Blog The Dogs

‘People foods’ that can kill your pet
Created on May 14, 2008 7:28 AM by grandma_spoils_anya (55)
From chocolate to raisins, here’s what not to feed Fido — even if he begs

By Sloan Barnett
TODAYShow.com contributor
updated 4:07 p.m. CT, Fri., May. 9, 2008

It feels good to treat your pet to human food every once in a while. Those puppy-dog eyes are hard to resist as they watch you eat and try to convince you that they are starving! It makes you want to give them a taste of everything you eat. But beware: Giving in to those eyes and giving dogs human foods can actually harm them.

In 2007, the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center received more than 130,000 calls. Most cases of animal poisoning were caused by common human foods and household items.

Many foods we enjoy can be dangerous to animals. It’s best to stick to pet food and a diet recommended by your vet. Here are a few of the most toxic foods that can harm your pet:

Bad news foods
Avocados
They contain a toxic component called persin, which can damage heart, lung and other tissue in many animals. This fruit is very toxic to dogs, cats and most animals.

Beer
Alcoholic beverages can cause the same damage to an animal’s liver and brain as they cause in humans. But the effects can be deadly on animals since they are much smaller than us. The smaller the animal, the more deadly the effects can be. Even a small amount of alcohol may cause vomiting and damage the liver and brain.

Nuts
Walnuts and macadamia nuts are especially toxic. Effects can be anything from vomiting to paralysis to death. Within 12 hours of eating the nuts, pets start to develop symptoms such as an inability to stand or walk, vomiting, hyperthermia (elevated body temperature), weakness, and an elevated heart rate. These symptoms can be even worse if your dog eats some chocolate with the nuts. The effect can cause kidney failure, often leading to death.

Chocolate
Chocolate contains theobromine, which can kill your pet if eaten in large quantities. Dark and unsweetened baking chocolates are especially dangerous. Giving your pup a piece of chocolate cake or even letting him lick the chocolate icing on the cake could cause him to become ill. Theobromine can also cause a dog or cat’s heart to beat very rapidly or irregularly, which could result in death if the pet is exercising or overly active.

Candy
Candy or anything containing Xylitol (a common sweetener found in some diet products) can cause a sudden drop in an animal’s blood sugar, loss of coordination and seizures. If left untreated, the animal could die.

Caffeine
Coffee, tea or any product that contains caffeine stimulates an animal’s central nervous and cardiac systems. This can lead to restlessness, heart palpitations and death, depending on how much the animal consumes.

Grapes and raisins
Grapes and raisins can lead to kidney failure in dogs. As little as a single serving of raisins can kill them. And the effects are cumulative, which means that even if a dog eats just one or two grapes or raisins regularly, the toxin that builds in his system will eventually kill him.

Onions
Onions are another common food that can be highly toxic to pets. They can destroy an animal’s red blood cells and lead to anemia, weakness and breathing difficulties. Their effects are also cumulative over time.

Medicine
Hide medicine from your pets just like you would from your children. The most common cause of pet poisoning is from animals ingesting a medicine or drug normally prescribed for humans.

And this is not just because furry pals are getting into their pet parent’s medicine cabinets. In many cases, pet owners give their feline and canine friends an over-the-counter medication to ease an animal’s pain. But acetaminophen and ibuprofen, the active ingredients in many common pain relievers, are extremely toxic to dogs and cats. They can cause gastric ulcers, liver damage, kidney failure and sometimes death.

Good news foods
There are a few things that you CAN give to your furry pal. However, you should always consult a veterinarian before introducing a new food item to your pet.

Although these foods are normally harmless, some animals have sensitive gastrointestinal tracts. So even these healthy treats should be avoided if they cause gastrointestinal upset for your pet. Keep in mind that these and other “extras” should not make up more than 5 to 10 percent of the pet’s daily caloric intake.

Lean meats
Any cooked lean meat should be fine for most dogs. High-fat meats, chicken skin and fat from steaks or roasts are not recommended. Ingestion may lead to gastrointestinal upset or even pancreatitis. This can be a very painful condition for dogs. In addition, most companion animals do not need extra fat in their diets. Never give your pet meat with the bone in it. Animals can choke on the bones, and they can splinter as well.

Vegetables
Carrot sticks, green beans, cucumber slices and zucchini slices are all OK.

Fruit
Apple slices, orange slices, bananas and watermelon are all OK. Make sure the seeds have been taken out; seeds are not good for your pet!

Baked potatoes
Plain baked potatoes are fine, but make sure they are cooked — no unripe potatoes or potato plants.

Bread
Plain cooked bread is fine; just make sure there are no nuts or raisins added.

Rice and pasta
Plain, cooked pasta and white rice are OK. Often veterinarians recommend plain rice with some boiled chicken when gastrointestinal upset is present.

In case of emergency
Despite all the precautions you take to keep your pet pals safe, accidents do happen. That’s why the ASPCA, Humane Society and animal advocates advise pet owners to keep the telephone numbers of their local veterinarian and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center — (888) 426-4435 — in a prominent location.

Common signs of poisoning include muscle tremors or seizures; vomiting and diarrhea; drooling; redness of skin, ears and eyes; and swelling and bleeding.

If you suspect your pet has consumed, inhaled or come in contact with a toxic substance, stay calm and call for help immediately. If you see your pet consuming anything you think might be toxic, seek emergency help immediately even if she or he is not exhibiting any symptoms.

As your dog gets older, you will witness noticeable differences in him or her physically. Their teeth will begin to wear down and will change color. Their eyes may begin to change color as well and start to appear gray or blue. The tone of their muscle will decrease and they won’t be able to get around as fast or as easily as they once could. As your dog ages, they also will begin to experience various illnesses and chronic health problems.

Because dogs are often like part of the family, you will want to be able to care for them as best as you can and in a manner that the dog is still experiencing a good quality of life. You want to make sure that you are very vigilant and that you watch them closely. Study them and see if they begin to act differently, or if they seem to be in pain. It will be more important than ever to get checkup visits on a regular basis so that your vet can pinpoint any serious problems. You may want to do this as often as two times every year. These exams should include a blood workup.

If you are not sure of what warning signs to look for as your dog gets older, consider the following list.
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When your dog’s eyes are healthy, they should be bright and clear. They should not be swollen, inflamed or have any type of discharge. Any eye problems in your dog can be very painful and irritating for them and so it is important to make sure that they receive proper care if they begin having problems.

Some things to look for when you suspect your dog is having problems with their eyes, is a change in coloration. There eyes may turn red and they may swell. They also may have discharge or matter that’s either right on the eye or around it. If the eyes have a dull appearance or they begin tearing a lot, these are all signs that something is wrong. These are all signs that you will need to take your dog to the veterinarian.

There are various types of tests that your vet can perform on your dog when they believe that there is a problem. A couple of these tests include the Schirmer tear test which measures the amount of your dog’s tear production. The vet can also test to see if your dog has glaucoma by checking their ocular pressure. Corneal ulcers can be discovered with a fluorescein stain.

Common eye problems in dogs include cataracts, epiphora or glaucoma. Cataract problems in dogs is similar to what human beings experience. Their eyes will become cloudy and it can lead to blindness. For some breeds, this is a common occurrence. However, your vet will need to determine if this is what it is. Epiphora is when your dog has an excessive amount of tearing. This could be due to some type of blockage.
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A female dog goes into heat roughly two times a year. The first time they go into heat is when they are around seven to eight months old. However, small breeds may start sooner than that. You will often be able to tell that your dog is about to go into heat by looking at the vulva. It will swell and there will also be sightings of blood. This period generally lasts anywhere between 6 and 14 days.

It is very important for the owner of the female dog to track when they go into heat. This is for two primary reasons. The owner will either want to try to get their dog to breed around this time or they will need to take action if they are looking to prevent pregnancy. There are pills available that will prevent the female from going into heat. Medication is also available for males who are a little bit too sexually excitable.

If you want to prevent your dog from going into heat, you need to act within one to two weeks before the heating stage starts. After they have started going into heat, contraceptive pills should not be given unless there is a really good reason, although they can still be used. Many of the pills (or injections) will contain megestrol acetate, which will stop them from going into heat. The pill does have some side effects. However, they are pretty minimal. Make sure that you look at the package so that you know what the side effects are. The contraception is usually are given in a form of sugar and dogs easily ingest it without much fuss.
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The first thing that you want to do is to record when your dog first becomes pregnant. You can expect for your dog to give birth around two months later, or 60 days. Be sure that you make arrangements to be at home during this, and are prepared for the birth. Avoid giving your dog foods out with a lot of extra calcium while they are pregnant. This is especially true during the last week to two weeks of their pregnancy. Do not give them any type of calcium supplement. They will need some calcium, you just do not want to provide them with too much. While your dog is in labor and after the puppies are born, you may then give them extra calcium.

The first week that you determine that your dog is pregnant, you may have noticed some sort of morning sickness in your dog. They may also act differently. Watch them carefully for infection. You may want to make an appointment with your veterinarian so that they can examine her. Keep feeding your pet good, healthy dog food and provide any additives that you deem necessary. Your dog will still need to get plenty of exercise. Being in good shape will help them during labor and while they are caring for their puppies. You want to be careful about administering any medications. Talk to your vet first to make sure that any medicine that you give them will be safe. If you are worried about worms, again, speak to your vet, because there are medications that can be given even while your dog is pregnant. You will want to avoid giving them anything for insects or fleas and live vaccinations are also off limits.
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