A dog named Snoopy faced a health crisis after ingesting cooking oil infused with garlic and onion powder, highlighting the potential dangers of holiday foods for pets. Kiana Sutherlin, who was preparing chicken wings in her Minneapolis kitchen, discovered the hazards of common seasonings when Snoopy’s counter-surfing antics led to an emergency visit to the veterinarian.
Sutherlin, who describes Snoopy as a “notorious counter surfer,” had taken precautions to keep the used cooking oil out of reach. After frying the wings with significant amounts of garlic and onion powder, she covered the pan and left it on the stove. However, an unexpected phone call distracted her husband, Joe, allowing Snoopy to sneak into the kitchen.
“Joe left the kitchen for a few minutes, and Snoopy swooped in,” Sutherlin recounted. “When he got back, he found the dog had licked up almost all the oil, which of course contained a large amount of the seasoning.” The aftermath was alarming; Snoopy began vomiting shortly after the incident.
Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, Sutherlin contacted the emergency veterinarian, who advised her to reach out to the Pet Poison Helpline. According to Dr. Renee Schmid, a senior veterinary toxicologist at the helpline, “Onions and garlic can be deadly to pets if ingested in a large enough quantity, with garlic being five times as potent.” In this case, Snoopy had consumed a concentrated amount of garlic and onion powder through the cooking oil.
After detailing the incident to the helpline, Sutherlin was instructed to take Snoopy to BluePearl Pet Hospital in Arden Hills, Minnesota. “Because we had called Pet Poison Helpline in advance, they were able to develop a recommended treatment plan that was ready by the time we got to the hospital,” she explained.
The medical team at the hospital was concerned about several risks, including aspiration pneumonia, gastrointestinal distress, and potential damage to Snoopy’s red blood cells due to the seasonings. During treatment, he received medications to stop the vomiting, underwent fluid therapy for rehydration, and was given gastrointestinal protectants. Blood tests were ordered to monitor his red blood cell count in the days following the incident.
Fortunately, Snoopy made a full recovery and is back to his playful self, but the experience has left a lasting impact on Sutherlin and her family. “We make sure all garbage is secure and we clean up right after we cook,” she said. “In fact, now that I think about it, the whole thing was so traumatic that we haven’t fried anything since then.”
Pet Poison Helpline has initiated a program called Toxin Tails, aiming to educate both the veterinary community and pet owners about various poisoning risks that pets may encounter. All pets featured in Toxin Tails have been successfully treated for poisoning and have fully recovered.
Pet Poison Helpline is available 24/7 for pet owners and veterinary professionals seeking advice on potential poisoning emergencies. For a fee of $89 per incident, they offer expert guidance and follow-up consultations. More information can be found at their website, which also includes a chat feature for pet owners.
This incident serves as a crucial reminder for pet owners to be vigilant about food safety and the potential hazards posed by common household ingredients during the holiday season.