Oh Deer! Holiday Hazards

The festive season is upon us in Colorado Springs! As Pikes Peak sparkles with new snow and homes twinkle with holiday lights, our spirits soar. But for pet owners, the holidays, while joyful, also bring a unique set of hazards. Among the most common and dangerous is foreign material ingestion, where curious cats and dogs swallow items they shouldn’t.

At North Springs Veterinary Referral Center, we unfortunately see a significant uptick in these cases during Christmas and other holidays. What seems like harmless festive decor or a forgotten toy can quickly become a life-threatening emergency requiring advanced veterinary care.

The Allure of the Forbidden: Why Pets Eat Strange Things

Pets, especially puppies, kittens, and even some adult dogs and cats, explore their world with their mouths. The texture, smell, and novelty of new items introduced during the holidays can be irresistible. Common culprits include:

Decorations: Tinsel (especially for cats!), ornaments (glass or plastic), ribbon, garland, string, lights, and even parts of artificial plants.

Toys & Gifts: Small toys, batteries (extremely dangerous!), wrapping paper, bows, and even parts of gift packaging.

Food-Related Items: Cooked bones, fruit pits (like avocado or peach), shelled chestnuts and pecans, corn cobs, food wrappers, and skewers, just to name a few.

Household Items: Dental floss, socks, underwear, hair ties, and bottle caps.

The Dangers of Foreign Material Ingestion

When a pet swallows an object, several serious complications can arise:

Obstruction: The most common issue. The object can get stuck anywhere along the digestive tract, from the esophagus to the intestines. This prevents food and water from passing, causing vomiting, lethargy, abdominal pain, and dehydration. If left untreated, it can lead to tissue death and rupture of the intestine.

Perforation: Sharp objects (like bones or ornament pieces) can puncture the esophagus, stomach, or intestines, leading to a severe, life-threatening infection (septic peritonitis) in the abdominal cavity.

Linear Foreign Bodies: Items like string, tinsel, or ribbon are especially dangerous. As the intestine tries to move the string along, it can gather the intestine into an accordion-like pleat, with the string acting like a saw, cutting through the intestinal wall.

Toxicity: Beyond the physical blockage, some ingested items are toxic. Batteries can cause severe chemical burns, while certain plants or food items can be poisonous.

Recognizing the Signs

If you suspect your pet has eaten something they shouldn’t, watch for these symptoms:

• Repeated vomiting or gagging/retching
• Loss of appetite
• Lethargy or weakness
• Abdominal pain or tenderness (pet may hunch or cry when touched)
• Straining to defecate or diarrhea
• Gagging, coughing, or pawing at the face (if the object is in the throat, mouth, or esophagus)
• Changes in behavior or energy level

If you observe any of these signs, know your pet has ingested something, or even see them do it, do not wait! Call North Springs Veterinary Referral Center immediately!

Prevention is the Best Present: A Pet-Safe Holiday Strategy

Preventing foreign material ingestion is far easier and less costly than treating it. Here are crucial tips for a pet-safe holiday season:

Tinsel-Free Zone: If you have cats, skip the tinsel entirely. It’s too enticing and too dangerous. Consider other sparkle-free, non-string decorations.

Secure Decorations: Hang ornaments high on the tree, out of paw’s reach. Use unbreakable ornaments if possible. Anchor your tree securely to prevent it from tipping over.

Gift Wrap Wisely: After opening gifts, immediately collect all ribbon, bows, wrapping paper, and small toy pieces. Don’t let your pet “help” with the unwrapping.

Battery Awareness: Keep all batteries (remote controls, toys, fairy lights, etc.) safely stored. Ingestion of even a small battery can cause severe internal burns and stomach perforation.

Food Scraps & Bones: Strictly enforce a “no table scraps” rule. Never give cooked bones, nuts, corn cobs, or fruit pits. Secure your trash cans with pet-proof lids.

Child & Pet Supervision: Supervise interactions between pets and small children, especially when new toys or gifts are present. Small toy parts can easily become a choking or ingestion hazard.

Emergency Plan: Know the location and contact information for North Springs Veterinary Referral Center. We are equipped with state-of-the-art technology, imaging, endoscopy, and experienced surgeons to handle these critical cases.

What to Do If You Suspect Ingestion

Call Immediately: Do NOT try to induce vomiting unless instructed by a veterinarian. Some objects can cause more damage coming back up.

Gather Information: Be ready to tell the vet what was ingested, how much, and when. Bring the packaging if available.

Head on in, anytime, 24/7: Prompt veterinary care is essential. At North Springs Veterinary Referral Center, our team can perform diagnostics like X-rays or ultrasound to locate the object and determine the best course of action, which may include endoscopic removal or surgical intervention.

Conclusion

This holiday season let’s make sure our pets are celebrating safely alongside us. A little vigilance can prevent a trip to the emergency room and ensure a truly happy and healthy holiday for your entire Colorado Springs family.

If you feel your pet might be experiencing an emergency, don’t wait. Call North Springs Veterinary Referral Center in Colorado Springs. We are here to help you and your pet 24/7.