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    By Dr. Patrick Mahaney

    Hanukkah brings so much excitement with rich (delicious) food, toys, gifts, and the beautiful Menorah, it can be easy to forget that these traditions aren't good for our pets. Plan ahead and use common sense to keep Fido and Fluffy safe over Hanukkah and other holiday festivities.

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    5. Doughnuts

    Doughnuts, also known as sufganiyot, are made of a fried dough filled with artificially colored red custard or jelly, and then sprinkled with powdered sugar. This celebratory pastry sounds tasty, yet is heavy on calories, fat, and sugar.
     
    A pet’s ingestion of Hanukkah doughnuts could lead to gastrointestinal signs, including vomiting, diarrhea, and decreased appetite. Severe endocrine conditions, such as pancreatitis, can also ensue from your pet’s inappropriate sufganiyah consumption.

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    4. Latkes

    Latkes are a savory Hanukkah treat harboring considerable toxic potential for pets. Potato and egg are combined with onion, fried in oil, and slathered with sour cream and/or applesauce. Fresh grated onion, one of the Latke’s three main ingredients, causes Heinz body anemia in both dogs and cats. Besides onion’s toxicity, Latkes are high in fat and carbohydrates, which are likely to upset your pet’s digestive tract.

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    3. Chocolate Gold Coins

    Each Hanukkah, children eagerly wait to receive coin-shaped chocolates wrapped in gold or silver colored foil (called "Hanukkah gelt"). Careless placement of these tasty treats could permit a curious pet to taste the precious bounty.
     
    As chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine (both methylxanthine stimulants), a dog’s consumption of the faux denomination can cause severe toxicity. Also, the metallic foil wrapper, sugar, and fat all can cause gastrointestinal problems, including vomiting, diarrhea, and pancreatitis.

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    2. Dreidel

    The whirling excitement of this four sided top may attract the interest of curious pets. Avoid dangerous gastrointestinal foreign body obstructions by preventing your pet from participating in the festivities. Additionally, keep the dreidel and other holiday game pieces out of your pet’s reach when not in use.

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    Next: Meet the Hanukkah Hounds

    1. Menorah

    The Menorah is a quintessential Hanukkah symbol. Over eight successive days, the candles are ignited until the Menorah is fully ablaze. That can pose potential life threatening danger for both pets and humans, since tradition dictates the candles burn themselves out, creating a fire hazard for the entire household.
     
    Confine your pet away from the room containing a lit Menorah, or update your Hanukkah observance by creating a pet-safe glow using battery operated candles.

    Top Give Pet Safety Tips For Hanukkah originally appeared on petMD.com