Common Foods That Can Kill Your Pets

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Common Foods That Can Kill Your Pets

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The love for pet animals has been ever growing, and the people (owners) feel good to treat them with human food every once in a while. However, if the food given to pets is not the right one, it can have serious effects that may end up in fatality. So today, let us learn about the common foods that are harmful to pets.

1. Chocolate

We might love chocolate products, and we like to feed the same to our pets, but that’s not healthy. Chocolate products contain methylxanthines that can cause vomiting in small doses, and even death if given in larger quantities. Another harmful substance some chocolates contain is theobromine, which can cause your pet’s heart to beat very rapidly or irregularly, and may result in death if the pet is exercising or overly active. The common symptoms of chocolate poisoning in pets include vomiting, diarrhea and seizures. Note that dark and unsweetened baking chocolates and cocoa powder are more dangerous than milk chocolate.

2. Alcohol

As in humans, alcoholic beverages like beer, wine and cocktails, in much lesser quantities, can cause damage to an animal’s liver and brain. Alcohol can also be produced in your pet’s stomach if they ingest certain foods like yeast dough, and can be life threatening. Common symptoms of alcohol poisoning in animals include vomiting, breathing problems and coma.

3. Avocado

Avocado is a healthy food for us humans, but not so for our pets, because they contain a toxic substance called persin, which causes vomiting and diarrhea, and may damage heart, lung and other tissue in many animals. So it is better to avoid feeding this fruit to dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs and birds.

4. Grapes and Raisins

Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs; the potential symptoms of poisoning include vomiting, increased urination and increased thirst. These toxic effects of grapes and raisins are cumulative, which can build in your pet’s system and can eventually kill him. You can read about it in detail here.

5. Apple Seeds

Apple seeds might seem small and insignificant, but they contain cyanide that is proven to be deadly to animals, especially dogs. So do not give your pets whole apples under any circumstances.

6. Tea & Coffee

Coffee, tea or any product that contains the harmful theobromine and caffeine stimulates an animal’s central nervous and cardiac systems, which may lead to restlessness, heart palpitations and even death, depending on the consumption. So keep those drinks away from your curious pets.

7. Xylitol (Chewing Gum)

Xylitol is an artificial sweetener found in many products like sugar-free gum, candy and baked goods. Xylitol is toxic to pets, as it causes a rapid drop in blood sugar, resulting in weakness, seizures and Liver failure in some cases. The common symptoms being vomiting and loss of coordination, note that Chewing gum can also cause blockages in the esophagus or bowel, causing harm to your pet. Other concerns include obesity, dental problems, and diabetes.

8. Onions and Garlic

Onions and also onion powder contain sulfoxides and disulfides that can cause damage to red blood cells to cause anemia. Garlic too causes damage to the red blood cells of some pet animals. The size of the dose determines the level of poisoning; the symptoms of a toxic reaction include lethargy, breathing difficulties and reduced appetite.

9. Nuts

Nuts are thought to be healthy for human consumption, but some nuts like Walnuts and Macadamia can be toxic to pets. They contain tremorgenic mycotoxins that are produced by fungi and can cause seizures or neurological disorder in your pet. Walnuts can cause gastric intestinal upset or obstruction in your dog’s body. Macadamia nuts also contain toxins harmful to animals that can affect their organs. Symptoms of poisoning can range from weakness, vomiting, elevated body temperature and heart rate, to paralysis to death. Note that these symptoms can be more dangerous when your pet eats some chocolate with the nuts, the effect can cause kidney failure, often leading to death.

10. Bones

Some pets like Dogs like to have bones, but people must understand that those from fish, poultry, or other cooked meat sources can cause harm. The cooked bones are extremely brittle, and can bust up in your pet’s mouth, causing pain in their throat or stomach. So make sure to give your pets raw meat bones, and never the fish bones!

Remember that feeding your pet with natural foods will keep them healthy and also help with behavioral issues. Processed food can make your pet hyperactive, lethargic and irritable.