Dr. Anthony Rush, an emergency veterinarian at Vedge in Flower Mound, warned members of the Flower Mound Animal Services Advisory Board on Oct. 29 that predictable holiday changes in routine and decorations drive an increase in preventable emergency visits for dogs and cats.

"The darker [chocolate] it is, the worse it is, the smaller the dog, the worse it is," Dr. Rush said, describing chocolate toxicity and other common holiday hazards. He listed sugar-free gum, greasy and fatty foods, moldy trash, grapes and raisins, onions and garlic as foods that frequently lead to vomiting, diarrhea, kidney damage or, in severe cases, seizures and death.

The veterinarian said decoration-related injuries are also common: "Anything shiny ... cats will try to eat it," he said, noting tinsel, ribbons and string can obstruct intestines and require surgery. Electrical cords and lights increase the risk of electrocution; Dr. Rush showed an x-ray demonstrating fluid in a lung after electrocution and said affected animals sometimes require oxygen for days.

Toxic holiday plants are another frequent problem. Dr. Rush named poinsettias, American holly, mistletoe and lilies, warning that some (particularly mistletoe and lilies) can cause systemic or kidney effects. He advised owners to assume plant parts can be harmful and to place them where pets cannot reach them.

Dr. Rush emphasized behavioral risks tied to disruptions: "There's more people in the house, open doors, new foods," which can increase anxiety and the chance that an animal will bolt and be hit by a car. He recommended microchipping and, for anxious pets, consulting a veterinarian about medications such as gabapentin.

He also cautioned about antifreeze: owners may see initial improvement after ingestion, but kidneys suffer damage that causes severe illness 36 to 72 hours later. For rat-poison exposures, Dr. Rush said toxicity depends on the poison type and may cause bleeding, neurologic signs or vitamin D–type toxicity; treatment varies accordingly.

Dr. Rush outlined cost ranges for emergency care: inducing vomiting can be roughly $400–$600; hospitalization $2,000–$5,000; surgeries in the ER setting can range from $7,000 to $10,000; and fracture care commonly adds $1,000–$2,000. He urged early action and noted the ASPCA poison-control line as a resource owners can call first; the ASPCA provides treatment guidance and will consult directly with veterinarians.

Vedge offers a 24-hour emergency room at Long Prairie and Cross Timbers, Dr. Rush said, with an "open concept" that allows owners to remain with their pets during diagnostics and procedures. He said that feature can comfort animals and owners but warned it can create safety incidents when an animal becomes reactive.

An audience member who had used Vedge praised the hospital’s care and recounted a home visit by Dr. Rush following a dog snakebite. Another asked about secondhand toxicity from a poisoned mouse; Dr. Rush replied a pet can become sick from eating a poisoned rodent and the effect depends on the poison.

Dr. Rush closed by restating the central message: many holiday emergencies are preventable through planning, supervision and early contact with poison-control or veterinary services.