Season’s Greetings from the staff at Hurontario Veterinary Hospital. The holiday season is a wonderful time for us to thank all the pets and clients who make our jobs at the Animal Hospital pleasure all year long.

We would like to share two of our animal hospital’s favorite animal charities from 2010. The Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph has opened a new cancer treatment research facility and many Ontario Veterinarians have donated through pet trust www.ovc.uoguelph.ca/pettrust/ . We hope many dogs and cats will be helped and given more comfortable lives. Our animal hospital is also a supporter and a treatment donor of the Golden Rescue Service www.golden-rescue.net. The Canadian Golden Retriever Adoption Service is a volunteer-operated, not-for-profit charitable organization dedicated to rescuing treating and re-homing displaced Golden Retrievers. Their need is overwhelming.

To help our pets stay safe during the holidays, here are 10 hazards to keep your pets away from.

Ethylene Glycol: Dogs are attracted to ethylene glycol by its sweet taste. Early signs of ethylene glycol poisoning, include depression, vomiting, excessive urination, excessive thirst, and muscle twitching. In 12 to 36 hours, the dog may exhibit seizures, or become comatose. Vomiting and excessive salivation may also be noted. If emergency treatment is not instituted this toxin is usually fatal.

Chocolate: toxicity symptoms include increased thirst, vomiting, increased heart rate, or arrhythmia and can progress to seizures. Some chocolates are more toxic than others. It turns out that, for dogs, a chemical in chocolate called Theobromine is the source of the problem. Unsweetened (baker’s) chocolate contains 8-10 times the amount of Theobromine as milk chocolate. Semi-sweet chocolate falls roughly in between the two for Theobromine content. White chocolate contains Theobromine, but in such small amounts that Theobromine poisoning is unlikely.

Poinsettia: can cause vomiting and diarrhea in cats and dogs.

Raisins / Grapes; Raisins and Grapes can cause renal failure and even death.

Mistletoe: can cause vomiting, diarrhea, fluid loss and even death.

Macadamia nuts: can cause depression, inability to use the hind limbs and vomiting

Bulbs: The Amaryllis bulb can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs and cats

Road Salt: can cause significant comfort on the pads of dogs

Foreign Bodies: Pet proof your house. Toys ribbons and ornaments can be ingested by your pet

Hypothermia: Cats are more prone to hypothermia than dogs. Hypothermia is most likely to occur when a cat is wet, exposed to cold temperatures or winds .Some of the symptoms of hypothermia include, shivering, cold skin, collapse. Diagnosis is based upon a reading of your cat’s rectal temperature.

Again, the staff at Hurontario Veterinary Hospital extends our Seasons greetings to you and your family.

Sincerely,

Kathryn Hahn DVM, Susan Hedley DVM, Wendy Webster DVM,

Candace Waters DVM

Megan Leciago RVT, Heather Gilmore RVT, Whitney Bickle RVT

Justyna Gorska ACA Receptionist,

Krystal Shamoo, Megan Black, Lili Zander, Kristine Kertesz, – Assistants

Hurontario Veterinary Hospital an animal hospital in Mississauga, Ontario