Alaskan puppy steals holiday treats

Luna the puppy from North Pole, Alaska, ingested a bag of Christmas candy and the head of a chocolate Santa Claus (Image courtesy of Pet Poison Helpline)

Historically, puppies will eat anything they can find. This proved to be true to Jacob Harvison from North Pole, Alaska, after a quick errand would almost result in an emergency room trip for his puppy Luna.

"We had just finished dinner, and my grandma gave us a bunch of candy," Harvison explained, in an organizational release.¹ "I had to run out for a few minutes, so I left the bag on my bed. While I was gone, my dog Luna was able to break out of her cage and get into the candy. There were wrappers everywhere. She ate an entire package of SpongeBob Giant Krabby Patties Holiday Sliders gummy candy."

Along with the gummy candies, Harvison reported that Luna also helped herself to the head of a chocolate Santa Clause, a bold move for living so close to the big man himself.¹ However, jokes aside, Harvison realized some of the candies he suspected Luna to have ingested could be toxic, so he called his local veterinary clinic. The clinic recommended to call Pet Poison Helpline.

According to the release, the experts at Pet Poison Helpline consulted with Harvison to determine the items Luna consumed and the quantity.¹ Because she ate Santa’s head, the team shared that chocolate contain methylxanthines, especially theobromine and caffeine, and when ingested can cause abnormal heart rhythm, diarrhea, elevated heart rate, hyperactivity, seizures, tremors, and potentially death.² Chocolate products can also contain other toxic materials, including raisins, coffee beans, macadamia nuts, or xylitol

"The holiday season is the busiest time of year at Pet Poison Helpline," said Renee Schmid, DVM, DABT, DABVT, a senior veterinary toxicologist and director of Veterinary Medicine at Pet Poison Helpline.¹ "We receive more calls involving chocolate than any other potential toxin, though it isn't usually in the shape of Santa Claus."

After speaking with Harvison, the team recommended he keep Luna at home, explained the symptoms to be on the lookout for, and cal back if any fure issues or concerns arise. Harvison explained that the call provided him peace of mind because he knows his pet would be okay, and it saved time and expenses of taking her to an emergency room.

"Thinking of a dog eating SpongeBob Giant Krabby Patties Holiday Sliders may be amusing, but it can still cause significant concerns. While the specific ingredients in these gummy treats were not a toxic concern, ingesting a large number of gummy candies can create a fluid shift into the gastrointestinal tract which can then lead to electrolyte abnormalities such as hypernatremia,” explained Schmid.

Pet Posion Helpline shared that among its calls regarding cholocate, 95% involve canine patients.

Reference

1. North Pole Nightmare Before Christmas. News release. Pet Poison Helpline. December 18, 2024. Accessed December 18, 2024. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/north-pole-nightmare-before-christmas-302334201.html
2. Chocolate. Pet Poison Helpline. March 3, 2020. Accessed December 18, 2024. https://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poison/chocolate/