Most pet owners know that chocolate is dangerous for our pets, especially dark chocolate. However, it is equally important for pet owners to be aware of other common “people foods” that should never be given to pets. A simple seasoning, plant, herb, or fruit that seems harmless to us can cause serious health issues in animals and can potentially lead to death.
Below are the top foods that pets should never eat or have access to:
Onions: Onions can wreak havoc on blood cells, causing anemia, liver damage, respiratory issues, and death.
Garlic: While this popular food seasoning contains the same compounds as onions, it takes a larger helping of garlic to do damage—but it should still be avoided. Cats are particularly sensitive to garlic.
Chives, Leeks, and Shallots: If consumed by pets, these herbs and plants are dangerous and potentially as toxic as onions.
Grapes, Raisins, Prunes, and Currants: A small serving of these fruits can cause kidney failure, severe liver damage, and death. Do not feed even a few to your pet!
Avocados: This pear-shaped fruit contains a toxin called “persin” on the fruit, the seed, the bark, and even the leaves of the avocado tree. Ingesting persin may lead to breathing problems, fluid build-up in the chest and abdomen, heart disease, and death. Be sure to keep your pet away from these trees and any avocados you have in the house.
Chocolate: Baking chocolate can be fatal, even in minuscule amounts. Dark chocolate is also toxic, causing cardiac arrhythmias, seizures, coma, and death. Milk chocolate is less toxic but still can cause gastrointestinal (GI) problems and, in large amounts, can lead to the same health issues as dark chocolate.
Caffeine: Coffee and coffee beans are poison for pets, just like chocolate. Ensure your pet cannot get into your coffee beans or ground coffee. Under no circumstances should you ever give your pet chocolate-covered coffee beans as a treat!
Tobacco: Nicotine is far worse for pets than humans, although it is toxic to both. Nicotine will damage a pet’s digestive system and affect the heart and nervous system, leading to a rapid heart rate that can cause animals to faint—and possibly never recover. Make sure to keep all tobacco products (including cigarette butts) where your pet cannot find and eat them.
Xylitol: Most commonly found in sugar-free gum, this artificial sweetener is also used in other sugar-free foods, such as candies and baked goods. Even small amounts can cause pets to have low blood sugar in a little less than half an hour. Symptoms include vomiting, weakness, and trouble walking, and can quickly escalate to seizures, liver failure, and death.
Fat: Large amounts of butter, margarine, fat trimmings from meat, and cooking oils will upset a pet’s GI tract and may lead to pancreatitis. Even worse, excessive fat consumption can lead to multiple organ failure and death. Pets do best with only small amounts of fat in their diet, which they get from their food. Never give your pet a fatty treat.
Peach, Cherry, Plum, Pear, Apple, Apricot, and Persimmon: The seeds of these fruits- as well as the stems and leaves of the tree- contain cyanide, which is very dangerous. The large pits and seeds of some of these fruits also can cause GI obstructions.
Bones: Everyone thinks a good dog needs a bone, but multiple health problems can be caused by chewing on bones. In fact, bones are one of the most common reasons for trips to pet emergency centers. Bones cause broken teeth, get stuck in the mouth and throat, and lacerate the oral cavity and the back of the throat, stomach, and intestine. They also can cause GI obstructions, which will require surgery, and they also can cause rectal bleeding. Buy safe toys and healthy chews and put the bones in the garbage where your pet cannot reach them.
If you think your pet has eaten something toxic, please call your local veterinarian immediately or contact the National Animal Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435.
