Foods That Are Dangerous To Pets

Foods that are dangerous to pets are aplenty out there, and most pet owners aren’t aware of what these foods are. Pets often want a taste of what you’re eating, and even though some foods may be safe for them to consume, many are highly dangerous food for pets. As paw-rents, it’s often fun to share our food with our pets – but we should always pause and think, “Is this safe or dangerous for my pet to eat?”

To learn about foods that are dangerous to pets, here’s a list that we’ve compiled for paw-rents to use as reference:

Chocolate, Coffee and Caffeine

Chocolate lover? Coffee drinker? Can’t make it through the day without your usual soda fix? All of these products contain methylxanthines. If your pet accidentally ingests chocolate or coffee, symptoms can develop hours later and the most common ones include vomiting, diarrhoea, panting, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures and even death.

Fatty Food

Foods that are high in fat and calories such as burgers, hot dogs, steaks, and fried foods can trigger vomiting and diarrhoea in pets. Ingesting dairy products like heavy cream, milk, and condensed milk can also lead to indigestion and pancreatitis in pets.

Alcohol

Beverages and foods containing alcohol can lead to serious vomiting, diarrhea, decreased coordination, central nervous system depression, difficulty breathing, tremors, abnormal blood acidity, coma, and even death. Pet owners should never give alcohol to their pets. If you suspect that your pet has ingested alcohol, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Bones

Aside from being choking hazards, bone fragments can end up in your pet’s stomach or digestive tract, causing a number of life-threatening health problems. Bones, whether raw or cooked, can splinter and puncture the roof of the mouth or tear the intestinal wall, resulting in expensive emergency vet treatment.

Nuts

Yep, and that includes peanut butter. Not all nuts are suitable for pet consumption due to risk factors such as potential choking hazards, blockage as well as excessively high-fat content that can lead to weight gain and obesity. Some nuts like walnuts or pistachios carry a mold that produces aflatoxin which can be deadly and cause liver failure in dogs. Also, keep your pet away from macadamia nuts which can cause weakness, depression, vomiting, tremors and hyperthermia.

Coconut and Coconut-Based Products

Fresh coconut pulp and milk contain oils that can cause stomach upsets, loose stools, or diarrhea. Coconut water is rich in potassium and should never be given to pets.

Grapes and Grape Products

Toxins in grapes and raisins are nephrotoxic and can cause kidney failure in dogs. The exact toxin has not yet been determined by researchers, but dogs appear to be at the highest risk compared to other species such as cats.

Raw/Undercooked Meat and Eggs

Dangerous bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli can be found in raw meat and raw eggs. Raw eggs also contain avidin, an enzyme that reduces the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin), which can cause skin and coat problems in pets.

Onions, Garlic and Chives

These veggies and herbs can cause gastrointestinal inflammation, red blood cell damage and anemia to pets. Cats are more sensitive, but dogs are also at risk if consumed in large amounts.

Salt and Salty Snacks

Avoid giving your pet salt-heavy snacks like potato crisps, crackers, and salty foods. Over-consumption of salt can cause increased thirst and urination as well as sodium ion poisoning, which can be fatal. Vomiting, diarrhoea, depression, tremors, high body temperature, convulsions are signs that your pet has consumed too much salt.

Xylitol

Xylitol is widely used as a sugar substitute in many products, including gum, candy, baked goods and toothpaste. It can trigger insulin release, causing hypoglycemia (lowered sugar levels) in pets and lead to liver failure. Always be sure to pay attention to the ingredients listed on food packaging so you can avoid products containing xylitol and keep your pet safe.

Do you suspect your cat or dog might have eaten some of the dangerous foods that are in the list? Need to take them for a check-up just to remove any doubts? JoJo Pets can help. JoJo Pets, a pet taxi service in Malaysia, provides safe and timely pet transportation. Let us know if you have any questions. Book a ride with us today!

JoJo Pets also offers cashless payment with their JoJo Wallet, including all major e-wallets, credit/debit card as well as online banking.

Download the JoJo Pets app today for exclusive news and offers at https://jojo-pets.com/