Whether it is a treat for good behavior, or a way to dispose of food without putting it in the trash or down the drain, certain human foods can actually be toxic to our pet's. Some of the most common foods we may be inclined or tempted to give our pets include raw or undercooked meats, bones and eggs. Raw or undercooked meat as well as eggs, may contain bacteria such as Salmonella and E coli which is not only harmful to humans, but to our pet's as well. Raw eggs contain an enzyme called Avidin. Avidin decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin), which can lead to skin and coat issues. Feeding your pet raw bones may seem like a natural, healthy and harmless thing to do, however for domestic pet's this can be very dangerous. Raw bones may not contain high levels of toxins, but they can present a choking hazard, they may also splinter and become lodged in or puncture your pets digestive tract, which can cause your pet to sustain grave injury or can even be fatal.
Foods such as chocolate, Macadamia nuts, and avocados may be appealing to us, but are actually quite dangerous and can even be deadly to our furry companions. Chocolate, coffee, and other food products that contain caffeine are dangerous because of substances called methylxanthines which are present in cacao seeds, the fruit of the plant used to make coffee and in the nuts of an extract used to make some sodas. When these foods are ingested by pet's these methylxanthines can cause vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and urination, panting, hyperactivity, tremors, seizures, abnormal heart rhythm, and in worst cases death. Please take note that the darker the chocolate the higher the level of methylxanthines. White chocolate contains the lowest levels, while baking chocolate has the highest.
Cookies, candies and cake can also be tempting to give our pet as a treat, but again beware of the chocolate content, and also in many instances these food items may contain Macadamia nuts, which can cause weakness, vomiting, tremors, depression and hypothermia. These symptoms usually appear within twelve hours and can last up to forty eight hours. Cookies, candies and other baked goods may also contain xylitol, which is used as a sweetener in many products, and baked goods. Xylitol can cause insulin release which can lead to liver failure. The increase in insulin may also lead to hypoglycemia (lowered sugar levels). Symptoms may include vomiting, lethargy, and loss of coordination, and could progress to recumbancy and seizures.
A chip dipped in guacamole or the last two bites of a bacon, avocado, and cheese omelet may seem harmless, but the truth is avocado's contain persin, which in dogs can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Birds and rodents are sensitive to avocado poisoning as well, even more so than dogs, and can develop difficulty breathing, congestion and fluid may accumulate around the heart, and again in severe cases can even be fatal.
Other foods we may find easy to toss to our pet as a quick treat while we snack on them ourselves are grapes, raisins, and potato chips. Although the toxic substance in grapes and raisins is not completely clear, they can cause kidney failure, and in pets with certain existing health problems the signs of kidney failure may be more dramatic. Although potato chips are a popular snack in many households, they are a salty food, and feeding them to pet's should be avoided as large amounts of salt may cause excessive thirst and urination or even sodium ion poisoning. Symptoms of too much salt may include vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, depression, elevated body temperature, seizures and even death.
Another food product to avoid giving a pet is yeast dough. When baking bread or working with yeast dough, if a bit of it falls to the floor, it is best to pick it up and throw it away rather than letting the family pet clean it up, as it can rise and cause gas to accumulate in their digestive system, which can be painful and may cause the stomach or intestines to rupture. However after the dough is cooked and the yeast has fully risen, pets can have small bits of bread as treats, but should not exceed five to ten percent of their daily caloric intake.
Since we cherish our pet's and consider them part of our families, the best thing to do is to keep treats purchased from a veterinarian, or a local pet store on hand. This will keep them happy and healthy, and prevent unnecessary trips to the emergency room. But if you do believe your pet has ingested any of these foods, take note of what and how much and immediately contact your local veterinarian or call the ASPCA animal poison control center at (888) 426-4435.
Please let's keep our pets safe and healthy, because they are in fact part of our families!
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