We train our puppies with treats. We reward our dogs with snacks. Sometimes our pups jump up on the table and steal the meat, potatoes, or veggies from the family’s up coming meal. Of all the foods that touch their tummies from all these examples, the last can prove to be fatal. Protection needs to be made from these 10 human foods that are toxic to pets.
Fatty Foods
From the family meal our sneaky dog stole from the table, the fatty content could be the cause of the pancreatic upset that manifests, otherwise known as pancreatitis. Horrible vomiting and diarrhea in sues, so severe that (at times) it could have blood in it. Your pet becomes dehydrated and lethargy sets in. Your pup can only be helped with fluids, anti-nausea medications, and possibly hospitalization. A Veterinary visit is in order.
Aside from fatty foods, there are many other human foods that are toxic to pets.
Grapes/Raisins
The grape and its counterpart in the toxic torture of animals, the raisin, are silent bad guys in pet toxicities. Your children eat raisins and grapes Your pet ingests them and nothing happens on the outside for quite some time. It is on the inside that proves fatal. Grapes and raisins cause kidney damage. If left to fester, acute sudden kidney failure occurs.
Chocolate
The chemical known as theobromine is carried in chocolate. This chemical is not something that a dog can process well as it causes tremors and seizures. Your dog experiences an irregular heartbeat and severe gastrointestinal upset. If a toxic dose is ingested, it can cause death from cardiac arrest. Chocolate also carries caffeine. Dogs cannot metabolize caffeine like humans do and this makes them more sensitive to its effects.
Pitted Fruits
The pits found in fruits can cause problems two-fold.
First, they can be a choking hazard. I remember one time when I was working as an evergency technician in a california hospital, a baby pig came in having eaten a peach pit that had gotten lodged in his throat. He was choking. We were able to get the pit out and save his life but, it was a complicated task and he might have died had the owners come in any later then they did.
Second, pitted fruits can lead to an intestinal obstruction. This situation often requires surgery.
Corn on the Cob
Working in the veterinary field, this is one that is seen all too often. Though it may be fun to watch your dog chew on a corn cob, they don’t know to leave it alone after the corn is removed from it. They swallow the corn cob or parts of it whole and it causes an obstruction. Again, this requires a surgical procedure to remove this from the stomach or intestines.
Garlic and Onions
Two very dangerous items that all dogs should steer clear of. They cause damage to the red blood cells which, in turn, lead to anemia. Depending upon the amount ingested, it may just take fluids and medications. At the other end of it, you could be looking at blood transfusions and even death.
Chewing Gum
So much of the gum that we chew has a sweetener in it known as xylitol. This is a toxicity to pets. It causes a decline in blood sugar resulting in hypoglycemia. Veterinary interference is crucial in saving your pets life when they get to this point. Xylitol ingestion can also cause liver failure.
Seeds
The seeds found in apples or tomatoes (especially un-ripened tomatoes) can be deadly to pets as they contain amygdalin which, when chewed or digested, turns into cyanide.
Coffee
Caffeine can damage the kidneys and the heart of your beloved pet.It causes restlessness, hyperactivity, lethargy, tremors, seizures, and gastrointestinal upset. Caffeine, when ingested at high doses, can also be deadly.
Alcohol
Another deadly toxicity for pets is alcohol. It contains ethanol which can cause respiratory depression and death. If you pet has ingested alcohol, get them to the Veterinarian right away.
There was one time when I was younger that my dad had received a package of the chocolates with the liquors in them. One of my dogs had managed to get into the box and eat several of them. Not only had he gotten an alcohol toxicity but a chocolate toxicity as well. He was rushed to the hospital and they made him vomit, put him on fluids, and gave him several medications to help him. He lived for several years after that but he may not have had we not gotten him treatment.
Conclusion
The moral of the story is, stay away from those human foods that can be toxic to your pet. Those listed above are only a few.