Keep pets safe at your Superbowl party

Pet owners busy prepping their game-day snacks and greeting guests-not to mention watching the game and enjoying all those silly commercials-often forget to check on their furry friends. 

The problem with that, of course, is that pets will take advantage of those distractions and gobble up things like chicken wings, guacamole, chocolate or even alcohol.

Prep your pet owners for the big day with information on how their favorite game-day treats can harm their pets-and of course, recommend they contact you in the event their pet "scores" some of these dangerous foods. 

Here's the handout-download it now.

Dangerous foods and drinks:

Alcohol - Plain and simple, alcohol is a toxin and even small amounts can cause vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, coma or death in pets.

Chips & dip - Most dips contain onions and garlic, which destroy pets' red blood cells and can result in anemia. Salty foods, such as potato chips, can cause excessive thirst, urination and sodium poisoning.

Guacamole - Avocado contains persin, a substance that can prove fatal to birds. For dogs and cats, it's unclear how toxic it is, but it is recommended that avocados or anything made from them not be fed to your pets. The pit also causes concern for dogs, as it can lead to an intestinal obstruction or may even become lodged in their throats.

Ice cream - Everyone loves ice cream, including pets. Dairy products can upset their digestive tracts and cause stomach distress and diarrhea.

Nuts - Besides being a choking hazard, certain nuts, like macadamias, can poison your pets. As few as six macadamia nuts can cause your pet to experience muscle tremors, weakness, vomiting, fever and an elevated heart rate. Eating chocolate with nuts can exacerbate these symptoms.

Chocolate - Chocolate contains dairy (see “ice cream” above) and a chemical called theobromine, which can be fatal to pets.

Fat trimmings - Fat trimmed from meats, like barbecued ribs, can cause pancreatitis in dogs.

Chicken wings - While you might think it is second nature to give a dog a bone (or chicken wing, as the case may be), bones can cause obstructions in pets' digestive tracts and also lead to choking. They can also break off and puncture the animal's stomach lining.

Caffeinated beverages - Sugary sodas are a staple at any party, but not for your animals. The caffeine in soda or iced tea and coffee or tea can be toxic to pets and lead to abnormal heart rhythms, seizures and death.