Forwarded message - for info, please contact your veterinarian of
APCC emergency hotline at 1-888-4-ANI-HELP

Forwarded from ASPCA newsalert

PET HEALTH ALERT: BREAD DOUGH A NO-NO!

As the holidays descend upon us, there'll be many cooks in the
kitchen--but don't spoil your pet by giving him bread dough.
According to Jill A. Richardson, DVM, of the ASPCA Animal Poison
Control Center (APCC), when bread dough is ingested, an animal's body
heat causes the dough to rise in the stomach. As alcohol is produced
during the rising process, the dough expands. Pets who've eaten bread
dough may experience abdominal pain, bloat, vomiting, disorientation
and depression.

"We once had a case in which a Labrador retriever ate several rolls
that the owner had placed on the oven to rise. The owner didn't think
much of this, and was just upset that the dog ate part of the holiday
feast," Richardson recalls. "A few hours later, the owner noticed
that the dog looked very lethargic. He was resistant to move,
incoordinated and was retching." As the symptoms increased, the owner
brought him to an emergency clinic, which contacted the APCC.
Unfortunately, the dog's stomach was so severely distended that the
only option at the time was to surgically remove the dough. He was
also treated for alcohol toxicosis, caused by the fermentation of the
dough. The Labrador was kept at the clinic for the weekend and
recovered completely. Although he had ingested quite a bit of dough,
an animal needs to eat only a small amount to cause a problem,
because bread dough can rise many times its size.

Please take care not to let Fluffy or Fido in the kitchen
unsupervised when you're baking this holiday season--especially if
you've got a professional chowhound who's always on the lookout for
food. If you suspect that your pet has eaten dough--or any
potentially toxic substance--call your veterinarian or the APCC's
emergency hotline at 1-888-4-ANI-HELP for round-the-clock telephone
assistance.

Posted on SHARE Yahoo group Nov�20,�2001