Food for Thought

November is a month of many changes. The leaves change color and fall from the trees. The end of grass cutting becomes the start of leaf raking. The temperature drops allowing us to wear warm weather clothes. School students will soon be taking their first Holiday break at Thanksgiving. Football season keeps everyone glued to their televisions. Which brings up the subject of what human foods are dangerous to your pets. While watching the football game or celebrating Thanksgiving, or any snack time, be aware of those begging eyes waiting for a morsel to fall to the floor or a child slipping something under the table. We need to make sure the food they ingest is healthy and not harmful to our furry friends. The following represents the most common items to be aware of their toxicity to your pets.

Human foods you should avoid feeding your Cat

1. Onions and Garlic – destroys red blood cells, can lead to anemia.
2. Chocolate – contains caffeine and theobromine.
3. Most Dairy Products -most cats are lactose-intolerant causing digestive issues.
4. Grapes – and raisins cause illness leading to kidney failure.
5. Nuts and Seeds – high in fats and calories, can lead to stomach upset.
6. Anything with Caffeine – a stimulant, leads to high blood pressure and cardiac arrhythmias.
7. Anything with Xylitol – toxic sweetener causing hypoglycemia, can lead to liver failure.
8. Raw Meats and Fish – raw foods can lead to bacteria and food poisoning.
9. Raw Dough – yeasted bread dough ferments in stomach causing bloating, disorientation, and ataxia (lack of voluntary coordination of muscle movements).
10. Cooked Bones – can splinter blocking the throat, cause internal damage to digestive tract.
11. Alcohol – can get ethanol poisoning leading to depression of central nervous system.
12. Citrus Fruits – substantial amounts can lead to diarrhea, vomiting and central nervous depression.

Human Foods you should avoid feeding your Dog

Many of the listed foods as being toxic for cats are also toxic for dogs.

1. Xylitol – hypoglycemia, vomiting, lethargy, seizures and leads to liver failure.
2. Avocado – contains the substance persin which causes vomiting and diarrhea.
3. Alcohol – lesser amounts can lead to vomiting, diarrhea, coordination problems, breathing problems, coma and finally death. Size of the pet should be considered.
4. Onions and Garlic – destroys red blood cells causing anemia, weakness, vomiting and breathing problems.
5. Coffee-Tea-Caffeine – Can be fatal, can be found in cold remedies and pain killers.
6. Grapes and Raisins – can lead to kidney failure, vomiting, depression, sluggish.
7. Milk and Dairy Products – can cause diarrhea and digestive problems.
8. Macadamia Nuts – muscle shakes, vomiting, elevated temperature, weakness in back legs.
9. Chocolate – contains theobromine, highly toxic, found in white chocolate and more so in dark chocolate and unsweetened baking chocolate causing vomiting, diarrhea, heart problems, tremors seizures leading to death.
10. Fat Trimmings and Bones – bones can splinter causing throat and digestive concerns, excessive fat can lead to pancreatitis.
11. Persimmons-Peaches-Plums – seeds and pits can obstruct the intestines, peach and plum pits contain cyanide.
12. Raw Eggs and Meats – contain bacteria and leads to salmonella or e.coli.
13. Sugary Foods and Drinks – overweight, tooth decay and diabetes.
14. Yeast Dough – ferments in the stomach causing bloating, pain and converts into alcohol.
15. Kitchen Pantry – substantial amounts of baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg and spices are toxic to dogs, keep all items out of reach.
16. Your Medications – keep all medications away from your pet, including acetaminophen and ibuprofen.