Did you know that Thanksgiving is the top day for eating in America? Do you know what the second day of food consumption is? Super Bowl Sunday! We all know the hazards that come with Thanksgiving but the Super Bowl brings a whole different type of hazards for our pets. Don't worry, we have compiled a list of many of the possible hazards that you may have at your Super Bowl party.
Trash
Plastic bags, utensils (forks, knives spoons), used to-go boxes and even toothpicks all pose hazards for our pets. Plastic bags and to-go boxes if found by pets can lead to suffocation if your pet gets its head stuck inside of it. Utensils and toothpicks, can cause choking issues and possible GI tract injuries.
Food
As stated above, Super Bowl Sunday is the second biggest day for eating. Chips, Dips, sweets, chicken wings, and pizza all lead the top of the grocery shopping lists. Roughly 1.33 billion chicken wings will be consumed. Chicken bones have a high chance of splintering if your pet eats them. Splintered bones can cause tears and punctures in the intestines. In addition, since they splinter so easily, the bones can lead to obstructions in the airway. If your pet eats a chip or two off the floor, nothing bad will happen. However, if they decide to take multiple mouthfuls of chips, there is an increased chance of GI upset (vomiting and diarrhea). Another big Super Bowl food is avocado/guacamole. No pet should be eating this as it is very high in fat and it can lead to kidney failure and organ damage.
Alcohol
At no point should your pet ingest any type of food or drink that contains alcohol, it is extremely toxic to pets. The ethanol and hops cause intoxication to pets. If your pet is showing signs of restlessness, seizures, lethargy, drooling, vomiting, panting, and even disorientation, call us as soon as possible. Alcohol intoxication can cause organ failure and can be lethal. This is a serious matter and does not prolong getting your pet medical attention.
If you're hosting a large party or just a small get-together on Super Bowl Sunday. make sure that your pets are being taken care of. This means that no one should be feeding them "treats" from the table and that they are not getting into any mischief, or the garbage! If your pet does not like large crowds or loud noises, it might be best to put them in a more relaxed environment away from the party. Make sure that they have access to water, their food, toys, and a place to lay down comfortably. If you are hosting a large party, make sure that your guests know that your four-legged family members are in the house, not to feed them any food, and most importantly to watch the exits if your guests need to go outside for any reason. Lastly, ensure that your pet's collar is on and they have updated ID tags with your contact information in case they do happen to slip outside while the door is open. This will make reuniting your pet a whole lot easier.
If you have any questions or concerns that your pet may have gotten into something they shouldn't have, please contact us!