Warning to owners:

Don't give these sweets to your dogs

Xylitol is a sugar alcohol used as a sweetener in many products, including sugar-free gum and mints, nicotine gum, chewable vitamins, oral-care products, and baked goods. It can be purchased in a granulated form for baking and as a sweetener for cereals and beverages. Xylitol use in the United States has grown rapidly over the last few years.
The December issue of Veterinary Medicine magazine reminds us of the dangers of this popular sweetener. In their study of 8 dogs who ingested Xylitol, only 3 survived. One, a 3 year old standard poodle had eaten 5 or 6 cookies. A 5 year old Scottish terrier ingested 30 pieces of gum. A 4 year old Australian shepherd ate 12 cupcakes. Of the 8 dogs, 5 were euthanized or died of liver failure. Owners may be watching their diets by using Xylitol sweetened products. But they had better be watching their dogs to insure that they don’t get ahold of products that contain Xylitol.

Chocolate:

Unsweetened baking chocolate is the culprit here. Baking chocolate contains up to ten times the amount of the intoxicant (theobromine) that milk chocolate contains. So consuming a candy bar may not cause any problems other than a bout of diarrhea, but eating a chunk of baking chocolate can lead to serious intoxication. Clinical signs of chocolate poisoning (either milk or baking) include vomiting, diarrhea, urinating alot or leaking urine, heart arrhythmias, and possibly seizures. So if your dog eats a piece of your candy, don't panic - watch for gastrointestinal upsets, and call your veterinarian if you're concerned about your pet's symptoms.
But if your dog gets into your baking chocolate, it's probably wise to call your veterinarian about possible treatments.

Macadamia Nuts:

There have been reports of macadamia nut toxicity, especially when consumed along with chocolate. If you suspect your pet ate some macadamia nuts, call your veterinarian. Clinical signs might include vomiting, weakness, shaking or tremors, and difficulty standing.

Over-the-Counter Drugs:

Okay, so you and your dog overindulged a bit during the holidays. Is it okay to use the same medications on both of you for your upset stomachs? In a word - NO. At least not without checking with your veterinarian first. Most non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory medications (pain meds.) that are designed for people are dangerous for animals. This includes acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), and aspirin. These medications, whether the animal gets them by accident or they are given by the owner, can cause life-threatening kidney or liver problems, gastrointestinal upsets and bleeding ulcers. Plain aspirin is commonly used for pain relief but please check with your veterinarian to confirm dosage, frequency, and possible drug interactions.
OTC antidiarrheal medications also contain potentially harmful components - although they are still useful in controlling that occasional bout of diarrhea, please get the appropriate dosage from your veterinarian.

Miscellaneous:

The last two items are not particularly related to the holidays, but are things found around the house or garage.
Antifreeze (Ethylene Glycol):
Bad, Bad, Bad. Less than a tablespoon will kill a ten-pound cat and one-half cup will kill a twenty-five pound dog. Antifreeze has a sweet, pleasant taste, and animals are attracted to puddles that may have dripped from a car. (Ethylene glycol is also in some rust removers and photographic developing fluid.) If you suspect your pet may have been exposed to antifreeze, call your veterinarian immediately.

Coins:

A penny for your thoughts? That's okay, but keep those pennies away from your dog. Pennies minted after 1983 are composed of 96% zinc and as few as two pennies ingested by a twenty pound dog can cause problems. The zinc damages cell membranes in the liver and kidneys, and can cause severe anemia. "Penny poisoning" cases have a high mortality rate and should be considered serious.