Vets warn of dangers of candy

Steve Amsberry, a retired veterinarian living in Black Butte, asked The Nugget to remind readers of the danger of some candies to dogs. His brother, Mike, also a vet still practicing in Sisters, says that chocolate is the highest candy risk to canines.

“Chocolate contains several active chemicals, including theobromine and caffeine. They are far more powerful in dogs. Signs of chocolate toxicity vary by size of dog and the amount of chocolate eaten. Symptoms may take several hours to show.”

In most cases, a dog with chocolate toxicity may only exhibit vomiting or diarrhea. They may also exhibit restlessness, panting, excessive thirst, urination, or a high heart rate.

Some dogs will display more severe signs, including muscle tremors, seizures, heart failure, and leading possibly to death.

The website petMD says that hard candies can be problematic for dogs, especially the sugar-free varieties that may contain xylitol. Even a very small amount of xylitol can cause a severe drop in blood sugar in dogs, which can also lead to seizures, coma, and death. If you think your dog has eaten even a single sugar-free hard candy, call your veterinarian immediately.

Hard candies can also lead to choking and can result in obstructions if multiple candies “stick together” once they get to the stomach. Because the candy is slippery when wet, it can also easily be inhaled into the windpipe, obstructing breathing.

Mike Amsberry said: “And it’s not just Halloween. Throughout the holidays, especially at Thanksgiving, there are foods that dogs do not normally get which lead to problems.”

Both Amsberrys call for extra caution from Halloween through New Year celebrations. And it’s not just candies. Plants can be toxic according to Mike Amsberry.

“Poinsettias, popular at Christmas, can be toxic to dogs and cats. Easter lilies are a minor problem for dogs but potentially very dangerous for felines,” he said.

Research shows that if ingested, even in small amounts, Easter lilies can cause kidney failure in cats, ultimately leading to death.

In recent years Mike Amsberry’s practice has seen an uptick in emergency visits to the clinic from cannabis poisoning.

“We see two or three cases a month,” he reports.

Other vets in Sisters confirm more cases of marijuana poisoning.

VCA Animal Hospitals explain: “Cats and dogs can become intoxicated by cannabis in various ways, most commonly by eating edibles (e.g., baked goods, candies, chocolate bars, and chips containing cannabis), or by ingesting cannabis directly in any form.

“Pets can also be exposed to second-hand smoke. Most exposures are accidental when curious pets discover access to the drug or when they are present in the same room with a person smoking cannabis. Dogs have more cannabinoid receptors in their brains, which means the effects of cannabis are more dramatic and potentially more toxic when compared to humans. A small amount of cannabis is all it takes to cause toxicity in cats and dogs.

“Regardless of the method of exposure, accurate and complete information is imperative to treat the patient successfully. For example, ingestion of a ‘pot brownie’ needs different treatment than inhalation because eating the brownie requires treatment for cannabis and chocolate toxicity, whereas inhalation may require additional treatment for respiratory irritation.”