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Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years give us a reason to
celebrate with
friends and family. It is a time to enjoy sumptuous meals
and tasty
treats. For those of us with four legged family members it
is extremely
difficult to leave them out of the festivities. However, it
is important
to understand why we should refrain from feeding our pets
delicious
goodies other than their usual dog and or cat food.
Animals have completely different gastrointestinal tracts
than humans.
Their bodies do not digest food in the same manner and therefore,
should
not consume the same types of food. Allowing your pet to ingest
left over
foods of any content can cause them to have severe upset stomachs.
The
clinical term for this is known as Gastroenteritis, which
is inflammation
of the stomach and intestines. The two most significant signs
associated
with gastroenteritis are vomiting and or diarrhea. Other clinical
signs
include increased thirst and water consumption. These signs
may be
followed by a craving of unnatural articles of food such as
dirt,
houseplants, and grass. Later in this syndrome, the vomited
material and
diarrhea may contain blood resulting from the increased irritation
in the
stomach and intestines. The fluid loss may result in dehydration.
Your
pet may also exhibit extreme abdominal tenderness.
If you notice any of these symptoms it is recommended to call
the
veterinarian as soon as possible. Dietary restriction is the
initial
therapy for gastroenteritis. Your pet may not be able to eat
or drink for
several days and therefore; intravenous fluid may be necessary
to correct
any deficiencies. Medication may also be administered which
will suppress
vomiting and slow the movement of ingested materials through
the
gastrointestinal system (GI System). After diet restriction,
solid food
is reintroduced gradually over a 2 to 3 day period in the
form of a bland
diet. Eventually your pet will be able to resume its normal
feeding
regimen.
It is important to understand that even though your pet is
a part of your
family, he of she cannot celebrate the holidays in the same
manner as we
do. For the safety and the health of your pet please think
twice about
giving them some leftover turkey or ham, instead give them
a tasty treat
made just for them. Maybe some moist food he or she never
gets. By
being a responsible pet owner your 4-legged companion will
be much
healthier and happier.
If you have any question about gastroenteritis please contact
us. We
would be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Thank you,
Dr. Olsen and Staff
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