Dangerous Human Foods to Be Aware of
As I was thinking about a subject for this post, my first thought was to share with you a couple of dog treat recipes. However, as I looked at a variety of recipes, it struck me that many of the recipes included food items that I felt might pose a hazard to my dog’s health. As I was uncertain what human foods might pose a health problem for my dog Marley, I decided to take a closer look at what ingredients commonly eaten by people posed problems for our furry friends. What I learned surprised me.
Some food products consumed by humans do in fact pose risks for pets. These products include alcohol, chocolate and coffee, milk and dairy, and raw or undercooked meat, eggs or bones. Salt and salty snack foods fall into this category too, not just because of the salt content but high-salt containing foods are often highly processed as well.
A less obvious category of human consumed foods include Macadamia nuts, nuts generally, onions, garlic and chives, coconut and coconut oil and grapes and raisins. Finally, yeast dough and Xylitol, an artificial sweetener round out the short list of ingredients that should be avoided in the pet food dish.
For a comprehensive list of ingredients that Fido or Mr. Snuggles should avoid, check the table below. It explains the associated risks with common foods as well as symptoms to watch for if your animal may have ingested the food product in question.
| Alcohol | Alcoholic beverages can cause vomiting, diarrhea, decreased coordination, central nervous system depression, difficulty breathing, tremors, abnormal blood acidity, coma and even death. Under no circumstances should you give your pet alcohol-containing products. |
| Avocado | Avocado is primarily a problem for birds, rabbits, donkeys, horses, and ruminants including sheep and goats. The biggest concern is for cardiovascular damage and death in birds. Horses, donkeys and ruminants frequently develop a swollen head or neck. |
| Chocolate, Coffee and Caffeine | These products all contain substances called methylxanthines, which are found in cacao seeds, and in coffee beans. When eaten, methylxanthines can cause vomiting and diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures and even death. Darker chocolate is more dangerous than milk chocolate |
| Citrus | The stems, leaves, peels, fruit and seeds of citrus plants contain varying amounts of citric acid, essential oils that can cause irritation and possibly even central nervous system depression if eaten in significant amounts. Small doses, such as eating the fruit, are not likely to present problems beyond minor stomach upset. |
| Coconut and Coconut Oil | When ingested in small amounts, coconut and coconut-based products are not likely to cause serious harm to your pet. The flesh and milk of fresh coconuts do contain oils that may cause stomach upset, loose stools or diarrhea. You should use caution when offering your pets these foods. Coconut water is high in potassium and should not be given to your pet. |
| Grapes and Raisins | Although the toxic substance within grapes and raisins is unknown, these fruits can cause kidney failure. Until more information is known about the toxic substance, it is best to avoid feeding grapes and raisins to dogs. |
| Macadamia Nuts | Macadamia nuts can cause weakness, depression, vomiting, tremors and hyperthermia in dogs. Signs usually appear within 12 hours of ingestion and can last approximately 12 to 48 hours. |
| Milk and Dairy | Because pets do not possess significant amounts of lactase (the enzyme that breaks down lactose in milk), milk and other dairy-based products can cause diarrhea or other digestive upset. |
| Nuts | Nuts, including almonds, pecans, and walnuts, contain high amounts of oils and fats. The fats can cause vomiting and diarrhea, and potentially pancreatitis in pets. |
| Onions, Garlic, Chives | These vegetables and herbs can cause gastrointestinal irritation and could lead to red blood cell damage. Although cats are more susceptible, dogs are also at risk if a large enough amount is consumed. |
| Raw/Undercooked Meat, Eggs and Bones | Raw meat and raw eggs can contain bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli that can be harmful to pets and humans. Raw eggs contain an enzyme called avidin that decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin), which can lead to skin and coat problems. Feeding your pet raw bones may seem like a natural and healthy option that might occur if your pet lived in the wild. However, this can be dangerous for a pet, who might choke on bones, or sustain a grave injury should the bone splinter and become lodged in a pet’s digestive tract. |
| Salt and Salty Snack Foods | Large amounts of salt can produce excessive thirst and urination, or even sodium ion poisoning in pets. Signs that your pet may have eaten too many salty foods include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, elevated body temperature, seizures and even death. |
| Xylitol | Xylitol is used as a sweetener in many products, including gum, candy, baked goods and toothpaste. It can cause insulin release, which can lead to liver failure or hypoglycemia (lowered sugar levels). Initial signs of a problem include vomiting, lethargy and loss of coordination. Signs can progress to seizures. Elevated liver enzymes and liver failure can be seen within a few days. |
| Yeast Dough | Yeast dough can rise and cause gas to accumulate in your pet’s digestive system. This can be painful and can cause the stomach to bloat, and potentially twist, becoming a life-threatening emergency. The yeast produce ethanol as a by-product and a dog ingesting raw bread dough can become drunk. |
If your pet has ingested any suspect food or household product, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center is a resource for any animal poison-related emergency, available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The Poison Control Center phone number is (888) 426-4435.