The arrival of the holiday season will mean an increase in the number of pets visiting veterinarians for upset digestive systems due to consuming “human food” items. There are numerous tempting dangers for dogs and cats at this time of year.

Start with the Halloween candy that was brought home a couple of weeks ago. Dogs in particular may be tempted to consume candy. Many people have heard of the danger of chocolate toxicity, which could be fatal. This usually requires the ingestion of a very concentrated type of chocolate, such as baker’s chocolate. Eating any amount of chocolate, however, may cause gastrointestinal upsets, such as vomiting or diarrhea. The wrapping of the candy also can cause irritation or intestinal blockage. Keep candy out of pets’ reach. I can’t recall how many times I’ve heard stories of dogs getting into candy left on a low-topped table.

Thanksgiving and Christmas are typically times of holiday feasts and can be a source of tempting handouts or plates of leftovers for pets. Feeding dogs and cats foods that they are not accustomed to can cause a number of problems, from simple vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation, to intestinal obstruction or perforation or pancreatitis, which can be life-threatening. The most serious offenders are fatty handouts such as meat trimmings, bones and spicy dishes. We also seem to see many dogs that develop GI problems after eating tomato-based foods.

Last year, our hospital had a dog brought in a few days after Thanksgiving that had a severe case of pancreatitis caused by leftover ham. This dog was seriously ill and suffered a great deal over the next few days, though it eventually recovered.

Pet owners need to resist the urge to give their pets leftovers or “people food” as treats, and also be sure trash is secure, so that pets don’t get into the garbage for tempting things they can smell. The garbage can adds a couple of new risks to the picture in the form of bacteria that may proliferate on unrefrigerated food and food wrappings such as aluminum foil that pets may ingest from the trash.

The safest rule is: Never give your pets human food items. It’s natural to want to share with our companions during the holidays, but this can lead to unnecessary suffering, not to mention sizable health care bills. Purchase healthy treats made especially for dogs and cats, and give your pet a modest treat (not a handful) when you are enjoying your holiday delicacies. It’s a type of “tough love,” but you and your pets will be happier and healthier by being careful with holiday foods. Your pet’s doctor hopes not to have to treat one upset tummy from “people food” this year.

:quot; Greg McGrath is a veterinarian at Cedar Lake Pet Hospital in Biloxi, Miss.