
Many dog owners know by this point in time that chocolate is a big no no for mans best friend, but what some owners don’t realize is that chocolate is not the sole dietary concern for dogs and other animals alike. What is it exactly that causes chocolate to be toxic for most animals anyway? Chocolate has a component called theobromine, which for most animals like cats and dogs is toxic because of how slowly it gets filtered and metabolized. Humans and rats so far have been the only animals to have little to no issue with chocolate digestion (though I wouldn’t recommend giving pet rats chocolate as it could lead to obesity and accompanying issues).
However as previously stated, chocolate is not the only thing caring pet parents should worry about. Below is a compiled list of household foods that present a poison threat to your beloved pet.
Dogs
• Chocolate
• Caffeine
• Onions, Garlic, and Chives
• Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis (while these all can be fine enough for humans in small amounts, it only takes a small amount to cause serious illness or death in your beloved pet)
• Moldy foods
• Grapes and Raisins
• Macadamia Nuts and Walnuts
• Salt
• Xylitol (artificial sweetener in many foods)
• Yeast Dough
• Mustard seeds
• Leaves and Stems from Tomatoes and Potatoes
• Many Fruit Seeds and Pits (as most of these contain minor traces of plant based cyanide)
• Rhubarb Leaves
• Citrus, Coconuts, Coconut Oil, and Milk and Dairy (all can cause various forms of stomach upset and diarrhea in large doses)
• Raw/Under Cooked Meats, Eggs, and Bones (aside from the obvious risk of raw/under cooked foods containing anything from harmful bacteria to deadly parasites, bones present a risk of splintering and internal rupture. Softer dog bones are always a safer alternative).
• Greasy Fattening Foods
• Cat Food (fine in small amounts but it is not a healthy replacement for actual dog food)
Cats
• Tuna (In large amounts the mercury in tuna can prove fatal and tuna also is a poor nutritional replacement for actual cat food).
• Milk and Dairy Products (as with dogs dairy products can cause upset stomach and diarrhea)
• Onions, Garlic, and Chives
• Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis
• Raisons and Grapes
• Caffeine
• Chocolate
• Fat Trimmings and Bones
• Raw Eggs, Meat, and Fish (cooked in small amounts can be fine)
• Dog food (again, not dangerous in small amounts but not a stable replacement for cat nutrition)
• Liver (fine in small amounts but a large amount can cause a vitamin A deficiency that can wreak havoc on your cats bone health)
• Yeast Dough
• Many Human Medications
• Xylitol
Many of these same things that are harmful to cats and dogs are dangerous and potentially deadly for many other animals, including birds, small mammals, reptiles, fish, amphibians, hoofed pets and so on.
Remember to always consult a veterinarian if you have any doubts or concerns about what may constitute as an acceptable treat for your favorite animal buddy. Vets do not charge for this information and it is far better to be on the safe side than heartbroken over a pain that could have been easily avoided.
The information used in this article has been gathered from:
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