Top 8 'People Foods' That Are Toxic To Pets

GlassOnion

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#1
Nabbing this off another site but here it is:


Grapes, Raisins, Currants


What they’re in: Uncooked grapes, raisins, and currants are likely more toxic than cooked fruit. Don’t forget about raisins in cereals, trail mixes, baked goods, and snack boxes.

Threat to pets: These fruits can cause acute kidney failure in dogs and may cause kidney failure in cats and ferrets as well. While not all dogs and cats will develop kidney failure, it’s impossible to know which pets will be sensitive to these fruits. Therefore, all pets—especially dogs—that ingest grapes, raisins, or currants should be monitored closely and treated appropriately. If a small dog or cat eats just a small number of grapes or raisins, this is considered an emergency.

Signs: Vomiting within a few hours of ingestion is typical. Within one to four days of ingestion, pets may experience increased urination, increased thirst, lethargy, and a reduced appetite.

Treatment: Induce vomiting and then administer activated charcoal to decontaminate (adsorb and remove toxins). Follow up by administering anti-vomiting medication and aggressive intravenous fluids to protect the kidneys. Frequent monitoring of kidney laboratory values and in-hospital care are also recommended.

Prognosis: Excellent if animals are treated before signs begin. Once they have begun to go into kidney failure, the prognosis becomes much worse.



Caffeine

What it’s in: Caffeine is most commonly found in coffee, coffee grounds, tea, tea bags, soda, energy drinks, and diet pills. Theobromine—a cousin chemical to caffeine—is also found in chocolate (see chocolate).

Threat to pets: Pets are more sensitive to the effects of caffeine than people. While a couple laps of coffee, tea, or soda won’t poison most pets, the ingestion of moderate amounts of coffee grounds, tea bags, or one to two diet pills can easily be fatal in small animals.

Signs: Within two hours of exposure, pets may experience mild to severe hyperactivity, restlessness, vomiting, tachycardia (elevated heart rate), hypertension (elevated blood pressure), abnormal heart rhythms, tremors, hyperthermia (elevated body temperature), seizures, and could collapse.

Treatment: Induce vomiting and then administer multiple doses of activated charcoal to decontaminate (adsorb and remove toxins). Administer aggressive intravenous fluids to help with excretion, sedatives to calm the pet, specific heart medications to reduce heart rate and blood pressure, anti-convulsants for seizures, and antacids for stomach discomfort and diarrhea. Because caffeine may be reabsorbed across the bladder wall, a urinary catheter or frequent walks are needed to keep the bladder empty.

Prognosis: Excellent in pets with mild signs, such as slight restlessness or a minimally elevated heart rate. Poor in those with severe signs, such as collapsing and seizures.


Chocolate/Cocoa

What it’s in: When it comes to chocolate, dark equals dangerous. That’s because the darker the chocolate, the larger the amount of theobromine—a cousin chemical to caffeine—it contains. Thus, baker’s chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate, cocoa powder, and gourmet dark chocolates are more toxic than milk chocolate. White chocolate has very little theobromine and will not cause poisoning in pets.

Threat to pets: The dose ingested determines the danger. Pets that ingest a few M&Ms or a bite of a chocolate chip cookie are unlikely to develop chocolate poisoning.

For milk chocolate, any ingestion of more than 0.5 ounces per pound of body weight may put dogs and cats at risk. Ingestions of more than 0.13 ounces per pound of body weight of dark or semi-sweet chocolate may cause poisoning. Almost all ingestions of baker’s chocolate can result in poisoning and are considered emergencies.

Very young pets, geriatric pets, and animals with underlying disease are at a higher risk for poisoning than healthy, adult dogs and cats. Due to the large amount of fat in chocolate, some pets may develop pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) after eating chocolate or baked goods containing chocolate (see fatty foods).

Signs: Small amounts of chocolate may cause mild vomiting and diarrhea. Larger amounts can cause severe agitation, tachycardia (elevated heart rate), abnormal heart rhythms, seizures, and collapse.

Treatment: Induce vomiting and then administer multiple doses of activated charcoal to decontaminate (adsorb and remove toxins). Administer aggressive intravenous fluids to help with excretion, sedatives to calm the pet, specific heart medications to reduce heart rate and blood pressure, anti- convulsants for seizures, and antacids for stomach discomfort and diarrhea. Theobromine may be reabsorbed across the bladder wall so a urinary catheter or frequent walks are needed to keep the bladder empty.

Prognosis: Excellent in pets with mild signs, such as mild stomach upset or slight restlessness. Poor in those with severe signs, such as collapsing and seizures.


Xylitol

What it’s in: Xylitol is a common sugar-substitute used in sugar-free chewing gum, breath mints, candies, and baked goods. It’s also found in some smoking-cessation products like nicotine gum. Xylitol can be purchased in bulk for cooking at home, and because of its dental plaque fighting properties, nontoxic amounts can be found in some pet oral-care products.


Threat to pets: Xylitol may cause a life-threatening drop in blood sugar and can cause liver damage to dogs. Cats and people do not experience this problem. The typical dose needed to cause poisoning is at least 0.05 grams per pound of body weight.

The average piece of chewing gum or breath mint contains between 0.22 to 1.0 gram of xylitol. Thus, a 10-pound dog would only have to eat one piece of gum to achieve a potentially toxic dose.

The amount of xylitol typically found in most pet oral-care products is very small and, when used properly, these products aren’t expected to cause poisoning unless a dog ingests a very large amount.

Signs: Within 10 to 15 minutes of ingestion, dogs may develop hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), lose coordination, and start vomiting. Collapse and seizures may quickly follow. In rare cases, these signs won’t appear until hours after ingestion.

Treatment: Promptly induce vomiting or perform a gastric lavage. Administer intravenous dextrose (sugar) and fluids and frequently monitor blood sugar levels and liver values.

Prognosis: Excellent when the ingestion is caught early and blood sugars are monitored frequently. Guarded if the pet has already begun to develop liver failure.


Onions, garlic, chives, and leeks


What they’re in: The small amount of garlic sometimes found in dog treats is unlikely to be harmful to dogs. However, if cats or dogs ingest a tasty pan of sautéed onions, garlic, or leeks, poisoning may result. The ingestion of large amounts of garlic pills or powder may also cause poisoning. Garlic was once thought of as a “home remedy†for flea infestations; however, it has been shown to be ineffective and is not recommended by Pet Poison Helpline.

Threat to pets: These vegetables can cause red blood cell destruction (specifically, Heinz body formation) and result in anemia. Ingestion of onions or garlic greater than 0.5 percent of a dog’s body weight is potentially toxic. For example, this equates to a 30-pound dog ingesting about 2.5 ounces of onion or garlic. Cats and Japanese breeds of dogs (Akita, Shiba Inu) are even more sensitive to the effects of these plants.

Signs: Onion or garlic smell on breath, lethargy, pale mucus membranes due to anemia, tachypnea (elevated respiratory rate), tachycardia (elevated heart rate), vomiting, and a reduced appetite. Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is rare but possible.

Treatment: Induce vomiting and then administer multiple doses of activated charcoal to decontaminate (adsorb and remove toxins). Check packed cell volume or blood smears daily to evaluate anemia. If anemia is severe, initiate blood transfusions. You can also administer intravenous dextrose (sugar) if needed.

Prognosis: Excellent with early intervention and appropriate care.


Yeast/Bread Dough

What it’s in: Uncooked homemade and store-bought bread dough that contains yeast.

Threat to pets: The dark, warm environment of a pet’s stomach acts as an oven and encourages the dough to continue rising. This can result in a bowel obstruction or a bloated or distended stomach. The stomach may then twist, leading to a gastric dilitation and volvulus (GDV). This is a life-threatening situation that requires emergency abdominal surgery and treatment for shock. As the yeast ferments in the stomach, it releases alcohol, which may lead to alcohol poisoning (see alcohol).

Signs: Bloat and GDV: Unproductive vomiting and retching, lethargy, weakness, tachycardia (elevated heart rate), collapse, and shock. Alcohol poisoning: Alcohol smell on the breath, neurological depression, hypothermia (low body temperature), hypotension (low blood pressure), seizures, and respiratory failure.

Treatment: Induce vomiting if the dough was recently ingested. To stop the rising of the dough, a cold-water gastric lavage may be performed. Aggressive intravenous fluids and dextrose (sugar), abdominal surgery, warming measures, and in-hospital monitoring may be needed.

Prognosis: Excellent if decontaminated soon after ingestion and the appropriate care is received. Poorer in cases of severe alcohol poisoning and bloat or GDV.
 

GlassOnion

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Alcohol

What it’s in: Alcoholic drinks aside, alcohol can be found in some surprising places. Rum-soaked cakes or candies and dressings containing alcohol may be poisonous to pets. Alcohol is also a major byproduct of ingested yeast-bread dough (see yeast-bread dough).

Threat to pets: Even small amounts of alcohol, especially when ingested by small pets, can cause life-threatening toxicity.

Signs: Alcohol smell on the breath, neurological depression, hypothermia (low body temperature), hypotension (low blood pressure), seizures, and respiratory failure.

Treatment: Administer intravenous dextrose (sugar) and fluids. Warming measures and in-hospital monitoring are also recommended.

Prognosis: Excellent provided the appropriate care is received.



Fatty Foods

What they’re in: Butter, oils, meat drippings, grease, chocolate, and meat scraps.

Threat to pets: Fatty foods may cause pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) when ingested, especially by dogs. Certain breeds, miniature Schnauzers in particular, are more likely to develop pancreatitis than other breeds.

Signs: Delayed onset vomiting one to four days after fatty meal ingestion, abdominal pain, diarrhea (with or without blood), reduced appetite, and lethargy.

Treatment: Administering anti-nausea and anti-vomiting medications, withholding food or giving only easily digestible diets, administering intravenous fluids, monitoring blood chemistry panels, and receiving in-hospital care. In certain cases other drugs, such as antibiotics, may be necessary.

Prognosis: Good when treated early and appropriately.

-----------------------------------------------------

Everything under the sun right?

Here's a few 'pet-safe' foods.

-----------------------------------------------------

With all the potentially toxic people foods out there, it’s helpful to know which are safe for cats and dogs. Here are some Pet Poison Helpline-approved foods, which are both safe and low-calorie options for pets.

• Apples
• Peas
• Green beans
• Unsalted, unbuttered popcorn
• Carrots
• Sweet potatoes
• Zucchini
• Squash
• Ice chips (Freeze cubes of diluted beef or chicken broth for a real frozen treat.)
• Lettuce
• Blueberries


Pet Poison Helpline

Pet Poison Helpline is a service available 24 hours, seven days a week for pet owners and veterinary team members who require assistance treating a potentially poisoned pet and can provide treatment advice for poisoning cases of all species, including dogs, cats, birds, small mammals, large animals, and exotic species. As the most cost-effective option for animal poison control care, Pet Poison Helpline’s fee of $35 per incident includes follow-up consultation for the duration of the poisoning case. It is available in North America by calling 800-213-6680. Additional information can be found online at petpoisonhelpline.com.


Citation
8 people foods toxic to pets - Firstline





Also in the series are the 6 Toxic Springtime Plants and Top 10 Human Meds That Are Toxic to Pets.
 

Dekka

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#3
Seems strange that fats would be a problem to a healthy dog. I was always under the impression it was dogs not used to fat that weren't prepared to digest it that was the problem (ie dogs fed ol' roy). My skinnies (whippets) get fat drippings when ever we have them. That and they eat raw so they are well equipped to digest fat. Otherwise all the raw fed dogs would have lots of pancreatitis as well as people who supplement with oil. And don't forget the thousands of dogs who eat grain free foods (which often have fat contents up in the 16% range or more)

Also why doesn't the high acidity of the stomach kill the yeast? I mean it stops fermenting significantly below a pH of ~4 and stops all together at about 2.7 if I remember correctly. A dogs stomach when in the presence of food has a pH of 1-2 so shouldn't be a problem unless the dog already had issues.
 

Fran101

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#4
I am guilty of the fats one..I didn't think it was all that bad for them!

Oh and when I was younger I used to share grapes with my dog! no idea it caused problems!

great thread! very informative, I had no idea of half the stuff on there
 
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Fats don't harm dogs. Funny thing is that on their "approved list" there is not one single food that is appropriate to feed your dog.
 

Pops2

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interesting point
ANYONE w/ a high amount of corn in their diet has higher rates of tooth decay & early onset diabetes. likewise dogs fed the crap foods which are mostly corn have problems w/ tooth rot and early onset of geriatric illnesses. so why is popcorn an approved snack?
also it is my understanding the "toxin" in garlic, onions etc is destroyed by cooking and the danger is only in uncooked & undercooked items.
the PRIMARY dietary causitive factor in heat casualties for dogs is LACK of fat in their foods.
Dekka
very informative post on the yeast/dough issue

serious investigation into the origin of this site is definitely in order, i am suspecting petaphiles.
 

GlassOnion

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Seems strange that fats would be a problem to a healthy dog. I was always under the impression it was dogs not used to fat that weren't prepared to digest it that was the problem (ie dogs fed ol' roy). My skinnies (whippets) get fat drippings when ever we have them. That and they eat raw so they are well equipped to digest fat. Otherwise all the raw fed dogs would have lots of pancreatitis as well as people who supplement with oil. And don't forget the thousands of dogs who eat grain free foods (which often have fat contents up in the 16% range or more)
I raised my eyebrow at fat too but I assume they put it on there in the assumption that the dog is getting fed some commercial food as well as the fatty people foods in addition. In other words, they're getting too much fat, which leads to obesity and related health problems.

The guide isn't written with raw feeders in mind. They're a minority in the pet owner population and the majority of the end readers would benefit from having fatty foods on the list.

Also why doesn't the high acidity of the stomach kill the yeast? I mean it stops fermenting significantly below a pH of ~4 and stops all together at about 2.7 if I remember correctly. A dogs stomach when in the presence of food has a pH of 1-2 so shouldn't be a problem unless the dog already had issues.
Yah but it doesn't go straight from the mouth to the stomach, there're various mucous membranes along the way.

Anyhow it's not saying the yeast are the problem, just that bread with yeast in it could cause problems. Stomach acids would kill those yeast on the outside of the dough ball but the insides would be protected for a time.


Fats don't harm dogs. Funny thing is that on their "approved list" there is not one single food that is appropriate to feed your dog.
No where on there does it say they're appropriate to feed your dog, just that they're safe. Don't try to read too much into it, it's just saying "if your dog wharfs down a buncha blueberries, it's not going to die." The low-calorie bit could suggest consumption, I reckon, but that's probably more along the lines of "this doesn't contradict the fat suggestion from earlier."

serious investigation into the origin of this site is definitely in order, i am suspecting petaphiles.
Lol, seriously? It's one of the more respected veterinary news websites. The veterinarian who wrote the article is cited in the original article. You can take it up with her.
 

CharlieDog

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#10
I give my dogs carrots, green beans, lettuce, squash, cucumbers, avocados, broccoli, lima beans, etc, and they never have a problem with them. Ozzy loves frozen broccoli and he will beg for lettuce when I am making a salad.

Does that mean that stuff is bad OR good for them? No, but it can't hurt them, and its fine as a treat. They aren't on raw, and I figure any snack that's healthy is better than feeding them fatty treats and milk bones.
 

Dekka

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#11
But GO it said

Threat to pets: The dark, warm environment of a pet’s stomach acts as an oven and encourages the dough to continue rising. This can result in a bowel obstruction or a bloated or distended stomach.
so its claiming the dough is still rising in the stomach. The only reason bread rises is due to live yeast...
 

GlassOnion

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And again, the yeast is permeated throughout the dough. Stomach acid is incredibly strong stuff, but it still takes time to work through the physical barrier of a dough ball. The yeast on the inside would indeed continue to ferment the dough available to them while protected by the outter bits of dough.


Wish I still had access to HCl. Would like to do a little experiment to see just how quickly it dissolves dough.
 

Pops2

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a dough ball only lasts a few minutes on a hook in WATER. basically a dog would have to eat an entire loaf of dough (maybe 2) WITHOUT chewing it into smaller pieces to even be at risk. when i was about 6 i ate two whole uncooked rolls w/o suffering ill effects, so i'm pretty sure chewing mitigates a lot of the risk.
yeah, i'm still leaning toward junk science on this list.
 

Dekka

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#14
I have put dough (and other things) in HCL for a grade 7 science fair project (my dad had a car battery business, lots of HCL around) now this was fairly small amounts but it almost instantly broke up.
 

GlassOnion

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Great, we'll say they got one thing wrong then.

I still don't think it's wrong though. I doubt she'd put it on the list if she hadn't seen it happen before. There's other stuff that could've readily taken its place. They may have the method wrong (the stomach acting as an oven) but I think the result is accurate.


Here it is in Merck:
Merck Veterinary Manual

And there's several other areas you can find it with just "bread dough + dog". Merck is the only credible site though (AKA not written by Joe).


Here's another interesting link, though from no specific source.
Instead of using yeast he tried to raise bread with sodium bicarbonate and hydrochloric acid, with uncontrollable, dramatic and sometimes explosive results.
Yeasts & Raising Agents | Doves Farm

So let's assume the HCl kills off all the yeast in the stomach. The bread dough gets saturated with HCl and then the mound of dough is released into the duodenum and perforated with the bicarbonate that's normally used to neutralize the HCl left in the chyme. That would create the expansion, bloat, discomfort, and other symptoms.





Here's a bit more on the subject, and there's more if you take a gander around:
In 1833 Justus von Liebig had the groundbreaking idea: He used baking soda (Sodium Bicarbonate, Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate, NaHCO3) instead of yeast for the bread dough and employed Hydrochloric Acid to release the Carbonic Acid. The effect was amazing: The gaseous Carbonic Acid (Carbon Dioxide, CO2) loosened the bread dough just as well as the fermentation gases of the previously applied yeast* – but without losing any flour. Justus von Liebig had thus discovered the chemical principle of baking powder.
History - BASF Group
 
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#16
I think they explained the information pretty well.

And you guys dont buy the 'safe" list? Ice cubes? really?

There are blueberries in a LOT of high end dog foods too.

I liked the article.
 
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#18
Hi I'm new here and glad that I found this place cause I'm loving the responses.

Have to say that I really question the fat issue though. I'm thinking that dogs in the wild ate their fair share of fat along with the red meat and fur of their prey.

And the veggies? Well I agree nobody recommended them as a diet, just that their safe to eat.
 

GlassOnion

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Have to say that I really question the fat issue though. I'm thinking that dogs in the wild ate their fair share of fat along with the red meat and fur of their prey.
Different life styles. Wolves don't get to eat every day and are much more active.
 

hankster

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#20
No avocados!

In this thread CharlieDog listed vegetables including avocados.

Avocados are poisonous to dogs. They contain persin. All parts of the avocado plant contain persin. (Though the avocado/soybean extract, ASU, which is in Dasuquin does not contain persin.)

There is some evidence that a small amount of "approved" vegetables, are good for your dog, particularly when they are senior. There is a study (the reference escapes me at the moment) that showed addition of a small amount of vegetable and mental stimulation improved both health and longevity. I do remember the vegetable addition included pumpkin and tomato powder, forget what else.

Dogs in the wild besides eating grass would have got vegetable matter from eating intestines of herbivores. Dogs and coyotes will eat some intestine from a fresh(ish) kill.

One reason fatty foods are discouraged is due to the fact that some dogs are susceptible to pancreatitis.
 

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