Thanksgiving is often a time of indulgence for everyone, including our pets, who eagerly await any tasty scraps that may come their way. With so much activity in the kitchen and people moving about with plates of food, it's easy for a dog to sneak in a bite here and there. But what might seem like a harmless snack can be dangerously harmful to their health.
The Pet Poison Helpline (PPH) shared an important warning from Knoxville, Tennessee, about the risks that can arise when dogs nibble on holiday foods—especially unbaked dough. Last Thanksgiving, a golden retriever named Pippa had a scary experience after eating six unbaked rolls and had to be rushed to the emergency room.
Rebecca Collins, Pippa's owner, had left a dozen unbaked bread rolls on the kitchen counter to rise, covered with a towel. But when she went to place them in the oven, she discovered that half of the rolls were missing. At first, she couldn't figure out what had happened, but then it clicked—Pippa had eaten the dough.
As the holiday celebration continued, Collins noticed Pippa acting abnormally tired, which was unusual for the energetic dog. After putting the pieces together, Collins called the Pet Poison Helpline for guidance. They instructed her to take Pippa to the emergency vet immediately.
At the hospital, Pippa’s belly was found to be distended, as the dough in her stomach had started to rise. The vet worked quickly to try to stop the dough from expanding further by giving Pippa ice chips to cool down her stomach. If the dough kept rising, it could cause a life-threatening condition called stomach torsion.
Dr. Renee Schmid, a veterinary toxicologist at PPH, explained the dangers: “What would be occurring sitting on your kitchen counter ends up occurring in your pet’s stomach. The dough rises and causes a stretching of the stomach, and then the yeast ferments, producing ethanol, which can lead to alcohol poisoning.”
Luckily, Pippa was able to expel the dough without needing surgery. Collins shared, “It was a very expensive Thanksgiving Day at the dog ER, but she’s back to full health now.”
This Thanksgiving, Collins is spreading the word about the potential dangers of unbaked dough. “If I bake bread, I let it rise on the top of the refrigerator now,” she said. “But this Thanksgiving, I think I’m going to let someone else bring the rolls.”