Anonymous

What Human Foods Are Poisonous To Pets?

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8 Answers

Yo Kass Profile
Yo Kass answered
Whilst it can be very tempting to treat your beloved cat or dog to a treat that you might find tasty, it is important to remember that not all human foods are suitable for animal consumption.

Giving your dog or cat simple little treats like chocolate, grapes or even milk can have serious effects on your pet. This is because of the differences between a human digestive tract and that of an animal.

Here is a list of seemingly harmless human foods that you shouldn't be feeding your pet.

Human foods that are harmful to animals
  • Chocolate- It's well known that feeding your dog chocolate can be harmful to him or her. The danger lies in the methylxanthines that are found in anything derived from the cacao bean.
  • Coffee- also comes from the cocoa bean so is also a no-no for your furry companion. The effects on your pet of ingesting methylxanthine  can range from vomiting and tremors, through to seizures and even death!
  • Alcohol- is fairly dangerous to pets. It can affect everything from their nervous system to the acidity levels in their bloodstream.
  • Yeast/dough- If your pet ingests yeast it is likely that it will expand inside the intestines of the animal. Effects range from increased gas, through to rupture of the intestines. Feeding your pet cooked yeast products like bread is OK in small portions, but shouldn't constitute more than 5% anyway.
  • Grapes/Raisins- Not much is known about exactly why grapes and raisins have an impact on a pet's digestion, but they do. The kidney is the organ that has most trouble dealing with grapes and raisins, with kidney failure reported in certain cases.
For a more comprehensive list, why not check out the ASPCA website, which gives detailed information about what foods you shouldn't be feeding your pe
John McCann Profile
John McCann answered

http://www.vcahospitals.com/main/pet-health-information/article/animal-health/xylitol-toxicity-in-dogs/4340

I see no one mentioned xylitol. This alcohol sugar is extremely toxic to dogs, much more toxic than the other things mentioned here. 2 grams can be fatal to a 60 pound dog. Its use is spreading but most people, even dog companions, seem to know nothing about it. It is in gums, candy, tooth pastes, some pastries, some peanut butters and other products that require sweetening. In humans it remineralizes teeth ( just like chlorine tooth paste ) but it is deadly to dogs as their livers are incapable of detoxifying xylitol.

"Xylitol is estimated to  be 100 times as toxic as chocolate to dogs."

grace couch Profile
grace couch answered
Chocolate is the second leading killer of dogs in the U.S.
Julii Brainard Profile
Julii Brainard answered
Chocolate: Quite a bad one for dogs. Especially in concentrated form like cocoa powder. Symptoms are hyperactivity, vomitting, diarrhea. In worse cases it can cause heart failure.

Pork: Is toxic to cats. They lack enzymes in their livers to digest it properly.

Rhubarb: Is toxic to guinea pigs and quite a few other domestic small animals. Guinea pigs and other pet rodents, like people, should not eat potatoes with any green on them. The same is true of potato and tomato leaves and stalks (however much the animal may seem to like them!)

Onions and garlic are toxic to cats, dogs and some other livestock. Macadamia nuts are dangerous to dogs, too.

If your animal has a tiny amount of one of these banned foods and still seems okay then they probably are, but best to avoid entirely if possible.
thanked the writer.
Laura Smith
Laura Smith commented
thank you very much for your answer. i did not know about pork onions or garlic for cats.
Ray Dart
Ray Dart commented
The bit about pork is nonsense.
Tom  Jackson Profile
Tom Jackson answered

This list comes from the humane society website.

You can search on the internet for "foods toxic to ______" with the type of pet you have to get much more specific information.

The following foods may be dangerous to your pet

  • Alcoholic beverages
  • Apple seeds
  • Apricot pits
  • Avocados
  • Cherry pits
  • Candy (particularly chocolate—which is toxic to dogs, cats, and ferrets—and any candy containing the toxic sweetener Xylitol)
  • Coffee (grounds, beans, and chocolate-covered espresso beans)
  • Garlic
  • Grapes
  • Gum (can cause blockages and sugar free gums may contain the toxic sweetener Xylitol)
  • Hops (used in home beer brewing)
  • Macadamia nuts
  • Moldy foods
  • Mushroom plants
  • Mustard seeds
  • Onions and onion powder
  • Peach pits
  • Potato leaves and stems (green parts)
  • Raisins
  • Rhubarb leaves
  • Salt
  • Tea (because it contains caffeine)
  • Tomato leaves and stems (green parts)
  • Walnuts
  • Xylitol (artificial sweetener that is toxic to pets)
  • Yeast dough

Arran  Alston Profile
Arran Alston answered

Few human foods that are poisonous to pets are - avocado, onion and garlic, alcohol, coffee, tea and other caffeine, grapes and raisin, dairy product, nuts, candy and gums.

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