Guest guest Posted March 10, 2009 Report Share Posted March 10, 2009 For Pet Owners - What not to Feed your Dog or Cat: What you have heard about chocolate is exactly right. There is enough poison in two squares of dark chocolate to kill a Labrador. White chocolate is relatively non-toxic, with dogs needing to ingest an average of 750g per kilogram of body weight for there to be toxic effects, and milk chocolate is less toxic than plain and dark chocolate. Death can result from the ingestion of milk chocolate. Tragically someone found out how dangerous, when she left a box of milk chocolates within reach of her Golden Retriever one night. Having forgotton to put them away and came downstairs the next morning to find the dog dead and the chocolates gone. Garlic and onions both contain a substance called alum which can have neurological effects on dogs and cats including leading to seizures and problems walking. If garlic is to be fed it should be in powdered form and only if it states the alum is removed. This can be taken as a given with garlic powders formulated for dogs. More dog and cat owners are giving table scraps without realizing that there are certain foods a dog and cat should never eat. Before you put your left-overs in your pets bowl be sure to read the foods they shouldn't eat. 1. Chocolate - Contain caffeine, theobromine, or theophylline, which can be toxic and affect the heart and nervous systems. To dogs, chocolate acts as a stimulant, making your dog's heartbeat accelerate or beat irregularly, leading to seizures and even cardiac arrest. To compound things further, it also acts as a severe diuretic, causing frequent urination, vomiting, and/or diarrhea. If you even suspect your dog has consumed chocolate, take him to an animal hospital immediately. 2. Grapes and Raisins - Grapes and raisins create havoc with your dog's kidneys and digestive system. What's worse is that the amount of grapes needed to cause problems can vary greatly among individual dogs. Symptoms include frequent urination, vomiting, and diarrhea. 3. Onions and Garlic - Onions contain sulfoxides and disulfides, cause the breakdown of a dog's red blood cells, which deprives his cells of much-needed oxygen. It can cause anemia. If you're in the habit of feeding your dog table scraps, make sure the dish was not prepared with onions, as the effects can be cumulative over a period of time. Symptoms can vary greatly, ranging from vomiting and diarrhea to loss of appetite, fever, or exhaustion. Cats are more susceptible than dogs. 4. Macadamia and Walnuts Nuts - While the exact chemical compound is still unknown, even a small amount of macadamia nuts can cause fever, irregular heartbeat, seizures, or mild paralysis. Contains an unknown toxin, which can affect the digestive and nervous systems and muscle. 5. Alcoholic Beverages - Dogs' physiologies are not equipped to handle alcohol consumption. They are extremely susceptible to alcohol poisoning, and even small amounts can lead to digestive problems or even death. Tea, coffee and cola type drinks (same poison as chocolate) 6. Bread Dough - Because it is soft, dogs will often swallow the dough without chewing it. When the dough hits your dog's stomach, his body heat will cause the dough to rise inside his stomach. This rising action can cause bloating or vomiting. To compound things further, the rising action creates alcohol as a by-product, and your dog may experience the symptoms listed in the previous paragraph. 7. Caffeinated Beverages - Similar to the effects of chocolate, caffeine is a stimulant and can negatively impact your dog's heart rate, causing seizures or heart attacks. 8. Avocados- Avocados are toxic to many animals. The offensive chemical damages heart, lung, and other essential tissues. Be aware since guacamole's main ingredient is avocado, that you keep any such dips well out of your dog's reach. 9. Pitted Fruits - (Peaches, Pears, Cherries, and Apricots) The pits of these fruits contain small doses of cyanide, which can be fatal to smaller dogs. Also, if the pit is swallowed whole, it may become lodged in the intestinal tract, where the blockage will have to be surgically removed. 10. Raw Fish - Raw fish, especially salmon, can contain parasites, usually fluke larvae. The dog consumes the fish, and the larvae hatch in your dog's digestive tract, attaching themselves to his intestinal walls. Can result in a _thiamine (a B vitamin)_ (http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2 & cat=1662 & articleid=712) deficiency leading to loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death. More common if raw fish is fed regularly.Symptoms can take up to a week to exhibit and usually mimic other canine diseases, such as distemper or parvovirus. The hazard here is misdiagnosis by the veterinarian, leading to an improper or ineffective treatment. If you choose to feed your dog fish, be sure to cook it thoroughly to kill any bad critters that could be hiding inside. 11. Sugary Foods - Can lead to obesity, dental problems and diabetes mellitus. Sugarless candy and other items that contain xylitol - can cause liver damage and death Salt - If eaten in large quantities it may lead to _electrolyte_ (javascript:popupWin1('/dictionary_term.cfm?term=electrolyte', 50, 50, 350, 300)) imbalances. 12. Citrus oil and extracts are harmful. Vitamin supplements containing iron, can damage the lining of the digestive system and be toxic to the other organs including the liver and kidneys.. 13. Milk and other diary products - Dogs are lactose intolerant. Some adult dogs and cats do not have sufficient amounts of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down the lactose in milk. This can result in diarrhea. Lactose-free milk products are available for pets. Raw Eggs - Contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of _biotin (a B vitamin)_ (http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2 & cat=1662 & articleid=712) . This can lead to skin and hair coat problems. Raw eggs may also contain Salmonella. 14. Yeast dough - Can expand and produce gas in the digestive system, causing pain and possible rupture of the stomach or intestines. 15. Potato, rhubarb and tomato leaves/stems - Contain oxalates, which can affect the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems. 16 - Mushrooms -Can contain toxins, which may affect multiple systems in the body, cause shock, and result in death. 17 - Turkey skin and other meat fat skins and trimmings - Can cause _pancreatitis_ (http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2 & cat=1580 & articleid=335) . 18 - Large amounts of liver - Can cause _Vitamin A_ (http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2 & cat=1662 & articleid=710) toxicity, which affects muscles and bones. Do not feed raw liver. This is of vital information for your dog and cat care. If you want your pet to have the proper diet, take a small amount of what your making before you add the onions and the extra spices and make him up his own little plate and add it with his food. Toxic plants for children and pets _http://www.angel-litemaltese.com/Poison.htm_ (http://www.angel-litemaltese.com/Poison.htm) **************Worried about job security? Check out the 5 safest jobs in a recession. (http://jobs.aol.com/gallery/growing-job-industries?ncid=emlcntuscare00000002) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.