NOT FOUND: food and dog.jpgWe all have done it…. we know we shouldn’t have, but we have. We give into Fido sitting at our feet with those big eyes, licking his lips, wanting just a taste of what we have. Unfortunately, some of the goodies we eat, as good as they may be for us, can have extreme consequences to our fur-babies. Here are just a few examples of some foods that can be toxic, along with some possible signs of toxicity.
Apples, Apricots, Cherries, Peaches and Plums: Ingestion of large amounts of stems, seeds and leaves of these fruits can be toxic. They contain a cyanide type compound and signs of toxicity include apprehension, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, hyperventilation and shock.
Avocados: The leaves, fruit, bark, and seeds of avocados have all been reported to be toxic. The toxic component in the avocado is “persin”, which is a fatty acid derivative. Symptoms of toxicity include difficulty breathing, “abdominal enlargement”, abnormal fluid accumulations in the chest, abdomen and sac around the heart. The amount that needs to be ingested to cause signs is unknown. Do not feed your pet any component of the avocado.
Baking Powder and Baking Soda: Baking soda and baking powder are both leavening agents. A leavening agent is a common ingredient in baked goods that produces a gas causing batter and dough to rise. Baking soda is simply sodium bicarbonate. Baking powder consists of baking soda and an acid, usually cream of tartar, calcium acid phosphate, sodium, aluminum sulfate or a mixture of the three. Ingestion of large amounts of baking soda or baking powder can lead to electrolyte abnormalities (low potassium, low calcium and/or high sodium), congestive heart failure or muscle spasms.
Fatty Foods: Rich and fatty foods are favorites of dogs. They often get them as treats, leftovers or from getting into the trash. These fatty foods can cause pancreatitis. Pancreatitis can affect any pet. Signs of pancreatitis generally include an acute onset of vomiting, sometimes diarrhea and abdominal pain. Abdominal pain is often evidenced by hunched posture or “splinting” of the abdomen when picked up. The dog may become very sick quickly and often needs intensive fluid and antibiotic therapy.
Dairy Products: Dairy products are not highly dangerous but can pose problems for two reasons. One is their high fat content and like other foods with high fat content, there is a risk of pancreatitis. The second reason is that pets poorly digest dairy products since they lack the enzyme required to digest lactose. This affects some pets more than others, and can cause gas and diarrhea. Small amounts of plain yogurt or cheese are tolerated by most dogs but it is probably safest to avoid dairy products altogether.
Macadamia Nuts: Macadamia nuts, also the Queensland nut or Australia nut, can be toxic. The mechanism behind why these nuts are toxic is a mystery. However, it has been noted that as few as 6 to 40 nuts in dogs have caused severe toxic signs. Dogs develop weakness, depression, vomiting, difficulty walking, tremors, abdominal pain, lameness, stiffness and/or pale gums. The signs usually dissipate in 12 to 24 hours.
Onions or Garlic: Dogs and cats lack the enzyme necessary to properly digest onions and this could result in gas, vomiting, diarrhea or severe gastrointestinal distress. If large amounts of onion or garlic are ingested or onions are a daily part of you dog’s diet, the red blood cells may become fragile and break apart. This is due to the toxic ingredient in onions and garlic, Thiosulphate. Signs can begin immediately after eating the onion or a few days later. Large quantities of garlic need to be ingested before signs of toxicity are seen. Severe anemia and even death can occur if the dog ingests lost of onions or garlic and receives no treatment. All forms of onion and garlic are a problem. This includes raw, dehydrated, cooked, powders or those in foods. The most common source of onions for cats is in human baby food. Some baby foods have onion powder added for taste. When consistently fed baby food with added onion powder, signs of toxicity can develop. Many people use garlic pills as “natural” flea control. The amount of garlic is low but if large amounts of the pills are ingested at one time, toxicity may occur.
Xylitol (sugar Sweetener): Xylitol is a sugar-alcohol sweetener found in sugar-free human food products such as chewing gum, candy, “diabetic” and “sugar-free” products as well as other products. Dogs that eat significant amounts can develop a sudden drop in blood sugar, which can cause weakness, lethargy, loss of coordination, collapse and seizures.
Symptoms can begin in as little as 30 minutes and last hours. It is recommended that pets that experience symptoms be taken to a veterinarian or local emergency hospital for evaluation.
As you can see, our fur-babies are just not able to handle a lot of our human goodies. This is just a small example of foods that can be toxic to our pets. This doesn’t mean that you can’t spoil them with the occasional “human-like” treats often found at local pet boutiques, pet stores and “barkeries”. It just means that, we as pet parents need to be more aware of exactly what Fido is getting for a “Treat” and make sure that he can safely enjoy those goodies.
Come in and meet the caring doctors and staff at the VCA Highlands Animal Hospital 3451 Elkhorn Blvd. North Highlands, CA 95660. 916-332-2845