Holiday foods can be toxic to pets – a veterinarian explains which ones and why
SalonDuring the holidays, it's typical for people to indulge in special foods. As a veterinarian and clinical veterinary researcher, however, I also know that some very common foods – including many popular holiday staples – are dangerous to pets. Sweet for people, poison to pets While xylitol toxicity is one of the more common emergencies we veterinarians see these days, it's still largely unknown among pet owners. Ingesting even the smallest amount of xylitol can cause a pet's liver to rapidly release insulin, causing hypoglycemia – unusually low blood glucose levels. Several delicious foods that are safe for humans can be very dangerous for pets in general – not just cats and dogs, but also birds, reptiles and pocket pets like mice, hamsters and gerbils.