Here’s Why Your Pet Must Never Eat From Your Plate: 10 Human Foods that are Toxic for Your Dog or Cat
One of the many things humans and pets share is the love for food. We both take it very seriously and genuinely look forward to our mealtimes. Now while you may want to share all the deliciousness with your baby, there may be sometimes you’d want to practice restraint; only for the right reasons. Being a good pet parent also entails for you to say ‘No’ when required. While there are plenty of foods you can share with your baby, there are some bad boys you need to keep absolutely out of sight!
We’ve put down a list of 10 such foods your dog or cat must not eat so that you two could enjoy the best of mealtimes and good health.
Salt & Sugar
A pet’s requirement of salt & sugar are generally fulfilled from his diet (if he’s eating balanced meals). Salty or sugary food items only build up unwanted sodium and sugar in their bodies. Adverse effects of excessive Salt include dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, and possibly seizures. Sugar could lead to an upset stomach, toxicity, cavities, obesity and even diabetes. So make sure the bags of chips and the boxes of sweet are out of your dawgie’s reach.
Onion & Garlic
Onions and Garlic are almost omnipresent in Indian cooking. However, they both contain thiosulphate which is toxic to dogs and cats. Consumption of this toxin can cause hemolytic anemia; a condition where the red blood cells in your pet’s body burst. Symptoms include weakness, vomiting, breathlessness, and a loss of interest in food. Hence, it is wise to keep your pooch away from these.
Grapes & Raisins
While your dog may have accidentally swallowed a raisin or a couple of grapes with no issues, raisins and grapes are lethal for your dog. Consuming them may cause renal failure, your dog’s kidneys may start shutting down, he may vomit and become lethargic. Sadly, the condition eventually leads to death. Your pet must not consume either grapes or raisins under any circumstances.
Nuts
While peanuts could be an exclusion, most nuts tend to cause allergies and are in general dangerous to your dog’s or cat’s health. Some dogs could even be allergic to peanuts. Hence, nuts need to be avoided. Almonds are difficult to digest, walnuts cause gastric intestinal upset and pistachios could cause an upset stomach. On the brighter side, you could sometimes use a cashew or two (never raw, only roasted & unsalted) as treats though!
Chocolates
Chocolate contains a toxic component called theobromine. While human bodies are more adaptable to it, its effects in dawgies can cause hyperactivity, muscle tremors, seizures, an irregular heartbeat, internal bleeding or even a heart attack. If your dog or cat has accidentally eaten Chocolates, rush to a vet now!
Tea & Coffee
Dogs & Cats need to be away from tea & coffee, coffee beans, discarded grounds or any of the tea or coffee paraphernalia. They are diuretic and therefore dehydrate your pet. Coffee can cause vomiting, diarrhea, fever, restlessness, hypertension, tremors and seizures. An overdose could prove fatal for your furry friend. Always make sure your tea or coffee mugs are out of your pet’s reach.
Alcohol
A dog or cat’s liver is relatively smaller than that of a human. Alcohol not only severely affects your pet’s liver, but it also affects his kidneys and brain cells. He could slip into a coma, get seizures or a cardiac arrest. Alcohol is a well-equivalent of poison for pets and is a strict No. Always keep alcoholic beverages out of bounds from your furry companion.
Cooked Bones
While chewing on raw bones can help reduce your pet’s self-licking, scratching and nervous behavior, feeding cooked bones is extremely dangerous. Any bone – chicken, turkey, lamb or beef are safe for your pet, provided they are raw. Cooked Bones have the tendency to splinter and hurt your pet. They can cause internal injuries and bleeding. They also could be potential choking hazards. Never feed bones from leftovers & table scraps, and always keep your pet away from the garbage bin.
Oil & Spices
Most of our foods contain oil and spices. Oils add excessive calories to your pet’s diet without adding any nutritional value. Coconut and olive oil (in that order) are the only oils safe for dogs and cats. Avoiding oils is generally a good practice. When it comes to spices, basil, ginger, cinnamon, parsley, and turmeric are the safest. Onion, garlic, salt, cocoa powder, and nutmeg are strict NOs.
Lemon & Citrus Fruits
Feeding your dog or cat lemon, oranges, lime or other citrus fruits may not be a good idea. Their citric nature leads to an imbalance of pH in their stomach and causes stomach ache, vomiting, and diarrhea. Also, since dogs produce their own ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), they do not necessarily need citrus fruits to add more. Citrus fruits may also affect diabetic dogs negatively, disturbing their sugar levels.
Now that you know what foods you need to strictly steer clear of, you can go ahead and whip up a lovely meal you two could share. What your dog eats is crucial to his well-being and overall happiness; yours too. A small exercise like cooking a meal you two could share can be a very special experience. Our lifestyles don’t allow us to do so daily, but you need to be assured what goes into your pet’s belly provides him well nutritionally. You could check our curated meals, that are made keeping in mind the best for your pet.
Does your dog or cat love to eat? Share their stories in the comments below.
FOR INFORMATION ONLY – NOT VETERINARY CARE
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