ORLANDO. (Ivanhoe Newswire) –Most pet owners consider their dogs part of the family, which means tossing them the occasional table scrap. But while you probably know that chocolate is very bad for dogs, you may not know that the sugar substitute “xylitol” is also deadly. It can be found in some peanut butters. Here’s more on some other human foods that pose a danger to your pets.
You probably think raw meat is a rare treat for your dog, but they are just as prone to Ecoli and salmonella sickness as people. So cook it first, or keep raw meat out of reach at the next family barbecue.
Grapes and raisins are another no-no. They don’t affect all dogs, but they can cause kidney failure in some.
Lisa Mason, DVM, CCRT, DVA, a veterinarian at FloridaWild Veterinary explained, “It’s just like with people. Every person is different in their metabolism in what they can and can’t eat. Every dog is a little bit different as well.”
What about other fruits? Bananas are okay, and so are apples as long as you don’t feed them the seeds or core.
If your dog is simply begging for a piece of fried chicken, try to resist those puppy-dog eyes. Fried and fatty foods can cause pancreatitis, a potentially life-threating disease.
If you loaded your food with onions and garlic, avoid throwing the scraps to your dog. These come from the allium species of plants which can damage your pet’s red blood cells and cause anemia.
Sticking to just plain old dog food is always the safest bet, but some dog foods are better quality than others. You’ll want to research the company behind the brand.
“You might be paying higher quality for the label on the bag or the color of the bag, but it’s all coming from the same place as your lower quality meat,” Mason told Ivanhoe.
When in doubt, you can go to truthaboutpetfood.com to learn more about where your dog food comes from. Also, the ASPCA has a free app that lists all foods and plants that are toxic to your pet, whether you have a dog, a cat, a horse or a bird.
Contributors to this news report include: Jessica Sanchez, Producer; Roque Correa, Editor.
GOOD FOR PEOPLE, BAD FOR DOGS
REPORT #2367
BACKGROUND: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals lists out the most important human foods that dogs should avoid:
Alcohol: Alcohol can cause vomiting, diarrhea, decreased coordination, central nervous system depression, difficulty breathing, tremors, abnormal blood acidity, coma and death. Your pet should never have anything containing any alcohol. The ASPCA suggests calling the Animal Poison Control Center immediately if they consume any alcohol: 888-426-4435.
Avocado: Cardiovascular damage is among the top concern when a pet consumes an avocado. Birds, rabbits, donkeys, horses, sheep and goats are the major animals that should avoid avocados. For birds it can even cause death. Horses, donkeys and ruminants (sheep and goats) often get swollen heads and necks.
Citrus: Citrus and the essential oils in citrus can cause irritation and possibly central nervous system depression in significant amounts. If a small amount is ingested, a minor stomach ache is most likely to occur.
Coconut and coconut oil: In small amounts, coconut and oils will most likely cause no harm; however the skin of fresh coconuts does contain oils that may give your pet an upset stomach or diarrhea. However, in larger amounts it could be more harmful.
Grapes and raisins: The toxin within these two items is unknown, but grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in pets.
Macadamia Nuts: These nuts have been known to cause weakness, depression, vomiting, tremors and hyperthermia in dogs especially. Signs tend to show after 12 hours and can last up to 48 hours.
Milk and dairy: Pets cannot process large amounts of lactase, which is the enzyme that breaks down the lactose in milk, therefore dairy items can cause diarrhea.
Nuts: Nuts with high amounts of fat including almonds, pecans and walnuts can cause vomiting, diarrhea and potentially pancreatitis.
Xylitol: Xylitol is often used as a sweetener in many products including gum, candy, baked goods and toothpaste. It can cause an insulin release in your pet, which leads to liver failure. Signs that your pet may have ingested xylitol include vomiting, lethargy and loss of coordination. Seizures can also occur if it progresses. The liver failure and elevated liver enzymes will appear within a few days.
(Source: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/people-foods-avoid-feeding-your-pets)
* For More Information, Contact:
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA)
424 E. 92nd St
New York, NY 10128-6804
(212) 876-7700 (Monday-Friday, 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. ET)
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