With the holiday season just around the corner, we will be discussing the more common threats to your pets at this time of the year.

One possible problem that your pet may encounter is during the holiday meals. You might be tempted to give your pet part of your Thanksgiving meal as a treat. Unfortunately, this food can upset your pet's digestive system, especially if they are used to regular dog or cat food only. Your pet could become very uncomfortable, have vomiting and/or diarrhea, or even come down with a bout of pancreatitis. It would be more advisable to buy a special bone or food treat that is especially for dogs or cats.

Chocolate is another possible danger to your pet. It contains theobromine, which can cause high fever, excessive urination, vomiting, diarrhea, and even seizures if ingested at high enough doses. Milk chocolate has low levels of theobromine, so overdoses usually occur only in small pets that eat a whole box of chocolates. Baking chocolate is much more dangerous because it contains much higher concentrations of theobromine. It is much more available at this time of the year as people do their holiday baking. If a small pet ingests even a small amount of baking chocolate it can be poisonous.

The decorative holiday plants such as poinsettia and mistletoe can also cause problems. They should be kept out of reach of both cats and dogs. Mistletoe berries can be fatal to small pets, and one poinsettia leaf can be lethal if eaten. The symptoms first seen are usually vomiting and diarrhea. If your pet is showing these signs, you should check these plants for evidence of any disturbance.

If you notice any of the above problems or suspect that your pet has ingested any kind of poison, your veterinarian should be called immediately. Treatment on your own should not be attempted since successful treatment often depends on professional care. Some home treatments might even cause more problems. For example, both acetaminophen (Tylenol) and ibuprofen (Nuprin) can be fatal if given to your pet, especially cats. Two Tylenol capsules given over 24 hours can kill a cat.

If you have any doubts about the health of your pet, your wisest move is to call your veterinarian for advice. In this way both you and your pets can enjoy a happy and healthy holiday season.

The writers are Dr. Steven B. Holzman, Dr. William R. Haagenson and Dr. Kathleen Tapley. They are associated with the Nassau-Suffolk Veterinary Hospital of Farmingdale.