By Heidi Clayton
It is that time of the year for large feasts filled with yummy fattening foods, which are incredibly tempting to humans and dogs alike. If you find yourself tempted to overindulge around the holidays, imagine your dog’s temptation. Every year, I field panicked calls and texts from clients who left their dog unattended during a holiday party, only to find their dog had consumed a 20-pound turkey, a bowl of gravy or a candy dish filled with Hershey kisses.
Aside from chocolate being dangerous for dogs to consume in large quantities, my bigger worry is that of pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, which disrupts the flow of enzymes. Even small quantities of foods that are high in fat can cause pancreatitis in dogs. These foods include turkey that has been slathered in butter or brined, rich gravies, green beans cooked in rich mushroom soup, and sweet potatoes coated in brown sugar.
Pancreatitis symptoms usually surface two to three days after consumption when the dog will begin to vomit a yellowish-colored thick bile. Pancreatitis is painful, so your dog may hunch up when walking, stretch a lot or become lethargic. This condition can be fatal. If you suspect your dog has it, you should take them to the vet immediately.
Diagnosing canine pancreatitis involves blood work, X-rays, and most likely an ultrasound. Most cases of pancreatitis will involve some sort of hospital stay. The only current treatment is supportive care, such as IV fluids, pain medications and fasting. There is a new drug called Panoquell that has been conditionally approved by the FDA to aid in the recovery time of pancreatitis in dogs. Currently, its administration does not avoid a hospital stay, but it has been shown to speed up the process of healing the pancreas.
If your dog has proven to be untrustworthy around the buffet table and you don’t want to worry about having to make a trip to the ER to get a bag of Hershey Kisses from their stomach on Christmas Eve, I always recommend proactive management. It’s a smart idea to use baby gates to block access to the room where the food will be, ask your guests not to feed the dog from the table, or put your dogs in their crates with something they can gnaw on until you are able to make sure they don’t get themselves into trouble.
The holiday season is hectic and stressful enough without having to worry about taking the dog to the ER for a dietary indiscretion. Taking a few minutes before entertaining to make sure your dog or puppy doesn’t have access to human food will save you not only unneeded aggravation and drama but also thousands of dollars!
Four on the Floor wishes you all a very peaceful and happy Thanksgiving.
If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net.
Heidi Clayton started Four On the Floor Dog Training to provide positive, reward-based dog training in South Jersey. She breeds, trains and shows bull terriers under the SoraBully’s Bull Terriers kennel name. Email questions to heidi@fouronthefloordogtraining.net or learn more at https://fouronthefloordogtraining.net
