13 Common Foods You Should Never Feed Your Pet

Part of responsible pet ownership is ensuring your pet gets the most nutrition and the right kind of food, in addition to regular grooming and exercise. Sometimes, you feel like sharing your food with your beloved furry friend. However, you should bear in mind that what is safe for human consumption may not always be safe for your pets, and they may pose hazards to their health and can even claim their lives. 

Chocolates

Never give chocolates to your pets. They contain a toxin called theobromine, which pets find hard to metabolize. So, keep your chocolates away from your curious pets to avoid the possibility of chocolate poisoning.

Salty Foods

Aside from ingesting salt directly or drinking salty water, salty foods (junk or table food) can be other sources of salt that can harm your pet. Salt is poisonous to pets if taken in excessive amounts.  

Grapes and Raisins

While these two are popular human snacks, feeding these to your pets is definitely a no-no, as these can lead to renal failure. So far, there are no exact details as to the number of grapes that can cause renal failure, so it is understood that you should avoid giving even a single piece. 

Caffeine

While you kick off the day with a cup of your favorite caffeinated drink, your pets do not need one. Caffeine, similar to chocolates, is toxic to pets and may lead to restlessness, rapid breathing, heart palpitations, and even seizures. 

Alcohol

Don’t even think of giving even a single drop of alcohol to your pets because alcohol poisoning will not only cause them diarrhea, vomiting, difficulty in breathing, tremors, and coma, but it is also fatal.  

Xylitol

Commonly used to sweeten sugar-free peanut butter, candies, gummies, and even pastries, this sugar alcohol called xylitol is highly toxic to pets. If ingested, even in very small amounts, it can cause a rapid decline in your pet’s blood sugar level (hypoglycemia), seizure, and may cause liver failure.

Raw Meat and Fish 

While many advocate raw feeding for pets, raw meat or fish may contain disease-causing germs and bacteria like Salmonella or E. coli, which can cause food poisoning. Among the symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, and, in worse cases, septicemia.  

Bones

Cooked bones might cause fractures on your pet’s tooth, and splinters can also be potential choking hazards. It can also puncture your pet’s digestive tract and cause serious infections or injuries. If fed raw, on the other hand, your pet might be exposed to bacteria like Salmonella and food-borne illnesses.

Onions and Garlic

Whether raw, dried, cooked, or powdered form, the toxins found in onions and garlic (sulfur-containing oxidants (SCO) and N-propyl disulfide) are harmful to pets. These can cause damage to your pet’s red blood cells and lead to anemia. Other manifestations of onion and garlic poisoning include vomiting, breathing difficulties, and weakness.  

Raw Eggs

Salmonella, which may be present in raw eggs, is highly poisonous for pets. Apart from Salmonella, avidin, which is present in raw egg whites, may interfere with the absorption of biotin and lead to coat and skin problems.  

Milk and Dairy Products

These are good sources of calcium for humans, but although not toxic to pets, milk products are not recommended for them to consume as these are among the leading sources of allergens for dogs. Meanwhile, cats are lactose intolerants, so feeding them milk and dairy products can cause them stomach upset. 

Avocado

Avocado may be a superfood, but it contains a toxin called persin, and when ingested, it can result in sterile mastitis among your lactating pets (mammals) and myocardial necrosis among birds and mammals.

Macadamia Nuts

Even if you’re a macadamia nut lover, be sure you never feed your pet with anything that uses these as an ingredient because they are toxic for your pet and can cause vomiting, tremors, hyperthermia, and weakness.