With the holiday season upon us, many pets will receive gifts such as pet treats and toys including chew toys. Each year FDA receives a small number of reports of adverse events associated with pet treats. Pet owners should be aware that occasionally, pet treats and chew toys may cause choking or blockage problems for their pets and may want to monitor their pets for signs of potential problems.

Pet treats that are meant to be consumed are most digestible (edible) when chewed into small pieces; however, rawhide type treats can become very slippery when wet and larger chunks can then become lodged in the back of the animal’s mouth or throat, causing gagging, choking, and even death. Through chewing, pet treats and toys may become broken into pieces that may become lodged in your pet’s airway or gastrointestinal tract.

The sign(s) that your pet exhibits may help your veterinarian determine where the obstruction has occurred. If pieces of treats or toys are stuck in the back of the throat, your pet may become frantic and you may notice signs such as drooling and choking. Severe airway obstructions are not uncommon, and they should be considered life threatening. This calls for an emergency visit to your veterinarian.

If your pet experiences an esophageal obstruction, you may notice repeated gulping and drooling. Also, your pet may regurgitate undigested food after eating.

If something is stuck in your pet’s stomach or intestines, your pet may vomit, exhibit depression or a loss of appetite, have abdominal pain, and diarrhea. Chronic obstructions may lead to severe illness and a life-threatening abdominal infection (known as peritonitis.)

If you observe your pet swallowing a piece of a holiday decoration, toy, or small piece of a pet treat, it is important to contact your veterinarian for medical advice. Your veterinarian may take x-rays to evaluate the problem. Veterinarians may also use other procedures (called endoscopic procedures) to remove objects from the esophagus and stomach. Your veterinarian may also need to perform surgery for intestinal blockages.

Please remember to always keep small objects from within reach of your pets and contact your veterinarian if you have concerns about something your pet has swallowed or exhibits symptoms of having a problem.

We aren’t publishing the FDA’s caution against holiday treats and toys to scare you into taking your pup’s squeaky toys away – we simply want to remind all dog owners to be observant when your pet is playing or eating. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, consult your veterinarian. You can read the original words of caution from the FDA here. Has your dog ever experienced an intestinal blockage or choked on a toy? Give us your story in the comment box below.

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Top Three Holiday Safety Tips for Pets

The holidays are a joyful and fun time of celebration. Ensure that the pet family members also enjoy the season with these three simple tips!



1. Don’t let pets get left out in the cold during holiday fun!

Shopping, parties, out-of-town guests or trips to visit relatives are frequent during the busy holiday season. While all of these holiday festivities are fun for humans, the drastic change in routine can cause stress to pets. Do your best to keep your pets on their regular schedule. If you plan to be out late or take a trip, be sure to book your pet sitter early to care for your pets while you are away and ensure they can enjoy the holidays in the comfort of their own home. To locate a professional pet sitter, visit www.petsit.com/locate.



2. Talkin’ turkey and other treats.

Eating healthy is hard enough for humans during the holiday season, but keep in mind that rich holiday foods can cause problems for pets too. Non-pet owning guests may give in when your cute pooch begs for table scraps so be sure to remind them it’s a no-no! Items such as fatty scraps, bones from pork and poultry, alcoholic beverages and chocolate are all toxic to pets. It’s also important to keep all paws away from:

Bread dough. When bread dough is ingested it continues to rise, causing an intestinal blockage.
Xylitol. This sugar substitute causes a dog’s blood sugar to drop quickly. Xylitol poisoning can be treated, but causes liver failure if not treated properly.


3. Tree trimming dangers.

As the time comes to decorate your home for the holidays, beware of the many dangers those pretty decorations can pose for pets. All the beautiful things used to decorate such as tinsel, ribbon, wrapping paper, strings of lights and holiday plants like holly and poinsettia may look like a yummy treat or fun chew toy to your pet, but ingesting any of these items can cause severe damage to the animal’s intestines. Drinking water from a live Christmas tree is also poisonous to pets. Keep a close watch on all pets to ensure they aren’t enjoying your decorations for a late night snack!

Adopt a Dog & Call Me in the Morning: How a Dog Could be Your Best Medicine 
Written on 12/02/2012
by Brandy Arnold in 
Front Page News, Lifestyle w/ Dog



Do you have a dog eagerly awaiting your arrival from work each day? If so, you’ve already gained firsthand experiences on the various health benefits of owning a pet. Because recent studies have proven that petting or even just looking at a dog improves health, physicians nowadays are prescribing four-legged friends to treat what ails us.

How Owning a Dog Promotes Well-being

Research reveals that when you pet your canine friend, your body becomes flooded with oxytocin, also called the “cuddle hormone”. Oxytocin makes you feel good and more connected with your pup. It also helps your wounds heal faster. Petting a pooch and, at time,s even just seeing one proves to lower blood pressure and reduce stress and anxiety levels. That’s maybe why some doctors now tend to forgo traditional medicine as their preliminary treatment option and instead prescribe pets. Not surprisingly, research reveals that people who have dogs have fewer trips to the doctor- 20% fewer to be exact.

Supporting Medical Research

Several research-proven references point out how pet ownership promotes good health:

· A study of hypertensive patients at Buffalo shows that having a pet helps to lower blood pressure.
· Another study at the Waltham Center for Pet Nutrition in Great Britain demonstrates that walking a pet aids in reducing stress since it soothes the nerves and offers immediate relaxation.
· An assessment workshop by the National Institutes of Health Technology discovered that having a pet contributes in preventing heart diseases by offering the pet owner trustworthy companionship.
· The book “Between Pets and People: The Importance of Animal Companionship” sheds light on how pets help in fighting loneliness and depression since the animal’s affection tends to promote in the owner an interest in life.

Further studies on medicine confirm how owning a pet can enhance health. For instance, living with a dog marks the following: lowered blood pressure, decreased heart rate, lessened blood triglyceride level, reduced stress response, and decreased weight. The encourage owners to get out and exercise every day. They make us feel safe and at ease. Most commonly, dogs are prescribed to patients dealing with anxiety and depression.

What’s more, under the Fair Housing Act, even communities that are otherwise pet-free, must make special allowances for service animals. This includes prescribed companion animals, not just registered service dogs.

Without a doubt, your adorable four-legged friend is more than just an amazing companion – he’s also great for your health!