The 10 most toxic foods for dogs and cats
Lort Smith Animal Hospital in Melbourne is always busiest on public holidays. That particularly goes for Easter, when the most dangerous foods for pets are available in abundance around them.
''Easter can be a busy time for everyone with festivities happening so the opportunity for a mishap involving your pet is significant but not unavoidable,'' said Lort Smith Animal Hospital Veterinarian Dr McGregor.
He says early preparation is key to avoiding a visit to the vet this Easter.
''Planning is the key and knowing pets can be quite opportunistic and cunning when they think a yummy treat is up for grabs.
''It's important to keep food away from the edge of benches or tables as many pooches won't be able to resist the temptation of jumping up to get to what they perceive is a yummy treat but in fact can be potentially life threatening.''
Here are the top 10 most dangerous foods for pets that you need to keep out of your pet's way.
10. Raw dough
If you are baking anything this Easter, make sure to keep the dough away from your furry friends, as they can get bread dough poisoning if ingested.
If your pets eat raw dough, the warm and moist environment of the stomach causes live yeast in the dough to give off ethanol. This alcohol can result in various degrees of intoxication, and in the case of large ingestions could cause low blood sugar, temporary blindness and even put them in a coma.
The rising of the dough can also result in gastrointestinal distention and obstruction, with your animal perhaps experience abdominal pain and vomiting. If it expands too much, it may even require surgical intervention.
9. Fatty foods and meat trimmings
Fatty foods like avocados and nuts can cause pancreatitis in dogs.
Giving pets meat trimmings can potentially pass on salmonella and E.coli among other diseases.
8. Raw fish
Raw fish poses the risk of bacterial and parasitic contamination, and can also contain harmful enzymes.
This is the case for both dogs and cats, though cooked fish is OK to give them but beware of bones which can be choking hazards, seasonings like garlic which are toxic to pets and excessive oil which can lead to an upset tummy.
7. Nuts
While some nuts are fine for pets to consume, others can be every toxic.
Macadamia nuts, black walnuts, and old and mouldy nuts are toxic for dogs.
Mouldy nuts are toxic for cats too, as are raw cashews.
Others like pistachios and almonds can cause a choking risk or get stuck while digesting.
Many nuts are high in fat, which is not good for animals.
6. Sweeteners
With many foods now containing artificial sweeteners, it pays to be careful around pets.
While sweeteners like aspartame, erythritol, saccharin, stevia, and sucralose are considered non-toxic for pets in small amounts, in large amounts they can induce vomiting and diarrhoea, as well as gastrointestinal irritation.
However, Xylitol is extremely toxic for both dogs and cats, with it causing the pancreas to release large amounts of insulin, which causes glucose levels in the blood to dramatically decrease and cause low blood sugar, which is life-threatening for them.
Liver failure is also a result of xylitol toxicity.
5. Onions and garlic
Ingesting anything from the Allium family of foods – including onions, garlic, chives, shallots, and leeks – can cause Allium species toxicosis in your pets.
A compound called N-propyl disulfide is found in these foods, which can damage pets' red blood cells. This then causes hemolysis which leads to anemia, which in itself can be a dangerous condition, potentially leading to severe organ failure or death.
These vegetables can be toxic in any form – whether it is fresh, cooked, or powdered – and no matter how small the amount is.
4. Corn cob
According to the RSPCA, corn cobs are not toxic but can cause painful intestinal blockage, especially if the husk is digested.
The corn kernels on the cob themselves are not digestible for pets either.
3. Raisins and grapes
One dangerous food for pets you may not be aware of is fresh or dried grapes.
''Hot cross buns are a big no-no for your furry friends. Fresh and dried grapes are highly toxic to dogs and cats, and can cause a range of health problems, from diarrhoea and vomiting, to more severe incidences which could lead to kidney failure,'' Dr James from Lort Smith Animal Hospital said.
2. Cooked bones
You may think that since pets can eat raw bones the same logic would apply to cooked ones, but that's not the case.
Vet Dr Katrina Warren says, "Cooked bones, whether leftover scraps from your meal or have been baked, boiled or fried, should never be fed to dogs (or cats).
"Cooking makes them hard and brittle, and they can easily splinter into pieces when chewed. These fragments are often very sharp and can get caught in the mouth, throat or gastrointestinal tract."
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