Our beautiful pets spent their whole time with us and are an important part of our daily lives. It is quite common to see your pet sharing the food that you eat. But have we ever thought if our food is pet friendly? Do you know that some human-friendly foods are not pet-friendly? We have put together a list of common foods that we eat that are in fact, harmful to our pets.
Coconuts
Coconut water is high in potassium and shouldn’t be given to pets. A small amount of coconut-based products are not likely to cause many problems though fresh coconut kernels can cause a stomach upset in your pet.
Avocado
Avocados are considered to be one of the most healthy fruits, rich in all the good fats. But they contain persin which is known to cause irritation and loose bowel movements in pets. Not just our cats and dogs but even our horses and birds react adversely to persin.
Chocolate
Who doesn’t love chocolate? Chocolates are loved by most people worldwide as a special treat. Chocolate is also the most commonly eaten food item as a treat in a household, especially with kids around! Chocolates contain theobromine, which is digested easily by human beings but not by dogs and cats. Regular consumption of chocolate by your pets cause theobromine to remain undigested, eventually becoming toxic and damaging their liver. Well….who would have thought that the sweetest thing in the world is not actually very sweet to our pets!
Caffeine
Too much caffeine in humans causes irritability, sleeplessness, and concentration issues. But the effect of caffeine in pets is more serious than in humans. An overdose of caffeine or caffeine products can cause fever and some pets could slip into a coma from its consumption.
Alcohol
Even small amounts of alcohol administered to your pet will cause vomiting and lethargy. If excessive amounts of alcohol are ingested, it can cause seizures, coma, and organ failure.
Carbonated beverages
Carbonated drinks or soda contains xylitol which decreases the sugar level of pets and may also cause liver damage.
Sweets, Candy, and Chewing gum
Sweets, Candies, and Chewing gum contain xylitol so, similar to soda, they lower the blood sugar levels and hinder blood clotting. Plus chewing gum is not supposed to be swallowed which your pets would not be able to comprehend.
Garlic
Garlic contains disulphides and thiosulphates, which interfere with your pet’s red blood cells and may cause lethargy, weakness and vomiting.
Yeast based dough
Raw, yeast-based dough such as the ones we use for pizza and bread release ethanol which causes stomach irritation.
Pizza
Pizza toppings such as onion and garlic are not suitable for pets. Also, pepperoni and processed meat toppings are high in sodium which can cause hypertension and heart-related issues in pets.
Keep your pets on a healthy diet. Purchase high-quality pet food. Lean meat, chicken and fish, cooked egg, pumpkin, sweet potato, and rice are some safe foods that you may give your pet dogs and cats if you would prefer to give them homemade food options.
What to do if you would like to give your pet new food?
We would recommend consistency in the food you feed your pet. However, if you have any questions or doubts related to any particular food that you would like to give your pet, it is always best to consult your vet. Foods that are completely safe for humans to eat may not be safe for your pet to eat. These really can result in life-threatening conditions that might be difficult to recover from so check first.
What you must do if your pet consumes harmful food?
If you find that your pet has ingested any harmful substances or food, then you must not wait for any symptoms to show up – consult a vet as soon as possible. It may be possible to save your pet with timely action.