Which Foods can be Hazardous to your Pet’s Health?

Posted by Admin on September 21, 2010 under Articles | Be the First to Comment

Many people can’t resist those sad puppy dog eyes staring longingly at them as they eat there yummy “human food”.  Unfortunately, many of us give into the temptation of sharing food with our pets.  If you are one of those soft hearted individuals, here are some guidelines to follow:

Avoid rich fatty foods.

Many of our pets are overweight which can lead to numerous health problems including diabetes and arthritis.  In addition, many dogs are susceptible to pancreatitis caused by fatty foods.  Pancreatitis can be a life threatening condition with acute onset of vomiting, abdominal pain and sometimes diarrhea.  The worst of the fatty foods are pork (especially bacon and sausage), deep fried foods, turkey skin, fruit cake and desserts.

Chocolate is a common cause of toxicity in pets.

It contains theobromine, a compound that is a cardiac stimulant and diuretic.  Symptoms of poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, hyperactivity, irregular heartbeat and seizures.  Large quantities of chocolate can even cause death.  Cocoa powder and cooking chocolate are the most toxic forms.  A guideline for toxic amounts are as follows:

• 1 ounce per pound of body weight for milk chocolate

• 1 ounce per 3 pounds of body weight for semi-sweet chocolate

• 1 ounce per 9 pounds of body weight for baker’s chocolate

Grapes and raisin can be toxic when ingested in large quantities.

The amount of grapes and raisins causing toxicity is between 9 ounces and 2 pounds, depending on the size of the pet.  The initial symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea. Signs of kidney failure occur within 24 hours of ingestion and death can occur is left untreated.

Onions cause hemolytic anemia, which is the rupturing of red blood cells.

This creates a shortage of healthy red blood cells available to carry oxygen throughout the body.  Symptoms of onion toxicity usually occur a few days after ingestion.  Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, shortness of breath and dark colored urine.  All forms of onions can be toxic including dried, raw and cooked.  Onion poisoning can occur with the ingestion of one large onion or repeated meals with small amounts of onions.

Seeds and pits from peaches, pears, apples, apricot, cherries and plums contain cyanogenic glycosides which cause cyanide poisoning.

A few seeds or a pit or two won’t cause a problem. However, the effects can accumulate over time if eaten regularly or with ingestion of large quantities at one time your pet can get sick. Signs of toxicity begin 15 minutes to several hours after ingestion.  Symptoms include salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, staggering, rapid breathing, muscle spasms and death.

There are several other human foods that can cause toxicity in your pet.  If you suspect your pet has eaten any of the items on this list please contact your veterinarian immediately.

This article is written by Dr. Denise Funk, DVM, a leading vet in Gainesville GA with Animal Medical Care, where she has practiced since 1996. Dr. Funk received her Doctorate from the University of Georgia’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 1992. She also has a Master of Science degree from the University of Georgia.

We hope you have learned something from this article and that the information can help you to care even better for your pet’s. Remember that a healthy pet is a happy pet.

Kind regards
Admin