Holiday Food May Lead Pets to the ER

Key Takeaways

• Holiday table scraps like turkey skin, ham fat, gravy, and other rich foods can trigger pancreatitis, a painful and potentially life-threatening condition in pets.
• Pancreatitis occurs when digestive enzymes activate too early and begin damaging the pancreas, causing severe inflammation and pain.
• The condition is most common around the holidays, when pets are more likely to consume high-fat human foods.
• Symptoms can range from mild to severe and include vomiting, diarrhea, hunched posture, behavior changes, dehydration, and heart rhythm issues.
• If signs of abdominal pain or vomiting appear, contact your veterinarian immediately; prevention starts by keeping pets off the holiday menu.

There is one simple thing you can do to avoid a trip to the animal ER this holiday season: avoid the temptation to feed pets from the table.

The skin of a holiday turkey, fatty parts of a ham, leftover gravy and other rich foods can all trigger an episode of pancreatitis.

Pancreatitis means inflammation of the pancreas, an organ that provides digestive enzymes and insulin. Under typical circumstances, these powerful chemicals help break down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates so the body can make use of the food; however, these enzymes are occasionally triggered early and actually begin to damage the pancreas itself. This causes severe inflammation of the organ and surrounding tissues. This is a very painful condition that is experienced most frequently around the holidays, when pets eat too much fatty food from holiday meals. This fat is thought to trigger the disease.

Symptoms range from mild to life-threatening and can include:

• • Changes in behavior
  • Hunched-up appearance
  • Diarrhea
  • Vomiting
  • Whimpering or whining
  • Dehydration
  • Blood clotting
  • Heart arrhythmias

If you notice a change in your pet's eating behavior or stance, or any signs of abdominal pain, especially with vomiting, call your veterinarian for immediate, life-saving treatment. Ask your veterinarian about condition-specific prescription pet food, such as Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets EN, which promotes intestinal motility and supports GI health in dogs.

Whether for horse, livestock, or pet, Valley Vet Supply is your one-stop shop for trusted care. Explore more of our pet category at ValleyVet.com