Toxic Foods for our Four-Legged Friends

by Dr. Deckard, DVM, Pets R Family

In the spirit of the theme of this November Food & Wine issue, I decided to cover the foods that we enjoy that are potentially toxic to our four-legged friends. I hope this helps as a guide to safety and great health in your beautiful pets.

Chocolate toxicity is one of the most common causes of pet poisoning during the holidays. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which are both classified as methylxanthines. These compounds can cause hyperactivity, increased heart rate, tremors, and potentially death. The more bitter the chocolate, the more toxic it is. Bakers and dark chocolate are the most toxic.

For us, these are a great accompaniment to a good bottle of wine and cheese, but these sweet fruits can be toxic to your pet. It isn’t clear to scientists just what makes raisins and grapes toxic to both cats and dogs, but even a relatively small amount can damage the kidneys.

Many pet owners are surprised to discover that onions and garlic contain sulfoxides and disulfides, which can damage red blood cells and cause anemia in cats and dogs. Onion and garlic powders are found in many prepared foods – even baby food – so make sure to read labels before serving any item to your pet.

goods and candy as well as sugarless gum & peanut butter, are on the rise. Eating it can result in a sudden drop in blood sugar levels, resulting in depression, loss of coordination, and seizures. The amount of xylitol in five pieces of gum has the potential to kill a 65-pound dog. Even gum that has been chewed can still contain levels of xylitol that can harm your pet.

When it comes to fatty cuts of meat and other fatty items including chicken or turkey skin, it’s better to throw them out than to feed them to pets as a treat. They can cause acute pancreatitis, a life-threatening illness with severe complications.

Potentially poisonous to dogs, cats and other animals, avocado pits contain a fungicidal toxin called persin. Avocado pits, if eaten, may trigger fluid accumulation in the lungs and chest, leading to difficulty breathing and death from oxygen deprivation. The avocado leaf is even more toxic than the seed. The seed can also potentially cause an obstruction in the gastrointestinal tract as well as the meat of the avocado due to its high fat content can cause pancreatitis. Moldy or Spoiled Foods These can contain multiple toxins that can cause vomiting and diarrhea and may affect other organs.

Because cats and dogs are smaller than humans, alcohol can have a much more deadly effect on them. Dogs are often attracted by the sweet taste of alcoholic drinks, especially eggnog. Even small amounts of alcohol can lead to heart arrhythmias, seizures, coma, and even death. Macadamia Nuts Though the exact reason is something of a mystery, these famous Hawaiian exports are considered toxic to dogs because they tend to cause gastrointestinal upsets, lethargy, vomiting and muscle tremors or stiffness. As few as six nuts can cause severe poisoning. These nuts, like many other human delicacies, can cause pancreatitis due to their high fat content.

Accidentally ingesting coffee grounds, or consuming any drink that is high in caffeine, can cause your dog’s heart to race. This can result in seizures, tremors, arrhythmias, vomiting, diarrhea, or difficulty in breathing.

Many times, ingestion of these toxic foods can be accidental due to pets getting into foods not meant for them to consume. Other times, it is intentional since we all like to give our pets treats to share our love for food and treat them to something special.

Unfortunately feeding foods that have either unknown ingredients or ingredients that are unknowingly harmful, can be devastating. While you enjoy your food and wine, keep to giving your pet the pet approved treats that are designed and safe for your pets. If you ever question a food your pet has consumed, consult your Veterinarian immediately for answers.