[nagdu] 8 things you should never feed your dog or cat

Sun Nov 30 00:18:37 UTC 2014

Then why do some dog foods contain garlic?

Nicole 

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Subject: [nagdu] 8 things you should never feed your dog or cat

8 Things You Should Never Feed to Dogs and Cats Cliff Weathers Alterationet
November 10, 2014 Who knew that a few sticks of sugar-free gum could kill
your dog?

Evidently many people don't but the veterinarians who spoke to Alterationet
tell us they're seeing more animals coming in with hypoglycemia after eating
as little as a stick. And even if the animal's blood sugar returns to
normal, there's quite a bit of concern that liver damage, and possibly
death, may follow.

"It's not just dogs, it's cats as well," says Maureen Saunders,
owner/director of the Spring Valley Animal Hospital and Cat Care Clinic of
the Nyacks. "And it's important to get the word out there, so people know to
watch for this."

Many of us tend to think that dogs and cats can eat what humans eat. We
often don't think twice about giving them a bite of our cookie or worry too
much when they scavenge for food. But dogs and cats don't metabolize foods
the same way we do, and many of the foods we eat without problems can hurt,
and even kill them. Here are eight of the most harmful foods to keep away
from your pets.

*1. Xylitol.* One of the more ubiquitous sweeteners in sugar-free products,
xylitol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol found in the fibers of many
fruits, vegetables and mushrooms. It's typically extracted from hardwoods
and corn cobs for commercial use and found in sugarless gum, toothpaste and
many low-calorie baked goods.

While xylitol has no known toxicity in humans, just a few sticks of
sugar-free gum scavenged by a 20-pound dog can cause its insulin levels to
spike and send it into hypoglycemia. Ingesting higher amounts of xylitol can
create serious liver problems including acute hepatic necrosis, leading to
death. Cats are also susceptible to xylitol poisoning.

Sometimes vomiting occurs soon after ingestion, followed by hypoglycemia
within the next hour. At this point, the animal may act lethargic and lose
coordination as a result of lowered sugar levels. Elevated liver enzymes and
liver failure can be seen within a few short days. If caught within the
first few hours and taken to a veterinary clinic, many pets can be nursed
back to health by inducing vomiting and perhaps the administration of
dextrose.

2. Chocolatedd* Cocoa, the main ingredient in chocolate, is said to have
many health benefits for humans, from lowering the risk of cardiovascular
disease to reversing age-related memory loss. However, one chocolate bar can
be deadly to a dog or a cat.

Chocolate, along with coffee and some soda drinks, contains compounds known
as methylxanthines . When pets ingest foods with these compounds, they may
display signs of hyperactivity, discomfort or excessive thirst. Often, these
symptoms give way to abnormal heart rhythms, seizures and even death. Baking
chocolate and dark chocolates, which contain more of these compounds, are
far more dangerous than milk chocolate or white chocolate.

*3. Avocados.* Guacamole is a staple dip in many households, and we might
think it's harmless to let our pet lick the bowl when we're done. But the
avocado fruit contains persin, a fungicidal toxin. While it is harmless to
humans (with the exception of those with avocado allergies), when consumed
by dogs and cats it can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

Birds, and rodents such as hamsters and guinea pigs are especially sensitive
to avocado poisoning and can develop congestion, difficulty breathing, and
fluid accumulation around the heart. Larger amounts of ingested avocado can
create similar symptoms in cats and dogs and even cause death.

*4. Macadamia nuts.* Dog owners should be especially mindful not to feed
cookies, especially store-bought ones you might not know the ingredients of,
to their pets.

Beyond typical macadamia nut cookies, other flavors of commercial cookies
and even some brownies and cakes contain macadamia powder as an ingredient.

Veterinarians are still not quite sure why, but macadamia nuts are known to
cause vomiting, ataxia, tremors and hypothermia in dogs, though they don't
seem to have the same effect on cats and other domestic animals. Dr.

Saunders says the results can be life-threatenin g and that elderly dogs may
be more at risk.

Dogs typically develop these signs between 12 and 48 hours after ingestion.

Vets

recommend that asymptomatic dogs should be treated with activated charcoal,
while those who become ill should immediately be taken to a vet clinic where
treatment may include fluids, analgesics and antipyretics.

*5. Grapes and raisins.* The veterinary community has recently put out the
word that grapes are highly toxic to dogs and cats.

"We didn't know about this until a few years ago, but eating grapes and
raisins can lead to acute kidney failure in pets," says Dr. Saunders.

"Unfortunately,  we're still not sure why some animals can tolerate them and
others cannot."

The

ASPCA believes that pets who already have the one of a variety of health
conditions may have more dramatic reactions to grape ingestion.

*6. Yeast dough.* The yeast in uncooked bread dough can rise in a pet's
digestive system and cause high amounts of gas to accumulate. This can cause
an animal's stomach or intestines to rupture, possibly leading to a painful
death.

While the ASCPA says that the risk is much lower for pets when the dough has
been cooked and fully risen, it can also cause problems. The organization
recommends that bread-based treats should be no more than 10% of a pet's
caloric intake.

*7. Onions and garlic.* "For cats, this is a major issue," says Dr.

Saunders, who

says she's seen several serious cases of onion poisoning. "People might
think it's okay if they're cooking stew to give some to their pets, but
that's actually a real problem for them."

It's not just cats-a dog's health can also be put at risk by onion
ingestion. In both animals, the compunds thiosulfate and allyl propyl
disulfide found in onions work to oxidize an oxygen-transpor ting protein
called hemoglobin in the blood, making it less capable of carrying oxygen
throughout the body.

All members of the allium family, which includes garlic, shallots and
scallions, contain these compounds, which can wreak havoc on a pet's red
blood cells, if eaten in large enough amounts. Garlic tends to be much more
toxic than the common onion.

Also, garlic and onion powders, typical ingredients in many soups, baby food
and meat sauces, can be quiet killers.

The veterinarians we spoke to say that symptoms typically don't show up
immediately, but eventually the animal becomes lethargic and there can be
some physical changes, such as pale gums and dark-colored urine. In the most
severe cases of onion poisoning, a blood transfusion might be needed to save
the animal's life.

*8. Marijuana edibles.* Legal for either recreational or medical use in
several states, marijuana is often sold in more potent forms, including
edibles that taste much like some foods we would typically eat.

Tina Wismer, of the Animal Poison Control Center told NBC News that animals
don't react to the tetrahydrocanna binol in cannabis the same way humans do.

"Without treatment, they can go into comas and die," she says, noting that
edibles may be even more lethal if they also contain chocolate or raisins.

A 2012 study published in the Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical
Care found that marijuana ingestion of baked goods that contain
medical-grade THC butter can kill a dog. The researchers looked into 125
cases of dogs ingesting marijuana between

2005 and 2010 and found that it resulted in two deaths. Both dogs
asphyxiated on their own vomit.

Since marijuana was legalized in Colorado, veterinarians in the state say
they've seen some dogs die from ingestion. Ashley Harmon, a veterinarian at
Fort Collins Veterinary Emergency and Rehabilitation,  told a local
newspaper that one dog died after eating a pound of pot brownies while
another ate a pound of pot butter. Pet owners who use marijuana edibles in
their homes must exercise caution and keep these items securely packaged and
out of reach of dogs and cats.

ininOther Home Toxins*

Dr. Saunders says that while pet poisoning from foods is a serious problem,
there are many other common home items our pets shouldn't come in contact
with.

"One of the biggest problems I see is people trying to help their pet with
medicines to treat them. They often do that by giving them Tylenol, but they
end up giving them inappropriate doses," says Saunders. "This is especially
a problem I see with older dogs. Pepto Bismol is given to dogs, but the
aspirin in it is a major issue with cats."

Dr. Saunders says that people should pay particular attention to where they
store antifreeze, which contains ethylene glycol. Its sweet smell and taste
are attractive to pets as well as wildlife. Antifreeze is deadly when
consumed.

Even certain flowers can cause a problem in the home. "Some types of lilies
are a real issue with cats," she says.

If your pet suddenly becomes ill and you know or suspect it has eaten any
foods in this article, Dr. Saunders suggests you immediately contact the
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435. Also, find out where the
emergency veterinary clinic is in your area and keep its address and phone
number clearly posted on your fridge in case of emergencies.

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