Dangerous Foods for your Pets

We love our furry companions and want to show them as much love as possible.  Usually, this means we want to share our food and special treats with them too.  Even though we are innocently including them and showing love, we may be accidentally harming them since some foods that are safe for human consumption are actually quite harmful to them.

Grapes and raisins are harmful to both dogs and cats.  For an unknown reason they lead to kidney damage, resulting in vomiting, diarrhoea, inappetence, weakness and decreased urine production.

Onions, garlic and chives are also harmful to both dogs and cats.  These foods damage red blood cells, leading to anaemia.  Affected animals will show signs of anaemia, such as pale gums and mucous membranes, weakness, lethargy, vomitting and diarrhoea.

Chocolate, cocoa and caffeine (found in tea, coffee, cold medications and pain killers) are all very dangerous and can be fatal to both dogs and cats.  Toxic levels lead to  tremors, seizures, hyperthermia, abnormal heart beats, coma and death.

Macadamia nuts can lead to vomiting, weakness and joint and muscle pain and should therefore be avoided.

Xylitol is a sugar free sweetener used in many chewing gums and candy.  It stimulate the pancreas to produce too much insulin in dogs and cats, resulting in low blood sugar.  It can also be damaging to the liver.

Alcohol and uncooked yeast dough both contain ethanol which is harmful.  It causes sedation, depression, weakness, hypothermia, liver and brain damage.  Very small quantities can be deadly to cats.

Fruit pits and seeds contain cyanide which can result in coma, tachycardia and apnea.

Leaves, some fruits, seeds and the bark of Avocado contain Persin which, in very large doses, can cause stomach upset resulting in vomiting and diarrhoea.

Some items are more harmful to cats than dogs. A number of human medications is deadly to cats due to the presence of acetaminophen and ibuprofen.  Tuna in large quantities is dangerous due to mercury toxicity.  It is also not a very nutritious food and cats on a tuna-only diet will be malnourished.

Liver in large quantities can induce a vitamin A toxicity, resulting in deformed bones, bone growths and osteoporosis.

Any treat in large quantities is discouraged especially in cats due to the risk of obesity and diabetes.

In the midst of all these warnings and precautions, it must be known that some foods are ok to use as treats for your pets. Once the portions are limited and the food is cooked, pure, not fatty and not highly seasoned, they may be used from time to time as a snack or reward.

Lean meat is acceptable, especially in cats since they require a dietary source of meat.

Some fresh fruits are acceptable, such as apples, oranges, bananas and watermelon, once the seeds and stems are removed.  Some vegetables are safe as well, such as carrots, green beans, cucumber slices or even a plain baked potato.  Cooked plain rice and pasta can be used.

We all want to treat our pets. Let's do the right thing and choose the foods that are safe to use, to prevent unwanted illness or even death.  Contact your vet for more information or advice concerning these foods, or others that were not mentioned that you are interested in.

Let's work together to keep our pets happy and healthy :)