People will leave Halloween candy unattended, in many cases just for a moment. Dogs will pounce upon and devour the candy, wrappers and all. I see the consequences of this every year, time and time again.

Fortunately, most Halloween candy contains milk chocolate (click the link to learn more about chocolate toxicity in dogs)–one of the least dangerous types. And many seasonal treats are made mostly of nougat, which isn’t technically toxic. The wrappers generally are harmless.

But any dog that eats enough Halloween candy is at risk of more than chocolate toxicity or an upset stomach. Each year I treat several dogs for pancreatitis after they devour a stash of sugary treats.

Pancreatitis is a life-threatening inflammation of an organ that is involved in the digestion of food. Dogs who recover from pancreatitis are at increased risk of diabetes later in life.

Have fun this Halloween. But watch the dog!

A very nice family I met last night received a Christmas present from an acquaintance. They placed it, still wrapped, underneath their tree. Unbeknownst to them the package contained a pound and a half of dark chocolate.

Although the family had no way of knowing the package’s contents, their dog sniffed it out in short order. He consumed the entire block of chocolate and most of the wrapping.

Chocolate is toxic to dogs. Small amounts may cause no symptoms, or may cause mild agitation. Larger quantities can cause muscle spasms, high body temperature, and severe agitation. Fatal doses cause seizures, heart palpitations, and death.

This dog had consumed a potentially fatal dose. The family sought veterinary attention immediately. We were able to save the dog with intensive overnight management. But for much of the night a favorable outcome did not seem certain. Without prompt medical attention the dog certainly would have died.

In my mind, this story is a good reason to treat yourself to the pleasure of opening all of your gifts as you receive them.

Image originally found here.

The book, by Marion Nestle, is titled Pet Food Politics: The Chihuahua in the Coal Mine. It discusses the infamous pet food recall of 2007. In the incident, melamine-tainted pet food sickened and killed thousands of animals.

A main thesis of the book is that the problems that occurred in 2007 should serve as a wake-up call. If contaminants such as melamine can make their way into pet food, they can make their way into human food.

Ms. Nestle’s advice could not have been more timely. This month it surfaced that melamine-contaminated milk powder has sickened thousands of infants in China. Several have died.

And today a breaking news report revealed that melamine has been discovered in Cadbury chocolate.

At this time the extent and severity of the chocolate contamination are not known. But this incident does a great deal to prove that animal and human food safety are interlinked.

There are literally thousands of household products, plants, foods, human medications and chemicals that are poisonous to dogs and cats. To view two (non-comprehensive) lists of potential poisons, click here (for household products) and here (for plants).

Despite the huge number of hazardous plants and materials out there, I have noticed that three of them seem to be more commonly ingested by pets than the others. So, although I encourage you to be proactive about protecting your pet from all potential poisons, please be especially aware of these three.

I recommend that pets never be allowed access to any poisons. However, please be especially careful with the three listed above. Dogs are more likely than cats to be exposed to each of these poisons because they are less selective about what they eat.

If you suspect that your pet has consumed any poisonous product, contact a veterinarian immediately. Acting quickly can help to prevent serious consequences.

If possible, always bring the packaging from the product that was consumed, as well as any remaining product to the veterinarian’s office when you seek treatment. This will help the vet to positively identify the type and amount of toxin consumed.

Remember, however, that the best way to keep your pet safe from poisons is to make sure he or she does not have access to them in the first place.