Common Sources of Food Toxicity in Pets

You’re eating dinner and all of a sudden Fido or Fluffy flashes those big brown eyes and lets out a cute meow or woof. I know it can be tough to resist giving your beloved pet a little lick or bite of your favorite foods, especially when you’re both enjoying a night of Netflix and chill (and cuddles). However, feeding your cat or dog table scraps is the opposite of showing them how much you love them. Feeding your pet human food is a no-no, but these particular foods can cause a array of health problems, ranging from stomach upset to breathing problems to coma and even death.

Beware, these foods are downright toxic for your beloved cat or dog:

  1. Alcohol

I know Spuds MacKenzie was all about Bud Light. The original party dog did so surrounded by gorgeous women while playing the drums and even skateboarding! However, in reality alcohol of any kind (yes, even beer) is bad news for your dog or cat. Think of the effects alcohol has on your brain and liver and brain. Well, your pooches tolerance is a lot lower (the smaller the dog, the worse it will be), which means just a tiny sip of beer or wine can lead to stomach upset, vomiting, diarrhea, breathing issues, loss of balance, weak legs, coma, and death.

  1. Grapes

While grapes and raisins make a great snack for you and the kids. Don’t let them feed this fruit, fresh or dried, to your precious pets. Veterinarians warn that even a single grape or raisin may quickly lead to complete kidney failure, particularly in canines. Be on the lookout for sudden lethargy, fatigue, and vomiting.

  1. Garlic and onions

I can’t think of how often I’ve been dicing garlic and onions while preparing a meal and some fell on my kitchen floor. Now that I have a cat that’s always combing for floor score, I’m extra vigilant to pick it up and throw it out right away. Vegetables from the allium family, like onions and garlic, are particularly toxic for dogs, and may cause negative reactions in cats as well. Even a small amount of raw, cooked, or powdered garlic or onions may lead to vomiting, weezing, weakness, and complete toxicity.

  1. Chocolate

Despite claims from veterinarians, many people still don’t believe that chocolate is dangerous for pets. Chocolate of the white, milk, dark, and baking variety all contain theobromine, which is a bitter alkaloid found in the cacao plant, and a source of vomiting,  diarrhea, seizures, heart failure, and fatality, especially for dogs.

  1. Avocados

Something as good for humans as avocados can pose a double threat to pets. It all comes down to a specific substance in avocados, known as persin, which is prevalent in avocado skin, seed, and fruit, and often leads to vomiting and diarrhea, as well as intestinal blockages in food-combing cats and dogs. In fact, pet owners should be weary of leaving around any fruits with pits or large seeds, such as peaches, plumbs, cherries, and olives.