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ER veterinarian warns Flower Mound pet owners about holiday hazards
Summary
An emergency veterinarian told the Flower Mound Animal Services Advisory Board that toxic foods, decorations, plants, antifreeze and holiday stress lead to preventable ER visits for dogs and cats. He urged owners to secure homes, microchip pets and call poison control early to reduce severe outcomes and high treatment costs.
Dr. Anthony Rush, an emergency veterinarian at Vedge in Flower Mound, warned members of the Flower Mound Animal Services Advisory Board on Oct. 29 that predictable holiday changes in routine and decorations drive an increase in preventable emergency visits for dogs and cats.
"The darker [chocolate] it is, the worse it is, the smaller the dog, the worse it is," Dr. Rush said, describing chocolate toxicity and other common holiday hazards. He listed sugar-free gum, greasy and fatty foods, moldy trash, grapes and raisins, onions and garlic as foods that frequently lead to vomiting, diarrhea, kidney damage or, in severe cases, seizures and death.
The veterinarian said decoration-related injuries are also common: "Anything shiny ... cats will try to eat it," he said, noting tinsel, ribbons and string…
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