People foods you should never give your pet

Every now and again we love a good treat – a nice bit of chocolate or cake keeps us happy, or can be a reward for a good job well done. It seems only fair that, occasionally, we give our pets a treat too; after all, the leftovers from dinner aren’t going anywhere else but the bin, so you may as well let Rover have a taste. Before you decide to give him that tasty treat, you should stop and think about what is in the food – you could be doing more harm than good. Animal Friends is looking at those foods which should be avoided.

So what should you avoid?

Chocolate is a commonly known food to steer clear of for dogs, but the substance which makes it toxic can also be found in coffee or anything with caffeine, and is as bad for cats as it is for dogs. These contain methylxanthines which can cause a severe reaction in your pet when taken in large amounts, from hyperactivity, excessive thirst, panting and diarrhoea to tremors, seizures and even death. White chocolate contains far less Theobromine compared to baking chocolate, but any and all of these should be moderated and ideally kept well out of reach of your pet. If your pet has a sweet tooth, and especially enjoys the taste of chocolate, there are dog friendly alternatives that do not contain this toxin – with trial and error you may find one your cat likes as well.

Alcohol has a similar effect on pets as chocolate, but in addition to causing the problems above it can also cause central nervous system depression, decreased coordination, difficulty breathing, abnormal blood acidity and comas. Clearly, giving your pet alcohol to see ‘if they get drunk’ is completely irresponsible, and no caring pet owner would risk something like this with their pet, but you should keep in mind some food products do contain alcohol and should be kept away from your pets.

Avocados contain a substance called Persin and when ingested it causes vomiting and diarrhoea in cats and dogs, however birds and rodents are affected more strongly, and can suffer from congestion, fluid acclimation around the heart and difficulty breathing – it can be fatal in some cases. Don’t worry, unless you’re allergic it has no effect on humans, but this is a pretty serious list of consequences for our animal friends.

Grapes and raisins are highly toxic; despite this being circulated as an urban myth it is actually true! The toxin that causes the reaction is currently unknown, but the consumption of grapes or raisins can lead to kidney failure, which is a potentially fatal and very serious issue. Raisins seem to contain a higher concentration of the toxin, so you should be especially aware to keep these foods out of sight and out of reach.

Yeast dough can be dangerous for pets as it can rise in their digestive system and cause the stomach or intestines to rupture, however this risk is diminished after cooking. Pets can have a small amount of bread, but it should be no more than 5-10% of their calorific intake.

Raw eggs and meat can contain bacteria such as salmonella and E.Coli which can be very harmful to your pets but can harm you as well. Raw eggs can also cause coat and skin problems as they contain an enzyme called avidin which decreases the absorption of biotin. Raw bones may seem like a natural option to give to your pet, but just like with poultry bones, any fragments or shards which break off can cause a serious choking hazard for your pet, or splinter and become stuck in the digestive tract.

A substance that is particularly dangerous for pets is Xylitol, and this is found in chewing gum, sweet and as a sweetener in baked foods. Xylitol causes insulin to be released in many species and this can cause liver failure; signs of this include lethargy, loss of coordination and vomiting, which can progress to seizures and an inability to get back up from a prone position (recumbency). Liver failure can be seen within a few days.

Foods containing a high amount of fat can cause pancreatitis in your pets; this is where the pancreas responds to the high fat content by producing a large number of enzymes to break the fat down but the pancreas malfunctions when producing these high levels, and the enzymes end up digesting the pancreas itself. Clinical signs of pancreatitis include severe abdominal pain, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea, and depression. Most cases need medical attention immediately and overweight dogs are even more at risk.

Garlic, Onions, and Chives are foods that can cause gastrointestinal irritation and could lead to red blood cell damage. Cats are more at risk than dogs. As these are often used in sauces or to compliment foods, you should be careful when giving any leftovers to your pets.

Lastly, and somewhat unusually, is milk and salt. Despite what you may expect, too much of these can be more harm than good. Pets do not have a large number of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down lactose in milk – subsequently they suffer from diarrhoea and other digestive upsets when given too much. Large amounts of salt is just as bad for pets as it is for humans and with large salt contents in plenty of junk foods these days you must keep an eye on what your pet is eating or stealing from the table. Too much salt can cause excessive urination and thirst, and even sodium ion poisoning – signs of this include diarrhoea, vomiting, depression, tremors, elevated body temperature, seizures and even death.

Treats in Moderation

With all of these, moderation is the keyword. A little too much of anything can be harmful, so a balanced, healthy diet and a close watch on the treats you give to your pets will keep them healthy and safe for longer. Obviously, there are the times when Rover or Felix get into a pantry you previously thought was invulnerable – if you do have any fears when an entire bag of treats has been taken, or the supply of chocolate biscuits disappears, make sure you consult your vet.

We’re all guilty of giving our pets the occasional treat now and again, but pet specific food has been formulated with your pets best interests in mind so please try and keep their diet close to what they need rather than what they want.