Christmastime is no holiday for pets.

Byline: Susan Palmer The Register-Guard

Someone should write a song about the festive annual December trip to the veterinarian.

The trick would be finding a word to rhyme with pancreatitis.

That's just one of the illnesses dogs and cats face when overindulgent pet owners let them have their way this time of year.

Area veterinarians say the holidays - already known for holly, mistletoe and chocolate, all toxic to cats and dogs - mean an increase in the number of pets brought in with upset tummies.

"The biggest problem that we see around the holidays isn't anything toxic," said Mary Statdfield, a veterinarian at McKenzie Animal Hospital in Springfield. "It's just plain old gastrointestinal upset that can lead to pancreatitis."

The pancreas is the abdominal organ that helps the body digest fats and carbohydrates, and it can get inflamed when dogs and cats overindulge.

Better not to let Rufus lick a human plate clean or otherwise participate in the feasting, said Jerry Boggs of Bush Animal Hospital in Eugene. There are other ways to let your four-legged buddy share in the joy of the season.

"We're somewhat in charge of what goes into them, and we're the ones who pose the problems," Boggs said. "They're thrilled to get anything from us. ... Rice cakes are very good. They're low fat, high fiber and not a lot of calories." Dogs like them and won't get sick from them, he said.

Petplace.com, a Web site devoted to animals, has recipes for homemade pet treats - barbecue and chicken flavors for dogs, cheese and liver flavors for cats - if owners want to bake something special for their animals.

But crafty critters can get around even the best-intentioned pet owners.

Nancy Johnson, a veterinarian at the Veterinary Hospital on River Road in Eugene, once treated a terrier mix that had downed an entire turkey carcass. The bones compacted down into the small dog's colon like a block of concrete, Johnson said. It took "lots of enemas" and careful hand picking to clear it, she said.

Statdfield once treated a cat that licked the chocolate icing off a pan of brownies, and Boggs has seen his share of felines that swallowed Christmas tree decorations.

Chocolate has a caffeine-like stimulant that causes restlessness, vomiting, diarrhea and even death in some animals.

Grapes and raisins have been found to cause renal failure in dogs, who can die if not promptly treated.

Recently, sugar-free gum and candies have come under scrutiny, too.

The newest reports from the Animal Poison Control Center of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals indicate that the sweetener xylitol has sickened some dogs.

At least five cases of dogs experiencing hypoglycemia - low blood sugar - have been reported, Boggs said.

In one case, a 9-month-old 70-pound labrador ate 100 pieces of sugar-free gum and experienced seizures, Boggs said.

"Dogs love to put anything and everything into their mouths," he said. "They'll break into a bag and eat whatever's there and not think about it."

Other dangers to watch out for: strings of lights, which seem to attract puppies that bite on the wiring; and plants such as holly, mistletoe and Thanksgiving cactus, which when eaten can result in vomiting and diarrhea. Poinsettias have had a bad rap for years but are much less toxic, vets say.

Pets may also suffer psychologically during the holidays, when regular activities are disrupted, and visitors come and go, Statdfield said.

"Dogs may be fearful or aggressive and excitable because their normal routine is interrupted," she said. Owners can help their animals by reinforcing early obedience training before the parties start and the out-of-town relatives descend.

People who are traveling during the holidays should make sure their pets are healthy, whether the animals will make the trip or be left behind at a kennel, Statdfield said.

Health certificates are needed for animals traveling on an airline or crossing a state line, and most boarding kennels require them, too, she said.

HEALTHY HOLIDAY

Plants, good and bad: Lists toxic plants and nontoxic alternatives: www.petplace.com/articles/artShow.asp?artID=2780

Home-made treats: To bake yourself: www.petplace.com/Articles/artShow.asp?artID=3201

Latest poison updatesfor dogs and cats: www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=apcc

CAPTION(S):

Holiday foods pose special dangers for cats and dogs.