Killer “People Foods”

We all know that feeding our dogs chocolate can be toxic….but did you know there are other common “people foods” that can be deadly to your pet? In today’s post, I am going to go over a few foods that can be toxic to your pet.

I have to admit, I am a sucker for a sweet face, and when a dog is begging, looking at you with those puppy dog eyes, it is incredibly hard to say no. It’s not a bad thing to let your pet try people food every once in awhile, but you need to be aware of the dangers in certain foods. Some foods are better left for you to enjoy, and many others can be shared with your pet. It is good to keep in mind that too many treats may cause your pet to become overweight, so make sure you are giving your pet treats sparingly.

Dangers:

#1: Avocados- believe it or not, this fruit is toxic to dogs, cats, and many other animals. They contain a toxin called persin which can cause damage to the heart, lung, and other tissue in your pet. Keep that guacamole in your bowl!

#2: Beer- some people may find it humorous to give a pet a beer, but it is actually very serious. The alcohol in beer and other alcoholic beverages can cause the same damage to the liver and brain as it does in people. Since animals are much smaller than we are, the effects can be deadly to them. The smaller the animal is, the more deadly the reaction will be. A tiny amount of alcohol can cause damage to the brain and liver as well as vomiting.

#3: Nuts- the worst kinds of nuts to feed your pet are walnuts and macadamia nuts. They can cause anything from vomiting to paralysi to death. Symptoms usually appear about 12 hours after eating the nuts and you will notice your pet having trouble standing or walking, vomiting, hyperthermia (elevated body temperature/extreme fever), weakness, or an elevated heart rate. It is never a good idea to feed your pet nuts covered in chocolate. The effect of this toxic mixture can cause kidney failure.

#4: Chocolate- if eaten in large quantities, the chemical theobromine can be toxic to dogs. The most dangerous type of chocolate is dark chocolate and unsweetened bakers chocolate. The theobromine can cause rapid heartbeats in cats and dogs - which could become deadly if your pet is exercising.

#5: Candy- steer clear of anything with the ingredient Xylitol (this is a common sweetner found in diet products). This chemical can cause a sudden drop in your pet’s blood sugar, seizures, and loss of coordination. If immediate veterinary care is not sought, this could lead to death.

#6: Caffeine- as I said before with the beer, the effects of caffeine are intensified because animals are much smaller than we are. Just like in humans, the caffeine stimulates an animals central nervous and cardiac systems. Restlessness, heart palpitations, and death could follow depending on the amount your animal consumes.

#7: Grapes and Raisins- a single serving of grapes or raisins can be enough to kill your pet. Eating grapes and raisins can lead to kidney failure. The effects are cumulative which means that if your dog eats one or two raisins/grapes per day, the toxins will continue to build up in your pets system and will lead to death.

#8: Onions- I know we all love onions on our burgers, but this food for your pets is a huge no no. Onions destroy an animals red blood cells, and lead to anemia, weakness, and difficulty breathing. The effects of onions are also cumulative.

Now I would like to give you a few examples of foods that are good for your pet, and ones that he will enjoy eating!!

Delights:

#1: Lean meats- any cooked lean meats should be perfectly fine for your pet. Meats with high fat content are not recommended, they can lead to intestinal problems which can be incredibly painful to your pet.

#2: Vegetables- carrots, green beans, cucumber, and zucchini are all good for your pet!

#3: Fruit- apples, oranges, bananas, watermelon are all good treats for your pet. Just make sure you have removed all the seeds before feeding!

#4: Baked Potato- cook the potato all the way through - do no feed raw potatoes! Also make sure they are completely plain.

#5: Bread- again, this needs to be completely cooked (no dough), and make sure it is free of nuts and raisins!

#6: Rice and other pastas- they must be plain and completely cooked.

There are signs to watch out for if you think your pet may have ingested something poisonous. They include: muscle tremors, seizures, vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, redness of the skin, ears, or eyes, swelling, and bleeding. If you see any of these symptoms, RUSH YOUR PET TO THE VETERINARIAN NEAREST YOU! These could be signs of a serious emergency, and you need to act fast.

Thanks for reading! As always your participation in comments and discussions are encouraged and greatly appreciated!

For more information about the food items listed above, please check out this link!