Did you know…

Guacamole should not be given to your pets. Avocados contain a substance called persin. It’s harmless for humans who aren’t allergic, but large amounts might be toxic to pets. If you happen to be growing avocados at home, keep your pet away from the plants. Persin is in the leaves, seed, and bark, as well as in the fruit.

Beer, liquor, wine, foods containing alcohol — none of it is good for your pet. That’s because alcohol has the same effect on an animal’s liver and brain that it has on humans. But it takes far less to do its damage. Just a little can cause vomiting, diarrhea, central nervous system depression, problems with coordination, difficulty breathing, coma, even death and the smaller the animal, the greater the effect.

Onions and garlic in all forms — powdered, raw, cooked, or dehydrated — can destroy your pet’s red blood cells, leading to anemia. That can happen even with the onion powder found in some baby food. An occasional small dose is probably ok, but just eating a large quantity once or eating smaller amounts regularly can cause poisoning. Symptoms of anemia include weakness, vomiting, little interest in food, dullness, and breathlessness.

Caffeine in large enough quantities can be fatal for a pet. And, there is no antidote. Symptoms of caffeine poisoning include restlessness, rapid breathing, heart palpitations, muscle tremors, fits, and bleeding. In addition to tea and coffee – including beans and grounds — caffeine can be found in cocoa, chocolate, colas, and stimulant drinks such as Red Bull. It’s also in some cold medicines and pain killers.

Grapes and raisins have often been used as treats for pets. But it’s not a good idea. Although it isn’t clear why, grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in pets. And just a small amount can make a pet ill. Repeated vomiting is an early sign. Within a day, the pet will become lethargic and depressed. The best prevention is to keep grapes and raisins off counters and other places your pet can reach.

We often want to share our ice cream cone with our pet. But if your pet could, it would thank you for not doing so. Milk and milk-based products can cause diarrhea and other digestive upset as well as set up food allergies (which causes itchiness).

Pets should not eat macadamia nuts or foods containing macadamia nuts because they can be fatal. As few as six raw or roasted macadamia nuts can make an animal ill. Symptoms of poisoning include muscle tremors, weakness or paralysis of the hindquarters, vomiting, elevated body temperature, and rapid heart rate. Eating chocolate with the nuts will make symptoms worse, possibly leading to death.

Candy, gum, toothpaste, baked goods, and some diet foods are sweetened with xylitol. Xylitol can cause an increase in the insulin circulating through your pet’s body. That can cause your pet’s blood sugar to drop and can also cause liver failure. Initial symptoms include vomiting, lethargy, and loss of coordination. Eventually, the pet may have seizures. Liver failure can occur within just a few days.

Most people know that chocolate is bad for pets. The toxic agent in chocolate is theobromine. It’s in all kinds of chocolate, even white chocolate. The most dangerous kinds, though, are dark chocolate, chocolate mulch, and unsweetened baking chocolate. Eating chocolate, even just licking the icing bowl, can cause an animal to vomit, have diarrhea, and be excessively thirsty. It can also cause abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures, and death.

Table scraps often contain meat fat that a human didn’t eat and bones. Both are dangerous for dogs. Fat trimmed from meat, both cooked and uncooked, can cause pancreatitis in pets. And, although it seems natural to give a dog a bone, a dog can choke on it. Bones can also splinter and cause an obstruction or lacerations of your dog’s digestive system. It’s best to just forget about the doggie bag.

The problem with fruits, such as persimmons, peaches, and plums, is the seeds or pits. The seeds from persimmons can cause inflammation of the small intestine in dogs. They can also cause intestinal obstruction. Obstruction is also a possibility if a pet eats the pit from a peach or plum. Plus, peach and plum pits contain cyanide, which is poisonous to both humans and dogs. The difference is humans know not to eat them. Pets don’t.

There are two problems with giving your pet raw eggs. The first is the possibility of food poisoning from bacteria like Salmonella or E. coli. The second is that an enzyme in raw eggs interferes with the absorption of a particular B vitamin. This can cause skin problems as well as problems with your pet’s coat if raw eggs are fed for a long time.

Raw meat and raw fish, like raw eggs, can contain bacteria that causes food poisoning. In addition, certain kinds of fish such as salmon, trout, shad, or sturgeon can contain a parasite that causes “fish disease” or “salmon poisoning disease.” If not treated, the disease can be fatal within two weeks. The first signs of illness are vomiting, fever, and big lymph nodes. Thoroughly cooking the fish will kill the parasite and protect your pet.

It’s not a good idea to share salty foods like chips or pretzels with your pet. Eating too much salt can cause excessive thirst and urination and lead to sodium ion poisoning. Symptoms of too much salt include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, elevated body temperature, and seizures. It may even cause death.

Too much sugar can do the same thing to pets that it does to humans. It can lead to obesity, dental problems, and possibly the onset of diabetes.

Before it’s baked, bread dough needs to rise. And, that’s exactly what it would do in your pet’s stomach if your pet ate it. As it swells inside, the dough can stretch the pet’s abdomen and cause severe pain. In addition, when the yeast ferments the dough to make it rise, it produces alcohol that can lead to alcohol poisoning.

Reaction to a drug commonly prescribed for humans is the most common cause of poisoning in pets. Just as you would do for your children, keep all medicines out of your pet’s reach. And, never give your pet any over-the-counter medicine unless told to do so by your vet. Ingredients such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen are common in pain relievers and cold medicine. And, they can be deadly for your dog.

Many other items commonly found on kitchen shelves can harm your pet. For instance, baking powder and baking soda are both highly toxic. So are nutmeg and other spices. Keeping food items high enough to be out of your pet’s reach and keeping pantry doors closed will help protect your pet from serious food-related illness.

If you think your pet has consumed something that’s toxic, call the emergency animal clinic or your vet at once.

Keep your pet on a healthy, well-balanced diet with a quality pet food. I recommend Taste of The Wild. My pets love it. Other safe foods are: lean meats that have been thoroughly cooked. You need to remove skin on poultry and bones from meat. Apples, oranges, bananas and watermelon are good fruits for your pet, but remove seeds, leaves and stems. Healthy vegetable snacks are: carrot sticks, green beans, cucumber slices, or zucchini slices. Even a plain baked potato is ok. Be sure not to let your pet eat any raw potatoes or any potato plants it might have access to in your garden. Let your pets enjoy plain white rice or pasta after it’s cooked. A serving of plain white rice with some boiled chicken can sometimes provide welcome relief from gastrointestinal upset.

Thanks to WEBMD for this helpful information.