Make sure bones and toys aren’t hurting your dog

Deat Pet Talk: What items pose the biggest danger to dogs at Christmas time? — Cheryl MaguyStewart, Fitchburg

Dear Cheryl: We spoke with Dr. Jason Nicholas, of Preventivevet.com, a veterinarian and pet-safety advocate, who said treats and toys have hazards.

Starting with treats from the table, “a lot of meats are high in fat, especially skin after basting. This fat can cause pancreatitis in cats and dogs,” Nicholas said. The sodium content in ham is harmful for dogs with heart disease. If you are determined to feed a bit of “human food” to your pet, make sure you remove all skin, and wash the meat so all the fats have been removed.

Dr. Nicholas advises that the holiday season is not a time to experiment.

“Go with a reputable brand, treats your pet has had before and tolerates well. Because there isn’t oversight, treats made in the U.S. and Canada are probably better,” he said.

But what about that classic image — a dog with a bone? Not so fast, he says.

“Cooked bones can splinter. This can cause punctures and irritation to the esophagus.”

As for raw bones and elk antlers, Dr. Nicholas explains that “dogs will chew them on the side of their mouth. Hard bones are notorious for causing tooth fractures on the molars

and pre-molars. If you’ve had a fractured tooth, you know how painful that is.”

Pet owners who give their dog a bone on a regular basis “should pay attention to their dog’s teeth and be prepared to deal with any problems.” In other words, ix-nay on the ones-bay.

It’s natural to want to indulge our pets at the holidays. What about non-edible toys? Caution is advised.

“Dogs can bite off a toy that is too soft and ingest it,” he says. “Observe how your pet is interacting with their toys. If they’re not using it safely, take it away and try something else.”

Dr. Jason Nicholas can be found at www.preventivevet.com. Sally Cragin is the director of Be PAWSitive: Therapy Pets and Community Education. She welcomes questions about pets! Send them to sallycragin@verizon.ne t or text 978-320-1335.

COURTESY SALLY CRAGIN Pet owners who give their dog, like Bradley, a bone on a regular basis should pay attention to their dog’s teeth and be prepared to deal with any problems.