When you’re an animal lover and a pet owner, you do your very best to take care of your fur baby. For many of us, these beings are more than simply our companions; they’re members of the family. If you have a fur baby to keep safe, you’ll want to read about the following foods and keep them away from from him or her as they could be harmful.
Onions
The first food to avoid is onions. Even though a lot of the food we cook or buy may contain onions, you should keep them away from dogs and cats. Whenever pets eat onions, they typically throw them up or experience acute stomach issues, sometimes joined by other troublesome symptoms. This happens because red blood cells are being destroyed.
Essentially, the compounds in onion can cause the red blood cells circulating through your pet’s body to become very fragile and burst. Symptoms of this condition include early-onset vomiting and diarrhea, along with symptoms of anemia — breathlessness, lethargy, pale, yellow, or “muddy” colored gums, rapid breathing, and an elevated heart rate. Read more at Pet Insurance…
If your pet shows any of these symptoms after eating onions, contact your vet right away. They can help your furry friend get better faster.
Garlic
Another food that is toxic to dogs and cats is garlic. It is very similar to onions in the way it harms your pet — but the reaction can be even more severe. Garlic is also found in many of the same foods as onions so you could even double up on the danger. Pizza and Chinese food, for instance, often contain both ingredients and should definitely be kept away from your fur baby. The common use of these seasonings reinforces the fact that you shouldn’t feed cats or dogs table scraps.
Garlic is considered to be about 5-times as potent as onions and leeks. Toxic doses of garlic can cause damage to the red blood cells (making them more likely to rupture) leading to anemia. GI upset can also occur (e.g., nausea, drooling, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea). Read more at Pet Poison Helpline…
Some pet owners actually feed their dogs and/or cats small amounts of garlic to keep fleas away. Now that you know the risks, opt for a vet-recommended anti-flea medicine instead. The potential for harm simply isn’t worth it.
Cocoa and Caffeine
Lastly, the most well-known danger foods for cats and dogs are cocoa and caffeine. It’s crucial that you keep coffee and chocolate away from your pet. They contain theobromine, which can lead to a host of dire reactions.
The symptoms of theobromine ingestion may include restlessness, excitement, hyperactivity, nervousness, trembling, vomiting, diarrhea, increased drinking and increased urination, increased heart rate, muscle tremors, seizures and possibly death. Read more at RSPCA…
The severity of food poisoning from any of the items discussed here depends on the size of the pet and the amount of the substance consumed. Garlic, onions and chocolate make for delicious treats for us, but can have disastrous consequences for our beloved animals. As stated, the best way to avoid accidental exposure is to refrain from feeding your pet table scraps. Be sure to tell anyone eating around your fur baby that this is a hard rule without exception so they won’t make a terrible mistake.
Now that we’ve established that you’re a conscientious and concerned pet parent, we know that traveling without your little one can be stressful. Who can you trust to give the same level of care to your fur baby that you would? The answer is Fur Babies Pet Resort. You can reserve dog boarding and cat boarding through our website, with the full knowledge that our staff (all animal lovers and pet owners themselves) will provide the highest level of care to your dog or cat. You can also reach us by phone at (864) 375-4100 to learn more about our doggie daycare and grooming services or to discuss any special needs.