Foods to Keep Away From Your Furry Friends

Foods to Keep Away From Your Furry Friends: A Veterinarian's Guide to Dietary Dangers for Dogs & Cats

The desire to share tasty treats with our beloved dogs and cats is something all pet parents understand. However, many human foods can be surprisingly dangerous, even toxic, to our animal companions, potentially leading to serious health issues. A seemingly harmless treat can sometimes lead to significant regret.

Today, as a Korean veterinarian, I want to detail in English the foods that you should never feed and those you should be cautious about giving to your dogs and cats. This knowledge is crucial for safeguarding their health and ensuring they enjoy a safe and nutritious diet.

Ensuring your pet's nutritional well-being goes beyond providing high-quality pet food. It also involves being acutely aware of common household foods that can pose a threat to their health. While some items cause mild digestive upset, others can lead to severe illness or even be fatal. Here’s a list of critical foods to avoid:

1. Chocolate: Sweet Treat, Serious Threat

• Why it's dangerous: Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, stimulants that dogs and cats cannot metabolize effectively.
• Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, increased heart rate, seizures, and in severe cases, death. Dark chocolate and baking chocolate are the most dangerous due to higher theobromine levels.
• Applies to: Primarily dogs, but also toxic to cats in sufficient quantities.

2. Onions, Garlic, Chives & Leeks (All Allium Species)

• Why it's dangerous: These contain compounds (disulfides and thiosulfates) that can damage red blood cells, leading to anemia (hemolytic anemia). All forms (fresh, powdered, cooked, dehydrated) are dangerous.
• Symptoms: Weakness, lethargy, pale gums, vomiting, diarrhea, increased heart rate, and collapse. Symptoms may not appear for several days.
• Applies to: Both dogs and cats. Cats are generally considered more sensitive.

3. Grapes & Raisins (Including Currants)

• Why it's dangerous: The exact toxic substance is unknown, but ingestion can cause acute kidney failure in dogs.
• Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, dehydration, increased thirst, and changes in urination.
• Applies to: Primarily dogs. While the risk to cats is less documented, it's wise to avoid them for felines as well.

4. Xylitol (Artificial Sweetener)

• Why it's dangerous: Xylitol causes a rapid release of insulin in dogs, leading to a life-threatening drop in blood sugar (hypoglycemia). It can also cause liver failure.
• Symptoms: Vomiting, weakness, lethargy, loss of coordination, collapse, and seizures.
• Found in: Sugar-free gum, candies, baked goods, toothpaste, some peanut butters, and other sugar-free products. ALWAYS check labels.
• Applies to: Extremely toxic to dogs. The effect on cats is less clear, but it's best to avoid it entirely.

5. Alcohol

• Why it's dangerous: Alcohol affects pets much like it affects humans but can cause damage more quickly due to their smaller size. It can depress the nervous system, cause respiratory failure, and even lead to coma or death.
• Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, incoordination, tremors, difficulty breathing, decreased body temperature.
• Applies to: Both dogs and cats. Keep all alcoholic beverages and food products containing alcohol out of reach.

6. Caffeine (Coffee, Tea, Soda, Energy Drinks)

• Why it's dangerous: Similar to chocolate, caffeine is a stimulant that can overstimulate the nervous system.
• Symptoms: Restlessness, rapid breathing, heart palpitations, muscle tremors, and seizures.
• Applies to: Both dogs and cats.

7. Macadamia Nuts

• Why it's dangerous: The specific toxin is unknown, but macadamia nuts can cause significant illness in dogs.
• Symptoms: Weakness (especially in the hind legs), depression, vomiting, tremors, and hyperthermia (elevated body temperature).
• Applies to: Dogs.

8. Cooked Bones

• Why it's dangerous: Cooked bones become brittle and can easily splinter. These splinters can cause choking, lacerations in the mouth and digestive tract, or intestinal blockages.
• Applies to: Both dogs and cats. (Raw bones also carry risks like bacterial contamination and dental fractures, and should only be given under supervision and after consulting your vet).

9. Dairy Products (Milk, Cheese, Ice Cream)

• Why it's dangerous: Many adult dogs and cats are lactose intolerant, meaning they lack the enzyme (lactase) to properly digest lactose (the sugar in milk).
• Symptoms: Diarrhea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal upset.
• Applies to: Many adult dogs and cats. Small amounts of plain yogurt or cheese might be tolerated by some, but it's generally best to limit dairy.

10. Raw Meat, Eggs, and Fish

• Why it's dangerous: These can contain harmful bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli, which can cause food poisoning in pets (and humans). Raw fish can also lead to thiamine deficiency in cats if fed regularly over time.
• Applies to: Both dogs and cats. If you choose to feed a raw diet, consult with a veterinary nutritionist to ensure it's balanced and prepared safely.

11. Fatty Foods & Fat Trimmings

• Why it's dangerous: High-fat foods can cause pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), a painful and potentially serious condition.
• Symptoms: Vomiting, severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and lethargy.
• Applies to: Both dogs and cats, though dogs are particularly susceptible.

12. Dog Food for Cats / Cat Food for Dogs (Long-Term)

• Why it's dangerous: Cats have specific nutritional requirements (e.g., higher protein, taurine) that dog food doesn't meet. Dogs eating cat food long-term may consume too much fat and protein.
• Applies to: A nibble here or there isn't an emergency, but these foods are not interchangeable for regular feeding.

What to Do If Your Pet Eats Something Toxic:

1. Stay Calm but Act Quickly.
2. Remove your pet from the source of the toxin.
3. Do NOT induce vomiting unless specifically instructed by a veterinarian. Some substances can cause more harm if vomited.
4. Immediately call your veterinarian or an emergency pet poison helpline. Have the product label (if applicable) and any information about the amount ingested and when it was eaten ready.

 

Your pet's health begins with your careful attention and correct information. Always make it a habit to check if a new food is safe for pets before giving it to them. I hope the information shared today helps you and your beloved dogs and cats live long, healthy, and happy lives together.