PAWS AND REFLECT | Tasty toxics
Have you ever been seated at your dining table having a delectable meal and felt a nudge at your elbow, only to look down and see a pair of liquid-brown eyes staring sadly up at you?
Or those times you may be on your patio enjoying an appetizing sandwich and a cool glass of milk, only to have your cat perched at your feet, meowing pitifully for just a taste?
Although it seems easy to give in so that they’ll leave you alone, the truth is knowing that you already gave in once, most pets will just become more demanding or more manipulative in getting what you are eating.
While sharing tiny morsels of food occasionally is not necessarily off-limits — assuming you are giving them something that is not pernicious — these tidbits can help to cause obesity over time, as your four-legged friend is consuming extra calories from the table scraps, in addition to normal meals and treats.
Though your dog or cat may appear as cute as can be while begging, sometimes they cannot stomach what we can stomach. The foods we enjoy are usually much richer than what your furry family member commonly receives in its food dish, and some foods can be toxic to your pet.
Should you decide to indulge your pet with a sporadic snippet, or if they choose to raid the wastebasket for the delicious leftovers that you denied them, how can you be sure they have not ingested something hazardous to their health? Here’s a list to help you decipher what is considered toxic to your pets:
•Chocolate — Ingestion of chocolate is typically seen most often around the holidays, although it can happen anytime of the year. This fragrant, popular ingredient contains theobromine; the darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is for your pet, as it contains higher levels of this toxic agent.
Symptoms range, depending on the type and quantity of chocolate that was ingested.
•Grapes and raisins — It is unclear why this fruit is so poisonous to dogs, but it can cause your dog to fall ill after eating just a small amount.
•Macadamia nuts — This nut can cause your pet to become very ill, and it can possibly be lethal, depending how much was consumed.
•Onions and garlic — All forms of these vegetables (raw, cooked, powdered, etc.) can cause poisoning in both dogs and cats.
•Candy and/or gum containing Xylitol — This ingredient can cause an increase in your pet’s insulin levels, causing their blood sugar to drop, which can, in turn, become very dangerous.
•Coffee or tea — These beverages contain caffeine, which, in large enough quantities, can be fatal for a dog.
•Alcohol — Drinks or foods containing alcohol are not good for your pet. Alcohol has the same effect on an animal’s liver and brain that it does on humans; however, it takes less of an amount to do damage. The smaller the pet, the greater the effect.
•Trimmings or bones — Fat trimmings can be far too rich for your pets to digest and can often result in pancreatitis.
Bones leftover from cooked meat or soup preparation are also not recommended to give, as marrow bones can sometimes become lodged on the bottom jaw behind the teeth or potentially splinter and cause obstruction in your pet’s digestive system.
•Dairy products — Milk and milk-based products, such as cheese or ice cream, can cause digestive upset.
This list is not exhaustive. It is always recommended to inquire with your veterinarian before introducing your dog or cat to any foods you may wonder are toxic, especially if you do not see it listed here.
If your pet has consumed any food that you know to be or are concerned to be toxic, it is always recommended to contact your veterinarian for direction on what to do.
This column is dedicated to Buddy Newbeck, who recently ate grapes and required medical attention at our hospital. His owner had not been aware that grapes happened to be toxic to dogs and wanted to help spread awareness to other dog and cat owners.
MEGAN L. FOUCH is the office manager at the Madison Park Veterinary Hospital (www.madisonparkvet.com). To comment on this column, write to MPTimes@nwlink.com.