday meals. It is important to keep them out of reach of your pet. Yeast can ferment in its stomach and produce toxic levels of ethanol. Ethanol toxicity can cause metabolic acidosis in animals and cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, respiratory depression, convulsions, and cardiac arrest.

Typically, pet owners suspect metabolic acidosis when it is almost too late because it has few obvious symptoms. Therefore, if there is a possibility that an animal has swallowed any type of cooked or raw yeast paste, it should be taken to a veterinary emergency immediately.

Pets can also get ethanol poisoning from cocktails or beer, so keep all alcoholic beverages out of their reach.

No chocolate!

But what about the treat everyone loves to give at the holidays, chocolate?

The substances that make humans love chocolate—methylxanthines like theobromine and caffeine—are toxic to dogs and cats. When veterinarians provide emergency treatment for chocolate ingestion, it is often because children have shared their treat with their beloved pet.

Pets who swallow chocolate can get “chocolate poisoning” because methylxanthines build up in their bodies and make them sick. Symptoms of chocolate poisoning include tremors, increased heart rate, vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness and even seizures.

This poisoning constitutes a medical emergency. It is necessary to empty the animal's stomach and administer treatment using an infusion and activated charcoal. The veterinarian will want to know the type of chocolate and the amount the pet ingested, as some chocolates, such as baking chocolate, can have more serious toxic effects.

Chocolate also contains a lot of fat, which won't please a cat or dog's pancreas.

Grapes and dogs don't mix

And the fruit? There is a very toxic fruit for dogs that often appears on holiday menus: grapes, whether fresh or dehydrated in the form of raisins.

Tartaric acid found in grapes can cause acute kidney disease. Signs of kidney failure in a dog are vomiting, intermittent diarrhea, and increased water consumption.

Acute renal failure in dogs constitutes a medical emergency. If suspected, the animal should be taken quickly to a veterinary hospital. Treatment is generally limited to stabilizing it using an intravenous solution.

A sweet poison

Although xylitol poisoning is one of the most common emergencies veterinarians encounter, it is little known among pet owners.

Xylitol is an artificial sweetener often used in sugar-free products. While it is safe for humans, it is a fast-acting and potentially fatal poison for cats and dogs.

Ingesting even a small amount of xylitol can cause a rapid release of insulin from the animal's liver, causing hypoglycemia, which is an abnormally low blood glucose level. Within 30 minutes, symptoms appear, such as vomiting, lethargy and convulsions, and loss of limb coordination (ataxia).

Emergency treatment of an animal poisoned by xylitol consists of administering a dextrose solution intravenously to increase its blood sugar and carefully monitoring the evolution of its condition.

Conclusion ? Many delicious foods that are safe for humans can be very dangerous for all pets — not just cats and dogs, but also birds, reptiles and small critters like mice, hamsters and gerbils. To make the holidays wonderful for your furry or feathered friends, give them treats purchased at the pet store or vet, and keep them away from the kitchen counter and the trash.