Foods, Plants & Drugs that are Poisonous to Pets

Many human foods are poisonous to animals. This is not an exhaustive list, but includes the main culprits!

Fruit and Vegetables
- avocados
- broccoli
- chocolate
- fruit pits and seeds - apple, apricot, cherry, peach, pear, plum
- garlic
- grapes / raisins
- hops
- macademia nuts
- mushrooms
- mustard seeds
- onions
- potato plants (stems and leaves), potato peelings and green potato parts
- rhubarb leaves
- spinach
- tomato plants (stems and leaves)
- walnuts

Processed Foods and Home Baking
- bread dough
- candy, especially with the artifical sweetener xylitol
- chocolate

Drinks
- alcoholic drinks
- coffee, inc grounds and beans (due to the caffeine)
- tea containing caffeine

Also...
- salt
- moldy/spoilt food
- recreational drugs (animals can be particularly sensitive)

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Cooked bones - cooked bones from meat and fish will fracture and splinter as your pet eats them, potentially causing serious damage.

Baby food - this can contain onion powder, which is poisonous for dogs and cats. Dogs' and cats' nutritional requirements are very different to a human baby's, so feeding large amounts will cause nutritional imbalances.

High fat foods
These can cause pancreatitis, a very painful inflammation of the pancreas, which can be fatal. Small breed, female, overweight dogs are predisposed.

Human vitamin supplements
Animals and humans have different vitamin requirements. Excess doses from human supplements can damage pets' organs.

Excessive amounts of liver - liver contains high levels of vitamin A, which can damage your pet's bones if eaten in excess.

Excessive amounts of raw fish - this can cause a B vitamin deficiency, which can even be fatal.

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Your dog looks pleadingly up at you with those big brown eyes, and you can't resist giving him a bite from your plate...

But wait! Are you really doing the best for your pet by letting them share human food? Giving your pet table scraps could have serious consequences:

- You may unknowingly feed them a food that is toxic to their systems - Do you and all the members of your family know all the foods that are potentially dangerous to dogs? Sure, you'll probably not give them enough to have severe effects, but feeding something potentially toxic still isn't the greatest idea!

- Animals are often intolerant of human foods - for example, pets are often lactose intolerant. Feeding dairy scraps can upset their stomachs, causing them to feel unwell or have diarrhea later.

- Animals can have food allergies - some animals may react unexpectedly to certain foods. Also, animals that have other allergies, for example to fleas, may later develop food allergies. If this occurs, it will be important to find a food that the animal has never eaten before, to start a hypoallergenic diet. The more different foods an animal has eaten, the more food allergies it may have and the harder it may be to find a food that it can safely eat.

Also, think of your pet's weight. Table scraps are often high in calories and if you do not correspondingly reduce your pet's regular meals to compensate, he or she is likely to put on weight. Obesity is as much of a risk to the health of animals as it is to people, and just like overweight humans, overweight animals have an increased risk of:

- arthritis
- diabetes
- heart disease

Overweight animals will also have a decreased quality of life if their mobility suffers.

So, are feeding table scraps really a good way to show your love?

Show your pet some love, without table scraps!
To train your dog not to beg for food, tell them firmly to go away every time that they approach the table to ask for scraps. Tell them firmly but gently to lie down away from you. If you are consistent, within a short time, your pet will not beg at the table any more.

There are many ways to reward your pet and show them you love them without feeding table scraps. Play with them or take them out for a walk - every animal loves interaction with their humans, and exercise is great for both of you! Feed low-calorie dog biscuits as rewards, for example for good behavior while you were out. Buy a reputable brand of dog food, or if you would rather avoid commercial foods with additives, find a safe recipe to make your own dog treats.

Never give your animal a drug that has not been prescribed by a veterinarian specifically for that animal. Common household medications that are poisonous to pets include:

- Acetaminophen (eg Tylenol)
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (eg Ibuprofen)
- Aspirin
- Contraceptive pills
- Sleeping pills

Just like you would if you had a young child, always keep medications in a safe place where your animals cannot get at them. Do not give your pet any drug that has not been prescribed specifically for them by a veterinarian!

Human painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs are particularly toxic to animals - even half a tablet of acetaminophen can be lethal for a cat. Symptoms include lethargy, blue gums and dark brown urine. These animals need urgent medical attention if they are to survive!

As well as obvious poisons, such as rat poison and slug and snail bait, these substances are toxic to pets:

- Anti-freeze - this can taste sweet, so is attractive to pets. Never let your dog or cat lap up spilt antifreeze.
- Flea treatments - some flea treatments intended for dogs are toxic to cats. Always make sure your cat's flea treatment is a product intended specifically for cats and not just dogs.
- Garden herbicides and pesticides - these can contain chemicals such as arsenic
- Household cleaning agents

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There are over 700 house and garden plants that are poisonous to pets if eaten. Some of the most common include:

- Azaleas and rhododendrons
- Buttercups and daffodils
- Box and privet hedge
- Foxgloves and delphiniums
- Holly and mistletoe berries
- Narcissus, hyacinth and amarylis bulbs
- Poinsettias
- Lillies (any part)
- Yew

Be especially careful at Christmas, if you have holly, mistletoe and poinsettias in the house!

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First, don't panic. Although the situation may be serious, prompt action can save your animal's life. There are two things you need to do.

Work out what happened
Quickly try to assess exactly what your pet has eaten, roughly how much and when. What signs are they showing now? Have they eaten/drunk/vomited since? Do you have packaging from the substance they ate, maybe with exact ingredients? This is all important information to tell your veterinarian.

You can then...

Call your veterinarian
Tell them as much information as possible, and follow their advice. If you have packaging from the poisonous substance, take it with you to the veterinarian's office.

It is essential that your pet receives qualified veterinary attention ASAP. It may be possible to remove the poison from the stomach, or administer an antidote or other protective medications before your animal suffers toxic effects. In general, the sicker your pet gets before receiving medical attention, the worse the prognosis.

Do NOT try to make your pet vomit unless instructed by your veterinarian
Vomiting can be dangerous if your pet has eaten a caustic substance, as the substance may burn and damage their throat when they vomit. If you have not been instructed to by your veterinarian, do not try to make your pet vomit - seek specific veterinary advice first as your vet can tell you whether vomiting will help or cause further damage. Veterinarians have more effective methods of inducing vomiting than you can do at home, so it's essential that your animal is seen by a veterinarian ASAP.

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Acupuncture has been scientifically proven to have positive effects in both animals and humans! Although if you suspect poisoning, your dog requires immediate veterinary attention, acupuncture is an effective therapy for a variety of disorders, especially those which are chronic and painful. A great example is arthritis - many dogs are still stiff and painful despite taking painkilling medications, but acupuncture can effectively relieve pain and often reduce the dose of drug needed, therefore avoiding drug side effects.

Would you like to learn more? My new ebook details how acupuncture is done on dogs, how it works, what conditions can benefit, how to find a certified acupuncturist and more - click here for more details.

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