Don't Eat That!

DON'T EAT THAT!
Information on avoiding the ingestion of harmful substances

RECENTLY DISCOVERED TOXIC FOODS
During the past few years, a number of everyday food items that are safe for people have been found to cause illness and death when ingested by pets.
Several of these are surprising because they have been reported only recently.

Grapes, raisins, and plums: A number of dogs have died from kidney failure after eating a moderate amount of grapes or raisins. The reason for this fatal reaction is unclear, but we recommend NOT giving your dog or cat either grapes or raisins. Plums are suspected of possibly causing similar problems.

Xylitol: Sugarless gums, mouthwashes, and other low-sugar human items include this sugar substitute. Dogs (and probably cats) develop either severe low blood sugar or liver failure. Cases of Xylitol poisoning reported to the poison control centers have increased dramatically in the past year. Care should be taken to keep pets away from any product that contains Xylitol as an artificial sweetener.

Blue Cheese Poisoning: Overly ripe Roquefort or Blue cheese develops a toxin (named roquefortine) that can be fatal. Be careful when you throw away that old chunk of cheese that has been in the back of your refrigerator since last year!

Bread dough: Dogs have been poisoned by ingesting raw bread dough, especially sourdough. Don't leave it unprotected on the counter if your dog is nearby.

Macadamia Nuts: Even a small amount of these nuts can cause a fatal poisoning in dogs and cats.

Black Walnuts: These nuts have also been implicated in pet poisonings.

Onions and onion powder: Cats are particularly susceptible to anemia from onions. Even human baby foods, often used for cats that won't eat, may contain amounts of onion that can destroy the cat's red blood cells and cause anemia. Garlic can cause simliar problems.

Chocolate: The toxicity of chocolate has been known for years, and it has been somewhat over-dramatized. Chocolate contains a stimulant similar to caffeine, and dogs and cats are much more sensitive to this stimulant than are humans. If a dog is sensitive to the stimulant it may act nervous and jittery, or may develop seizures. Death can result, but most reactions are like a human who ingests 10 cups of expresso. The fat content of chocolate can also be dangerous to the dog that is susceptible to pancreatitis. Keep the chocolate for yourself!