It’s an extremely good feeling to treat your pet with human food once in a while. No one can resist those forlorn, cute eyes and their endearing way of convincing you that they are really hungry! But can those occasional treats from the dining table hurt them? They definitely can! Not all foods that are good for humans are necessarily good for your pets.
So before you give in to their begging and feed them table scraps, beware of the toxic food items that can make your furry buddy really sick.
Here is a list of 10 such items that you should avoid feeding your pet:
1. Avocados
This healthy human food contains a toxin called persin that can cause heart damage and even death in pet birds and rabbits. In large animals like horses, cows, goats, sheep, buffaloes and donkeys, avocados can cause swelling and edema in neck and head.
2. Citrus Food
You should never feed your pet leaves, fruits, peels, seeds and even stems of citrus plants like lemon, grapefruit, etc. Citric acid in them can cause digestive and skin irritations and even central nervous system injury, if ingested in large amounts. However, eating small amounts like a whole fruit causes minor stomach upset only.
3. Raisins and Grapes
Feeding your pet even one or two piece of grapes or raisins can actually kill them! The toxic substance in them can cause kidney failure in dogs. Repetitive vomiting, sluggishness and depression within 24 hours of ingestion are the signs to look out for in your pet if you suspect they helped themselves to some grapes or raisins!
4. Nuts
Almonds, pecans, walnuts and macadamia nuts are highly toxic. Symptoms develop in your pet within 12 hours of ingestion and can include vomiting, hyperthermia, inability to walk/stand, elevated heart rate and even paralysis and death.
5. Onions and Garlic
Onions and garlic are the common foods that pets usually have easy access to in your kitchen. These two food items destroy red blood cells in your pet and causes severe anemia, breathing difficulty and weakness. Domestic cats and dogs are highly susceptible to such toxicity.
6. Chocolates and Caffeine
Chocolate contains theobromine that can cause cardiac problems, seizures, tremors and even death in pets. Hence, any food with chocolate in them should never be fed to your fur buddy. Coffee and tea contains caffeine (methyl xanthine) that can cause diarrhea, vomiting, palpitations, panting, excessive urination, thirst, and sometimes death in dogs and cats.
7. Alcohol
Even small amounts of alcohol can severely damage the liver and brain of your pet. Alcoholic beverages and food products can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, breathing difficulty, coordination issues, tremors, coma and sometimes death in pets. The effect is deadlier in smaller animals.
8. Xylitol
Food products like gums, candy, toothpaste, baked food, etc., contain xylitol as a sweetener. If ingested, it can lead to sudden drop in sugar levels in your pet due to insulin release. This can result in liver failure in just a few days. Toxicity symptoms include lethargy, vomiting, coordination problems and seizures.
9. Salty Foods
Feeding salt-laden foods like chips, pretzels, popcorn and even salt in regular meals can cause excessive thirst and urination in your pet and in some cases, sodium ion poisoning. A pet that has ingested too much salty food might show symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, high body temperature, depression, muscle twitching, seizures and even death.
10. Artificial Sugar
Sugary food or drink can lead to obesity in your pet leading to loss in muscle tone, flexibility and activeness. It can even cause diabetes in them. Too much sugar can also cause lots of dental problems and in some cases, can cause stomach upset and vomiting.
If your pet ingests any of the above items and shows symptoms of toxicosis, rush him to a vet immediately. Never give them human medicines without consulting your vet. Always keep an eye on what they put into their eager mouths!
Next time Fido wags his tail at you, do not give him that piece of chocolate cake! Instead, opt for safe and pet-friendly treats.