Ask the Veterinarian

Q: What do I have to worry about for my pets at my superbowl party?

Posted

A: Cuddling up with your pet during your Superbowl party is a lot of fun. But you definitely want to be careful to prevent your pet from having a rough time.

If you are having a lot of people over, make sure they know not to feed your pet from the table. Too many table scraps can lead to a belly ache. Many things that you and your guests may be snacking on may also be toxic for your pets.

Drinks that have alcohol and/or caffeine can cause serious illness even with swallowing small amounts. In high enough doses, your pet can pass away. Make sure that your pet is kept away from these drinks.


Chips and Dip may contain onions and garlic. Although they taste great to us, they can lead to a life-threatening anemia to animals.

Guacomole contains persin which can be fatal to a pet bird. Chocolate is another snack found at most parties that can be fatal to dogs and cats. Nuts can be a choking hazard especially some of the larger ones. And Macademia nuts can lead to muscle tremors and vomiting.

If you are serviing chicken wings or ribs at your party, make sure all the bones are accounted for. If your pet ingests the bones it can lead to serious gastrointestinal upset. If the bones are swallowed in large chunks they can lead to intestinal injury or even obstruction.

Some pets don’t do well with large groups of people. It may be better to keep them confined in a quiet area of the house away from all the cheers and unsafe food.

The superbowl is a great time. It is a lot of fun to have friends over and your pet will sure to get a lot of attention. Be certain to pet proof your party as best as possible. Should your pet accidentally eat any of the foods and drinks mentioned, be certain to call your veterinarian immediately. Central Veterinary Associates in Valley Stream is open 24/7/365 including Superbowl Sunday for any help that you and your pet may need.

Central Veterinary Associates has clinic locations throughout Nassau and Queens Counties, including Valley Stream, Great Neck, Bayside, Forest Hills, Far Rockaway and Mineola.  These clinics are backed by our 24/7/365 state of the art Valley Stream Animal Hospital which serves as an emergency and surgical facility, providing advanced diagostic and treatment services, pain management, dentistry and boarding services for our clients.  

Our staff includes 18 veterinarians plus a board certified general practitioner and certified veterinary acupuncturist, a board certified surgeon, radiologist, and internist who are available for consultation.

In addition to our expertise with dogs and cats, our practice includes an exotics department with a special interest in birds, rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, rats, chinchillas and all reptiles and snakes.

You can reach us at 1-888-4CVA-PET. We are open at our Valley Stream location 24/7 including Halloween. For more information go to http://www.centralvets.com.