3 Valentine's Day Dangers to Your Pets

A bouquet of flowers, a box of candy, and a chocolate heart. Who wouldn’t be delighted to receive any one of these treats this Valentine’s Day? But although these may be a delight for you, they may pose a hidden health risk for your dog or cat.

Sadly, chocolate, xylitol in candies, and lilies all have substances that are potentially deadly to pets. Countless dogs each year come in for chocolate toxicity, and then there are the heartbreaking cases of cats poisoned by lilies, and dogs practically in a coma from eating low-sugar candies and cookies.

Chocolate

Picture this: A rambunctious pair of Labradors, bounding into the surgery for emergency treatment.

To look at them you’d think they were in bursting good health as they bounced off the walls with even more exuberance than usual. However, a clinical examination revealed a different picture. Hearts racing dangerously fast, with the potential for them to collapse at any second. Their hyperactivity was caused by too much of a chemical from the caffeine family, theobromine, in their bloodstream.

Unfortunately, chocolate contains theobromine, an extreme stimulant to dogs. It causes a racing heart and stimulates the central nervous system. Some dogs are so sensitive to the effects that even a small amount can cause seizures and death.

Treatment involves making the dog vomit, giving diazepam to calm their central nervous systems, and administering activated charcoal by mouth every few hours to mop up the residual chocolate.

It’s possible for a full recovery, but this isn’t always the case! So, take care where you stash those chocolates.

The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous for your pet. For more information about how much chocolate is toxic, see our article on Chocolate Toxicity.

Candy Containing Xylitol

Perhaps a lesser-known threat is the risk that low-sugar candies and cookies pose to dogs.

These may contain an artificial sweetener called xylitol. Unfortunately, xylitol and dogs don’t mix. The sweetener stimulates the pancreas to produce insulin, which in turn suppresses blood sugar levels. As if that isn’t bad enough, xylitol can also cause liver damage, which results in a problem with blood clotting.

Immediate treatment is essential to saving your dog’s life. This involves an emergency trip to the veterinarian, who will administer intravenous glucose and fluids (among other things), to try to get the blood sugar levels back up to normal.

Dogs who have eaten xylitol can suffer from excessively low blood sugar levels with 60 minutes and fall into a coma. Just as those chocolates, store these candies well out of paw’s reach.

For more information about the dangers of xylitol and other toxins, read our article on pet poison prevention in the kitchen.

Lilies

Beware of Valentine’s bouquets containing lilies — specifically, the big showy ones that are so common in floral displays. (Be alert for Easter, Asiatic, Tiger, Rubrum and Day lilies, as well as any flower from the Lilium family.)

If your cat chews on the leaves or petals, drinks the water that the flowers stand in, or rubs against the pollen and grooms themselves, they are at risk of kidney failure. We don’t know why this happens, but the fact remains that lilies contain something that is deadly to cats.

Sadly, there is no cure for lily toxicity. If your cat has just ingested lily pollen, prompt veterinary attention is critical. The cat may need their stomach pumped to remove any residual contamination. Aggressive intravenous therapy can help protect the kidneys and flush the toxin, but even this is not guaranteed to be successful.

The best advice is not to allow lilies in the house (or the garden) with cats. Some people suggest cutting off the stamens (the spiky bits bearing pollen) because the most common exposure is cats who brush past the bloom, get pollen on their coat, and then groom themselves. However, to be honest, the risk just isn’t worth taking.

I hope this Valentine’s Day brings you and a loved one closer, but to avoid heartache of an altogether different sort, for the sake of your pets, take care where you put those Valentine’s gifts.

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Your Dog's Gums and Problems to Watch For

Gums can be an often-overlooked part of a dog’s mouth, but they’re just as important to keep clean and healthy as your dog’s teeth! Below, learn more about what color your dog’s gums should be, gum problems to look out for, and how to help your dog maintain healthy gums.

What Color Should My Dog’s Gums Be?

If you want to know what healthy dog gums look like, look no further than the seafood bar at your local grocery store. Healthy gums should appear shrimp-colored pink and unhealthy gums will appear red and inflamed.

Certain diseases can cause discoloration of the gums. For instance, red, inflamed gums can be a sign of gingivitis. Gingivitis is caused by plaque, which is composed mostly of bacteria. Plaque can accumulate on the tooth surface especially in the space underneath the gum line. Gingivitis is also caused by the body's oral immune system reacting to the plaque bacteria on the teeth.

If your dog’s gums are other colors, that can also be indicative of additional health problems. If the gums are pale or white, that could be a sign of anemia. If the gums are blue that often means that your dog is not getting oxygen. If the gums are yellow in a dog, it can be a sign of Leptospirosis, a bacterial infection that can cause liver disease, and jaundice, which can also be a sign of liver disease.

Common Gum Problems in Dogs

Another sign of unhealthy gums? Bad breath. Bad breath or especially a sudden worsening of the breath is often associated with worsening of gum disease.

Gum disease is usually caused not by problems with the gums, but by bacteria on the teeth. So to take care of the gums, brush your dog's teeth. The best and most common way to prevent gum disease is to brush their teeth every day using a soft-bristle toothbrush. Brushing aside, you also can use products approved by your vet, such as dental-maintenance chews (we sell OrvoVet Dental Chews—just ask our receptionists!).

Periodontal disease is the most common cause of unhealthy gums, but other diseases such as immune-mediated inflammatory disease, bleeding disorders, gingival enlargements, and even oral cancers can also cause unhealthy gums. Periodontal disease is most common in dogs under 30 pounds. This is due to crowding—small dogs tend to have large teeth in a relatively small mouth.

Read more: Periodontal Disease and Treatment: Dental Scaling

Additionally, breeds like boxers can be prone to gum overgrowth, a benign condition that is genetic in nature. Although the condition itself is benign, it can result in an almost tumor-like overgrowths of gum tissue which can cause pseudopockets in the dog’s gums.

If you can imagine gum tissue growing up and around the tooth, you can imagine it forming this little nook, cranny or pocket between the overgrown gum and the tooth where fur and debris and food can get stuck and subsequently cause bad breath and infection.

Additional Gum Issues to Watch Out For

Younger dogs, and puppies especially, can come down with papillomatosis, or warts of the gums. Signs include the appearance of solitary, clusters, or even hundreds of warts. If you see one or two warts, don’t worry. Those will usually fall off in one to two months. Dogs with an abundance of warts, however, may need to have surgery to remove them.

Over time, the texture of an older dog’s gums can become more cobbled looking. A cobbled texture in and of itself is nothing to fret about, but cobbled gums can be a sign of cancer. Depending on the type of cancer, if the cobbled gums are accompanied by bad breath, oral pain, reluctance or difficulty chewing, and oral bleeding, seek out a vet to examine your pet.

However, rather than fret over textural changes, it's the color of the gums or if they are bleeding or look like they are going to bleed easily to be more concerned about.

Additionally, rough or intense chewing on a toy or a bone can cause gums to bleed. Sharp pieces of the chew toy could temporarily roughen up the gum. If this is the case, this gum condition normally is not a serious issue, unless the bleeding doesn’t stop. If bleeding lasts more than 10 minutes, it is advised to seek emergency treatment.

Bleeding gums could be a sign of oral cancer, kidney failure (high levels of ammonia can accumulate causing ulcerations and gum bleeding), or idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (or ITP)—when the immune system destroys platelets so blood doesn’t clot. If a dog consumes rat poison, it also could cause their gums to bleed,

How Can Gum Problems Be Treated?

If you suspect your dog has gum problems, head to the vet. Your veterinarian will perform a complete dental exam under general anesthesia and take dental X-rays to determine the appropriate treatment.

Treatment is based on the results of the exam and X-rays, and may include anything from a good cleaning of the plaque and tartar on the tooth surface to periodontal surgery or even tooth extraction. If other diseases are suspected (like an immune disease or cancer), a gum biopsy can be obtained and observed.

If you suspect your dog already has a dental disease, it’s best to have a vet treat the condition first and then start an at-home gum-care program.

If your pet has a preexisting dental problem that could be associated with oral sensitivity, it may be beyond the point where tooth brushing is going to do any help. It’s just going to irritate the dog. When your pet has a mouthful of healthy teeth left, then is the time to start on a home-care program with tooth brushing!

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What is Somatitis?: Inflammation of the Soft Tissues in the Mouth in Dogs

Stomatitis is the condition where the soft tissues in an animal's mouth, such as the gums and tongue, become irritated and inflamed. It can become a major issue if bacteria or infection enters the dog's bloodstream. Treatment options are available, and the prognosis is positive for animals suffering from this medical condition.

Symptoms and Types

Common symptoms or signs of Stomatitis can include:

• Pain

• Bad breath

• Ulcerated tissues

• Extensive teeth plaque

• Excessive drooling or saliva

• Fluid buildup in the gums

The primary types of inflammation are:

1. Ulcerative Stomatitis: This condition occurs when a significant amount of gum tissue is lost in a dog's mouth, and is frequently accompanied by inflammation of the oral tissues.

2. Oral Eosinophilic Granuloma: This condition occurs when there is a mass or growth in the dog's mouth.

3. Gingival Hyperplasia: This condition occurs when gum tissue increases in size.

4. Lypohocytic Plasmocytic: This condition is characterized by the presence of plasma cells and lymphocytes in the mouth -- each are types of white blood cells.

Causes

In puppies, inflammation can occur as teeth become overcrowded in the mouth. Several metabolic disorders are also known to cause this inflammation, including an abnormal amount of waste products in the blood stream, inflammation of blood vessels in the mouth (common with diabetes), inadequate levels of the hormone (called parathyroid) and lymphoma. Infectious diseases and injuries to the mouth can also cause the inflammation.

Diagnosis

A veterinarian will examine the dog's mouth for lesions, teeth decay, plaque and other noticeable signs that may be causing the inflammation. In addition, laboratory blood work will typically be done to rule out any other underlying medical condition for the inflammation.

Treatment

Antibiotics have been proven effective in reducing inflammation of a dog's oral cavity. In some cases, teeth will need to be surgically removed to reduce the inflammation. Teeth cleaning and proper dental and oral health should also ensure a quick recovery and good health for the dog.

Prevention

To prevent inflammation, your veterinarian may recommend that you rinse or brush your dog's mouth. There are also some topical ointments that can be used to reduce or prevent inflammation of the dog's gums.

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Is your bird overweight?

Believe it or not, there is such a thing as a fat bird. Too many seeds, too little flying or climbing and suddenly you could be looking at a serious health problem. Here’s what you need to know to make sure your bird stays in shape.

Why Birds Become Overweight

Obesity is a common health problem in captive birds, typically caused by poor nutrition and an all-seed diet.

In the wild, birds get a lot of exercise flying from tree to tree, escaping predators and searching for food. In captivity, birds usually have their wings clipped. If they go anywhere, they usually walk or climb. Their diet is frequently high in fat and low in important nutrients. This situation is the avian equivalent of the person who sits on the couch all day long eating French fries and cheesecake!

How to Know If Your Bird Is Overweight

Obesity in birds can lead to a variety of illnesses with the potential to be deadly. The most devastating is fatty liver disease, which is extremely common in Amazon parrots that eat an inappropriate diet. There are also fatty tumors called lipomas, which are particularly common in some of the smaller birds like budgerigars. Here’s how to know if your bird is overweight:

• Check the breast muscle. The best way to tell if your bird is carrying an appropriate amount of weight is by looking at their breast muscle, which lies over a bone called the keel. When you look at your bird from the front, there should be a bone running down its midline. This is the keel. To either side of that bone, there should be a rounded muscle. If your bird is too fat, they will have “cleavage.” In other words, the keel bone won’t be the most prominent part of your bird’s chest. If your bird is too thin, they will feel bony to the side of the keel and the area alongside the keel will feel concave (curved in) rather than convex (curved out).

• Look for fat. You can also look for subcutaneous fat (below the skin). Feathers grow in tracts, so there will be areas that are non-feathered. One of these areas is along the side of the neck beginning at the base of the jaw. If you part your bird’s feathers to look at this area, you should easily be able to see their jugular vein. If the vein is difficult to see, and there’s a yellowish tint beneath the skin, your bird likely has subcutaneous fat and is gaining unnecessary weight.

• Telltale signs. Other less specific signs of obesity may also be present. For example, if your bird gets out of breath with a small amount of exercise, it may be from carrying extra weight. Also, if your bird’s beak grows excessively long, it may be a sign of fatty liver disease, which is caused by obesity.

• Weigh your bird. Of course, you can weigh your bird periodically using a gram scale. Your veterinarian should also be keeping track of your bird’s weight during their annual physical examination.

Helping Your Bird Lose Weight

Just as it is with people, it’s all diet and exercise. Get your bird on an appropriate diet of pellets, vegetables, some beans, rice, pasta, and a very small amount of fruit. High-fat seeds and nuts are only for treats (the exception is the hyacinth macaw) and should be given in small amounts (one or two seeds) once or twice per week. Pellets should be left in the cage at all times. Home food should be left in the cage for no longer than 30 to 45 minutes at a time.

Try to increase your bird’s activity. If you have access to an outdoor flight cage, use it. If you’re in a situation where you can bird-proof your house so that they can fly indoors under close supervision, give them the opportunity to fly. Increase the frequency of showers because the preening and movement associated with bath time will burn calories. Increase activity by regularly changing the toys in their cage to increase stimulation. (However, be careful with this – if your bird is afraid of strange things, and is prone to feather picking, too frequent changes can be detrimental.)

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Keep pet birds away from these household toxins: teflon, avocados, lead, and zinc!

Did you know these three common household toxins—Teflon™, avocado, and heavy metals—present deadly dangers to your feathered friends?

Teflon™

The chemical name is polytetrafluroethylene, but most people know it by the tradename Teflon™. This compound likely lurks in your household not only as the lining of nonstick pans but also as a coating on heating elements, irons, ovens, and hair dryers.

When these appliances are heated, they can release a clear, odorless toxic gas. Unfortunately, most birds that inhale the toxic fumes will die suddenly or after a short course of having trouble breathing.

The products often state that very high temperatures—greater than 500° F—must be reached to release the toxic fumes, but factors such as imperfections in the coating can allow these fumes to be released at much lower temperatures. Birds are particularly sensitive to these fumes, so even a little bit can be deadly.

The best way to ensure that your bird will not suffer from such toxicity is to be educated about what household products are dangerous and to limit your bird’s exposure to them.

Teflon™ gas is a silent, but rapid killer. All bird owners should be educated about this household toxin. If they notice signs of difficulty breathing, including open-beaked breathing, sounds while breathing, a tail bob, and exaggerated chest movement while taking breaths, they should rush the bird to the nearest veterinary emergency room.

Veterinarians can attempt to save the bird with aggressive therapies, such as administering supplemental oxygen and controlling inflammation in the lungs. Affected birds are at risk for developing secondary infections, so they may also be given antibiotics and antifungal medications.

Because of the severity of Teflon™ toxicity, preventing exposure is the best option. The best way to ensure that your bird will not suffer from Teflon™ toxicity is to be educated about what products in your home have Teflon™ and limit exposure to your birds, particularly when those products are being heated.

Some households with avian family members will choose to remove all items that they know have Teflon™ coating and use pans with other non-stick coatings, such as ceramic. Other families will limit exposure by ensuring that their feathered family members are in a distant and well-ventilated room when any Teflon™-coated structures—including the oven—are being used.

Avocado

Avocados contain persin, which is toxic to the heart in several species, but not humans. All parts of the plant—skin, meat, pit, leaves—contain the toxin. The most common signs of persin toxicity in birds are collapse, lethargy, heavy breathing, and sudden death.

A bird that has ingested avocado should be rushed to the nearest emergency veterinary facility. If the avocado was eaten very recently, it may be possible to remove it from the bird’s crop— a pouch in the esophagus where food is stored—before it moves to the stomach and is digested.

Other emergency treatments include giving activated charcoal to bind the toxin and prevent absorption and giving cardiac medications to address any negative effects of the toxin. Again, the best treatment is prevention.

Heavy Metals

Lead and zinc, which are toxic to birds, are heavy metals commonly found in household items. Lead is not a naturally occurring element in the body, and when lead is introduced it interferes with many physiological processes, causing damage. Zinc, unlike lead, is required by the body for the normal function of certain enzymes. However, high concentrations of zinc can cause illness and toxicity, and birds are far more sensitive to the toxic effects of zinc than are humans.

Household sources of lead include older paint, drinking water in homes with lead pipes, food/liquid stored in crystal, stained glass, and other items containing solder, some jewelry, and lead fishing weights. Common sources of zinc include vitamins and supplements for humans, linoleum, galvanized metal, drinking water in homes with zinc pipes, some metallic toys, and some rubber items.

Birds with heavy metal toxicity may display a variety of signs, depending upon the amount of metal they have ingested. Typically the clinical signs are vague and include lethargy, fluffed behavior, and decreased appetite. Birds may also show signs of gastrointestinal tract disease, including diarrhea and regurgitation, as well as seizures and other neurologic signs. Anemia and kidney disease can also result from toxicity.

If you know that your bird has ingested a metal item or you are concerned that they have eaten something in your home that may have heavy metal in it, promptly bring your bird to an emergency veterinary clinic.

The best-case scenario is that the item can be removed from the bird’s gastrointestinal tract before the metal is absorbed. If your bird is acting sick in any way, a visit to your veterinarian should be your first step.

The best way to ensure that your bird will not suffer from toxicity is to be educated about what household products are dangerous and to limit your bird’s exposure to them.

If you have any questions about compounds that are toxic to birds, contact your local veterinarian.

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