Each and every day we consume a variety of foods. We eat fruits, vegetables, meats, starches, and even sweets. We then feel bad that our furry friends can’t do this also. So we slip them a bite or two. What harm can come from this? Certain foods or food ingredients can be extremely harmful to our pets.

We have all heard about chocolate and how dangerous it can be for our pets. However, more dangerous foods are grapes and raisins. These sweet treats can cause kidney failure and this failure can be permanent or even fatal. We do not know the exact reason dogs and cats cannot eat them, but there is ongoing research into this problem.  

If your pet has eaten even one raisin or grape, it is an emergency. They need to see the veterinarian immediately. The veterinarian and their staff will make the dog or cat vomit in hopes of removing the grape or raisin before it is digested. The next step is to obtain baseline lab work to assess their kidney function. You can also plan for your pet to receive intravenous fluids until the kidneys begin to function normally again. Unfortunately, even with quick action by the owner, the treatment is not enough. Be very careful with the grapes and raisins, especially when we feed it to our young children who love to share with our pets.

Another common food ingredient that is toxic to our pets is xylitol. This sugar alcohol is a common sugar substitute found in everything from sugar-free gum to peanut butter. It has become a very popular sugar replacement. If our pets ingest one of the foods containing xylitol, what will happen? One of the first symptoms can be lethargy. This is most likely from low blood sugar. Xylitol will cause severe hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. If there is not enough sugar in the blood, the animal will act weak or lethargic. This can also lead to collapse or even seizures if the blood sugar drops enough.  

The first step if your see these symptoms or your suspect xylitol ingestion is to induce vomiting. This is done if the patient is able to stand and is not seizuring. Your veterinarian will then do baseline lab work to assess the blood sugar and especially the liver. Xylitol can also cause irreversible liver failure. Supportive care and treatment of any arising symptoms related to the liver failure is the best you can give the pet until the body can clear the toxin. Carefully read labels since this sugar replacement is finding its way into many foods that we would not suspect.

There are many recipes that will call for onions and garlic. However, onions and garlic are toxic to our pets. If an animal consumes onions up to 0.5% of their body weight, you will see signs of toxicosis. Garlic is up to five times more toxic. Three to five days after ingestion of these foods there will be changes to the animal’s red blood cells. This will lead to lethargy, weakness, and the gums may also become pale.  

Onions and garlic are not very appetizing by themselves, even to our pets, but they are common in foods we may use to help an animal that is not eating well. Baby food is flavored with onions and garlic and is a common food to our pets, especially those who are ill. If you suspect onion or garlic ingestion, please contact your veterinarian. They will need to check the status of the pet’s red blood cells and start therapy as soon as possible to help them through the crisis. Once again, these are very common ingredients in foods.  Read the labels and be aware of what foods in your house contain them.

The last food that will be discussed is the one I get the most arguments concerning. Our pets do not need to eat our left-overs. The first reason is related to the above paragraphs and the concerns stated over. The next reason is due to the amount of fat contained in our foods. Increased fat ingestion can cause a mild upset stomach up to a case of severe pancreatitis. An animal can become dehydrated from the vomiting and diarrhea. They also have to deal with severe discomfort if it leads to pancreatitis.  

Lastly, our pets do not need the bones left on the plate. These hard objects that we refuse to eat cause severe problems. They are hard enough to break teeth, which will lead to dental issues in the future. They can also splinter in the stomach and intestines. If the bones do pass through the intestinal tract, they can cause painful stools as the bone chips are passed. The bones can also become lodged in the intestines. These lodged fragments will then need to be surgically removed before they puncture the intestines. Please resist the “puppy dog eyes” and feed only their pet food. It will cause less problems in the long run.

I have mentioned a few of the most common foods and ingredients that can cause problems. If you have questions about an item your pet has eaten, please call your veterinarian, an emergency clinic, or visit www.ASPCA.org. The ASPCA maintains an animal poison control that can help your for a fee. Of course, feeding dog or cat food is the best route to avoid these toxins and dangers.