10 Foods That Are TOXIC

To Your Pets

All of my life I have had a least one pet, if not two or three or more. I love animals with every fiber of my being. I think of them as my children or grandchildren. My kids have has several pet as they were growing up. At one time we had 2 dog, 2 cats, 2 hamster, 2 guinea pigs, 2 rabbits and a tank full of fish. So one day not to long ago my daughter wanted a puppy. Something she could raise and love on her own. Then all of the pictures started. She would take pictures of “Boots” and post them to Facebook. I would take pictures of my “grandson” Boots and post them and tag her in them and so on and so forth. Boots kept growing and changing. There were many first’s. First time he fell asleep with Chloe. The first time he kissed the cat, etc... It occurred to me one day that we should make him a “baby” album. A book we could put all of the pictures in and state what he was doing in them, and show how much he is changing. That is how Pet’s First Steps was created. Pet’s First Steps is dedicated to preserving the memory of our special friends. Whether it is a puppy or an older rescue dog, a cat or any other animal, we strive to make those precious memories last a lifetime one paw print at a time.

OwnerPets First Steps© 2014 Pets First Steps All Rights Reserved

10 Foods That Are Toxic To Your Pets

Many of us treat our furry friends like one of our children. Like our child, there are many things we can do for them that will keep them happy and healthy for many years.

Pets love food, especially our food. They are attracted to smell and they love to watch us eat. While giving them a small bite is ok every now and then, be careful of what you give them.

This book is not intended for medical advice. Please remember to always consult your veterinarian.

All onions, whether cook or raw, are highly toxic to pets. They can destroy an animal’s red blood cells and lead to anemia, weakness and breathing difficulties. Their effects can accumulate over time. Symptoms of onion poisoning are drooling, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and abdominal pain just to name a few.

Onions

Macadamia Nuts

Macadamia nuts are particularly toxic. While the cause is unknown, effects can be anything from vomiting to paralysis to death. Some symptoms of macadamia nut poisoning include severe lethargy, tremors, joint stiffness, inability to walk, increased body temperature, and vomiting.

Caffeine

Coffee, coffee grounds, tea, soda, energy drinks, and diet pills all contain caffeine. Caffeine, like chocolate, contains methylxanthines with is toxic for your pets. In moderate amounts of coffee grounds, tea bags or 1-2 diet pills can easily cause death in small dogs or cats Some of the symptoms of caffeine poisoning are diarrhea, vomiting, weakness, loss of appetite, lack of coordination, seizures.

Grapes and raisins can lead to kidney failure in dogs. As little as a single serving of raisins can kill them. The effects can accumulate over time which could result in death. All types of grape- or raisin-containing products (including trail mix, bagels, grape juice etc.) can result in toxicity. Symptoms of grape poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, abnormal drinking or urination, lethargy and dehydration just to name a few.

Grapes

Chocolate

Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine, which belong to a group of chemicals called methylxanthines. The less sweet and the darker the chocolate, the more toxic it is to your dog. Baker’s chocolate and dark chocolate are the most dangerous. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, pancreatitis, seizures, and sometimes death.

Moldy Foods

A large variety of mold grows on food. Some produce toxins called tremorgenic mycotoxins, which can cause serious or even life-threatening problems if ingested by pets. While it’s virtually impossible to determine whether a particular mold is producing tremorgenic mycotoxins, it is best not to give your pets moldy foods. Some symptoms of tremorgenic mycotoxin poisoning are vomiting, agitation walking drunk, tremors and seizures.

Raw Bread Dough

The yeast in the raw bread dough is what is hazardous to our pets. When raw dough is swallowed, the warm, moist environment of the stomach provides an ideal environment for the yeast to multiply, resulting in a bloated stomach. If the stomach expands big enough it may decrease blood flow to the stomach wall, resulting in the death of tissue. Perhaps more importantly, as the yeast multiplies, it produces alcohols that can be absorbed, resulting in alcohol intoxication. Symptoms can include drooling, vomiting, distended stomach, weakness, coma, hypothermia and death.

Xylitol

Xylitol is a natural, sugar-free sweetener commonly found in a wide variety of chewing gums, mints, foods, dental care product. In dogs, a small amount can cause an acute, life-threatening low blood sugar within 10-15 minutes. In larger amounts it can cause liver failure. Some symptoms of xylitol poisoning in dogs include weakness, lethargy, collapse, vomiting, seizures, jaundice, black-tarry stool, and even coma or death.

Avocados

Avocados, while believed to be safe for dogs and cats there are certain kind of avocados that may contain a toxin known as persin with is highly toxic to birds and large animals. The biggest risk to dogs and cats can occur if they swallowed the whole large, round avocado seed. The seed can get stuck in the esophagus, stomach or intestinal tract. Symptoms of persin poisoning in cats and dogs are vomiting, diarrhea, lack of stool production. In birds, symptoms are the inability to perch, respiratory distress, fluid accumulation around the bird’s heart and lungs, liver and kidney failure, and acute death.

Other than the ripe pulp around the seed, the stems, leaves, and seeds are considered toxic and contain cyanide. Symptoms of cyanide poisoning are dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, inadequate oxygen levels, bright red gums, shock and death.

Cherry