Foods to Avoid Feeding to Your Pets
Dog and cat choosing between veggies and meat. It looks like they’ve made their choice!
Pets are a part of our family, so it’s only natural that we want to share our food with them. There are some foods, however, that can cause health issues in our furry babies.
If you suspect that your pet has eaten any of the following foods, please note the amount ingested and contact your veterinarian asap or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435. (There may be a charge for this service.)
Alcohol
Beverages and food products that contain alcohol can cause vomiting, diarrhea, central nervous system depression, difficulty breathing, decreased coordination, tremors, liver and brain damage in cats, coma, and even death. Contact your vet at once if your pet has ingested any type of alcohol.
Chocolate
Chocolate contains substances known as methylxanthines (specifically caffeine and theobromine), which dogs are far more sensitive to than people. Different types of chocolate contain varying amounts of methylxanthines. In general, though, the darker and more bitter the chocolate the greater the danger. When ingested by pets, those methylxanthines in chocolate can cause vomiting and diarrhea, excessive thirst and urination, panting, hyperactivity, tremors, abnormal heart rhythms, seizures, and even death.
Coffee, Tea, Caffeinated Drinks
These contain caffeine which can cause restlessness, rapid breathing, muscle tremors, and heart palpitations.
Citrus Fruits
The stems, peels, leaves, fruit and seeds of citrus plants contain varying amounts of citric acid and essential oils that can cause irritation and stomach upset.
Fat Trimmings, Fatty Foods and Sauces 
Rich, fatty foods like fatty meats, chicken or turkey skin, and gravy can bring on stomach upsets and may cause pancreatitis. As tempting as it is to feed any of these to your pet, it is best to keep them away from him.
Grapes and Raisins
Cats are not likely to eat grapes or raisins, so it’s not known if there are any adverse reactions. Dogs, however, can suffer acute kidney failure. Until more information is known about the toxic substance in grapes and raisins, it is not recommended that you feed them to cats, and definitely not to dogs.
Milk and Dairy Products
If your pet is lactose intolerant, which means that they do not have significant amounts of lactase (the enzyme that breaks down lactose in milk products), they may experience diarrhea, vomiting, and other digestive upset.
Nuts
Almonds, pecans, and walnuts contain high amounts of oils and fats which can cause vomiting and diarrhea, and possibly pancreatitis in pets. Macadamia nuts can cause depression, weakness, tremors, vomiting, and hypothermia in dogs. Signs usually appear within 12 hours of ingestion and can last 12 to 48 hours.
Onions, Garlic, Chives
All members of the onion family can cause problems for pets if eaten in sufficient quantity. Cats seem more susceptible, but stomach upset is possible for dogs, as well, if eaten regularly or in a large quantity. Consuming a clove of garlic or a green onion will most likely cause digestive upset.
Raw/Under-cooked Meat, Eggs, Fish, Bones
Raw or under-cooked meat and eggs can contain Salmonella and E. coli that can be very harmful to pets. The raw food issue is controversial, and there are some experts who tout its benefits (shinier coats, healthier skin, cleaner teeth, and smaller stools), but there are also potential risks involved, which are: threats to human and dog health from bacteria in raw meat, an unbalanced diet that may damage the health of dogs if given for an extended period, and potential for whole bones to choke an animal, break teeth or cause an internal puncture.
Salt and Salty Snack Foods
In moderation, these foods are not harmful to pets, but large amounts of salt can produce excessive thirst and urination, vomiting and diarrhea, depression, elevated body temperature, tremors, and seizures.
Xylitol
This is a chemical sweetener used in gum, candy, baked goods,and toothpaste, When ingested by dogs, xylitol can cause lethargy, vomiting, seizures, and loss of coordination. In severe cases of toxicity, the blood sugar drops and liver failure may occur. In most cases, symptoms develop within 15 to 30 minutes of ingestion, but some sugar-free gums delay the onset of symptoms for up to 12 hours.
***NOTE****
Xylitol is really bad news for dogs. And dogs tend to be drawn to minty, sweet, or aromatic things. They regularly consume packs of gum and can wind up sick and possibly in the hospital for days.
It has therefore been assumed that xylitol would be as toxic to cats as it is to dogs, if not more so. However, cats have one big advantage: They don’t, in general, like gum or sweets, so xylitol exposure in cats is almost unheard of. Given the seriousness of the toxicity of xylitol in dogs, it is highly recommended that products containing xylitol be kept away from cats, too.
The Good News!
Foods Your Pet Can Eat
Cooked beef, Chicken, Turkey, Fish (all with no bones)
Eggs (well cooked)
Green Beans, Broccoli, Carrots
Cheese
Rice, Pasta, Bread
Sweet Potatoes, White Potatoes
Pumpkin (Canned or cooked – Contains Vitamin A and fiber – Good for sensitive stomachs, diarrhea or constipation)
Oatmeal
Yogurt (No sugar-free / containing xylitol)
Peanut butter
Assorted Fruits (No seeds or core!)
When introducing people food to your pet, start slowly. Your pet’s digestive system is different from a human’s, Keep in mind that every dog and cat is different, so try these foods in small amounts and if your pet has a reaction to any of them, consult a veterinarian.
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