They’re begging you – pleading for a taste. And you’re looking at a mound of leftovers, wondering what do with them. But veterinarians say there are many Family Feast foods you shouldn’t feed your pets. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center weighs in…
Keep ’em smiling – by making sure they don’t get their paws on certain human foods…
Most pet lovers know what not to feed their furry family members. Or at least think they do. No cho-colate, alcohol, onions or garlic. No salty snacks. No milk or dairy products. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. And we’re NOT talking lettuce, here…
You’d never guess…
Some of the potentially most harmful foods for your dog or cat are ones you love and probably con-sume regularly. Not only do they not harm you; they actually bestow nutritional benefits. But your best friends aren’t you. No matter how similar they may seem in many ways.
The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center provides an online quick reference to common foods that may harm your pets. We’re presenting a few today that you may no t know were dangerous…
(All quotes in the following list are from the ASPCA Quick Reference.)
Caffeine-containing Products
As dangerous as alcohol is – toxic and a depressant to pets – caffeine is just as harmful – toxic and a stimulant – at the other end of the continuum.
Chocolate and Coffee
Especially chocolate and coffee. These foods contain caffeine and compounds called methylxan-thines. These are nasty… “When ingested by pets, methylxanthines can cause vomiting and diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures and even death.
Coconut Products
It’s specifically coconut oil and coconut water that are potentially harmful to your pets. Coconut oil isn’t even recommended for humans, for various reasons. It’s worse for pets. And, “coconut water is high in potassium, and should not be given to your pet.”
Grapes and Raisins
“Tartaric acid is the toxic principle in grapes and raisins. Since dogs are not able to excrete tartaric acid, exposure to it can cause kidney failure.”
Nuts
“Nuts, including almonds, pecans, and walnuts, contain high amounts of oils and fats. The fats can cause vomiting and diarrhea, and potentially pancreatitis in pets.”
Macadamia buts are especially harmful: “Macadamia nuts can cause weakness, depression, vomiting, tremors and hyperthermia in dogs. Signs usually appear within 12 hours of ingestion and can last approximately 24 to 48 hours.”
Raw/Undercooked Meat, Eggs and Bones
“Raw meat can contain bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli that can be harmful to pets and humans.”
“Raw eggs may also contain Salmonella an E,coli bacteria. They also contain an enzyme called avidin that decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin), which can lead to skin and coat problems.”
“Raw bones may seem like a natural and healthy option that might occur if your pet lived in the wild. However, this can be very dangerous for a domestic pet, who might choke on bones, or sustain a grave injury should the bone splinter and become lodged in or puncture your pet’s di-gestive tract.”
Salty Snacks
Too much salt is as much a danger to your poets as it is to you. “Large amounts of salt can produce excessive thirst and urination, or even sodium ion poisoning in pets. Signs that your pet may have eaten too many salty foods include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, elevated body temper-ature, seizures and even death.”
Yeast Doughs
This entry refers to raw, unbaked yeast-raised doughs. “Yeast dough can rise and cause gas to ac-cumulate in your pet’s digestive system. This can be painful and can cause the stomach to bloat, and potentially twist, becoming a life threatening emergency. The yeast [also] produces ethanol as a by-product, and a dog ingesting raw bread dough can become drunk.”
My take
There are more-exhaustive lists online of common, everyday human foods that are potentially dan-gerous to your pets. If you’re an adventurous eater and like to try exotic foods, you should have a look at those lists, too.
Meanwhile. You should consider poison-proofing your home, especially at holiday time when you may have bowls of treats sitting out for guests. Put the bowls or buffet platters up higher than your pets can reach – and keep an eye on your furry familiars so you can discourage them from jumping up.
And make sure any guests or visiting family members know your ‘house rules’ for what is and isn’t okay to give your pets.
If you suspect your pet has consumed something harmful, call your local after-hours/emergency veterinary clinic, or your region’s veterinary association poison control center. Or Google the specific food item including ‘poisonous to pets?’ in your query statement…
~ Maggie J.