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Monthly Update
October 2011
Greetings!
Do you plan to celebrate Halloween with your pet? According to a study just conducted by the National Retail Federation, 14.7% of Americans dress their pets in costume for the holiday. If your pet is going to be sporting a different look this Halloween, we want to see it! Be sure to read the sidebar article about sharing your Halloween photos.

Halloween is a lot of fun, but it does pose some dangers to your pets. Believe it or not, chocolate is one of the biggest hazards. Be sure to read this newsletter's feature article on chocolate toxicity to keep your dogs and cats safe. For more Halloween safety tips, check out this article from the ASPCA.

Please let us know if you have a suggestion for other helpful "how-to" articles. Just send us an email or join us on Facebook.

Sincerely,

Kristin Anderson
Hospital Manager
Buzzards Bay Veterinary Associates  

 Trick or Treat: No Chocolate for Doggie to Eat  

Dog at Halloween 

It's the perfect time to carve a pumpkin and decorate for Halloween. But...be careful where you put that candy dish. Chocolate is actually quite toxic to dogs and cats. While cats usually turn their noses up at chocolate, dogs can gobble up treats and get very sick. 

 

The Dangers of Chocolate 

Chocolate contains three compounds that are very toxic to pets: theobromine, caffeine and methylxanthine. Different types of chocolate have different amounts of these toxic substances. Dark chocolate contains three times more of the compounds than milk chocolate, while baking chocolate has ten times more! An average Labrador Retriever would have to ingest a whole bag of milk chocolate candies to start having seizures, but just a couple bites of baking chocolate stolen from the counter would have the same result.

 

In addition to the toxic compounds there is also often a lot of fat in chocolate treats. The fat alone can cause a severe condition in dogs called pancreatitis, which causes vomiting and abdominal pain.

 

Symptoms of Toxicity 

Dogs that have eaten chocolate may show signs of vomiting and diarrhea, as well as excitability. If enough of the toxic compounds have been ingested, watch for more severe symptoms such as tremors, seizures, abnormal heart rhythm, and even death.

 

What to Do  

Dogs tend to have sensitive systems compared to us humans. Eating even a non-toxic dose of chocolate can cause vomiting and diarrhea, and require medical care. If your dog has ingested chocolate:

  • Save any packaging from the chocolate. It can be really helpful to calculate the amount of toxic chemicals your dog has ingested.
  • Call your veterinarian.  Be sure to report any vomiting or diarrhea. Your veterinarian can give some quick advice over the phone.  
  • For smaller doses of chocolate,  the veternarian may have you induce vomiting and recommend some monitoring and an exam to check your dog's heart.  
  • Larger dose ingestions may require hospitalization and possibly even critical care for several days.  

An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Keep all candies and treats that contain chocolate in a place where your dog cannot get to them. Educate your children and guests about the dangers of doggies eating chocolate. With a little extra care this season you can keep your dog safe from chocolate toxicity.

  

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

 

 
Quick Links
Pet Pics
Halloween cat

Is your pet dressing up for Halloween? If so, we want to see pictures! We'd love to share the photos in the next issue of the newsletter. Please email us your shots or post them in the  photo gallery on our website.

 

Office News 

 

Meet Joanna     

 

 Joanna

 

Joanna has been working as a Client Care Associate at Buzzards Bay Veterinary Associates for the past six years.  Prior to moving to this area, she worked at another veterinary practice near her home town of Milford, MA, for five years.  "It's easy to love my job because it's different every day," she says. "Just when I think I've heard everything, someone calls with a unique problem or a funny animal story."

When she's not working, Joanna enjoys spending time with her family, especially her children and grandson Leo, and her little ferrets "E" and "C".  She also enjoys hiking, biking, and running. In a recent 5K obstacle course race, Joanna placed 137 out of 275 runners!  She is an active member of her neighborhood beach association and lives in what used to be her family's summer home, a cottage her father built the year she was born.

"I feel so lucky to be living and working in this beautiful area with such a great group of people", she says, "I love helping people take great care of their furry family members."