Your Favorite Food May Make Your Fur Friend Sick

You love your pet and want to share everything with him or her. But when it comes to sharing your favorite foods, they rely on you to know what’s good for them. Here are a few common foods you should avoid feeding your pet and why:

• Death by chocolate could be literal for your pet. Chocolate contains methylxanthines which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, seizure, and even death.

• People think kittens need a saucer of milk, but cow’s milk often gives kittens diarrhea because they are lactose intolerant.

• You may love chips, pretzel, and popcorn but too much salt isn’t good for anyone including your pet. Salt can cause excessive thirst and urination and even lead to sodium ion poisoning for your pet.

• Everyone needs their veggies but pets should avoid onions, shallots, and chives. These foods contain thiosulphate which can damage red blood cells in dogs and cats and can cause anemia.

• Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure.

• Raw meat, fish, and eggs should also be avoided. Aside from Salmonella and E. coli, raw eggs can lead to a biotin deficiency in dogs, which is harmful to their skin and fur. Raw fish contains bacteria that can lead to food poisoning.

March is pet poison awareness month!

If you suspect your pet has eaten a potentially toxic food, contact your veterinary or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control or at 888-426-4435.