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8 Things That Are Toxic to Pets [Slideshow]

Stephany

Nov 8, 2019

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1 Min Read Time

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We all love our pets and want to give them the best. We also like to provide them with treats, because what’s life without a little something fun to eat now and then. I’m not one of those who always say no people food for pets. I’ll admit it. I’ve given my dog pizza crust (those big brown eyes), a piece of leftover chicken, or even a piece of fruit. What’s the harm, right?

In most cases, not much. However, some foods and other substances commonly found in the home have severe consequences when eaten by pets. While dogs are usually the culprit when it comes to purloined food, it’s best to keep these items away from all pets.

Learn the signs of poisoning in dogs and cats, and if you think your pet has eaten something toxic, call the emergency number in the link, your vet, or the nearest emergency vet immediately.

Small dog sniffing a plastic container of coffee

Image by Thirteen / Unsplash

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Chocolate, Coffee, and Caffeine

Yum, right? Often your dog thinks so, too. That expensive chocolate you bought for your co-worker’s birthday gift can turn into a late-night run to the emergency vet if you’re not careful. The substance methylxanthines are found in all these products and can cause diarrhea, vomiting, excessive thirst and urination, panting, hyperactivity, tremors, abnormal heart rhythm, seizures, and in some cases, even death.

Siberian husky looking upset while being inspected by the vet

Image by Pressmaster / Shutterstock

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Xylitol

Xylitol is used as a sweetener in products such as gum, candy, toothpaste, and some baked goods. More importantly, it is also sometimes found in peanut butter, a treat commonly given to dogs. Xylitol causes an insulin release in most species, which can cause liver failure. Initial signs are vomiting, lethargy, and loss of coordination, followed by seizures, raised liver enzymes, and liver failure within a few days.

Image by vnlit / Shutterstock

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Grapes and Raisins

Grapes and raisins contain a toxic substance that has not yet been identified. Feeding your dog or cat these fruits can lead to kidney failure. Until more information about the toxic substance is known, it is best to avoid giving grapes and raisins to your pets.

Pug feeling under the weather with his face buried in his paws

Image by Jorge Zapata / Unsplash

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Garlic, Onions, and Chives

Members of the Allium family, foods such as garlic, onions, and chives, can cause a gastric upset at best and red blood cell damage at worst. Cats are more susceptible, but dogs are also at risk if they eat a large enough amount.

Cat sniffing a bowl of nuts very closely

Image by aliheart / Shutterstock

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Nuts

Nuts such as pecans, almonds, and walnuts contain high amounts of oils and fats. These fats can cause vomiting and possibly pancreatitis if too many nuts are eaten. Peanuts are not nuts; they are legumes like beans, peas, and lentils, so they don’t fall under this category. Peanuts themselves are fine, be sure to check the ingredients in peanut butter of xylitol, as mentioned above.

Exotic parrot sitting on the end of a stick

Image by Dejan Zakic / Unsplash

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Avocados

Avocados contain a substance called persin, which can cause cardiovascular damage and death in birds. Horses, donkeys, and ruminants such as sheep and goats frequently get swelling in the head and neck. Too much avocado can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs and can be deadly to rabbits.

Image by Christian Bowen / Unsplash

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Milk and Dairy Products

Dogs and cats don’t possess enough lactase – the enzyme that helps digest lactose – milk and other dairy-based products such as cheese and ice cream cause them diarrhea or other digestive upset.

Image by Artem Beliaikin / Pexels

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Macadamia Nuts

Macadamia nuts get their own mention, since they they affect dogs differently than other nuts. Eating as few as six roasted or raw macadamia nuts can make your dog sick with symptoms such as muscle shakes, high temperature, vomiting, and weakness in their back legs. Eating chocolate that has macadamia nuts in it will make these symptoms worse.

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Stephany

GR8NESS Writer

Stephany is a GR8NESS Contributing Editor who writes about pet care, CBD, stress, self care, meditation, time management, brain training, and natural remedies with a focus on the science behind it all. She has three dogs, three cats, walks half marathons, and practices yoga and powerlifting. You can often find her training her dogs or experimenting with new flavors in the kitchen.

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