BY ABIGAIL GILMORE
Animals are a part of our families, and though we may feel it’s okay to give them a place at the table with some leftovers, many people don’t know that everyday foods and products can be toxic for their furry friends. Learn the top 10 toxins to keep away from your pets to ensure their safety.
1. Flowers. Buttercups, morning glories, poinsettias and tulips may be pretty, but things will get ugly if your dog gets a hold of them. These flowers can cause stomach pains, hallucinations and mouth irritation, if ingested.
2. Fruits. Though grapes and raisins are very nutritious for humans, they are extremely toxic for dogs. Ingestion can lead to irreversible kidney damage, which can result in death.
3. Plants. Elderberry, holly berries and potato plants can all cause your pets pain. According to Vicky Eckerdt, Director of Veterinary Operations at the Arizona Animal Welfare League, pet owners should beware of the Arizona native sago palms plant, which can cause liver failure in both dogs and cats.
4. Chocolate. Chocolate can be toxic to dogs. If your dog eats chocolate, the side effects will vary depending on the amount and type of chocolate ingested. Pure baking chocolate is extremely toxic to dogs, while a dog would have to ingest 10 times the amount of milk chocolate to experience fatal effects. It’s best to just avoid this all around.
5. Alcohol. Don’t invite your pets to happy hour, as the result will be anything but happy. Alcohol is poisonous for pets, as it causes vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing and tremors.
6. Medications. Both ingesting too much of their own medications and consuming human medications can be toxic for pets, said Dr. Brian Serbin, Veterinarian and Owner of Ingleside Animal Hospital. “We get a lot of calls where a dog or cat has ingested an owner’s medication by mistake, or the owner gave their pet the wrong medication because they were in a rush,” Serbin said.
7. Chemicals. You may have some chemicals laying around the house that could cause serious harm to your pets. Motor oil, battery acid, rat poison and bleach are all tremendously dangerous to pets, and if ingested, must be treated immediately.
8. Some foods. Both Eckerdt and Serbin agreed that pets are commonly fed table scraps that could be toxic. Onions can cause anemia in cats and dogs, and the artificial sugar in toothpaste and chewing gum has been linked to problems.
9. Environmental hazards. Mushrooms in the yard and contaminated water can critically hurt your pets. Many pets have curious noses, which unfortunately can lead them to harm. To try to prevent ingestion of mushrooms and bad water, try to keep your pet in sight at all times.
10. Caffeine. Similar to chocolate, caffeine can cause damage to the heart, lungs and kidneys, as well as hurt the central nervous system. Be sure you keep your pets away from caffeine pills, coffee beans, coffee and tea.
The best way to prevent your pets from getting into these toxins is to keep dangerous materials and foods off of the counter and up high, where pets can’t reach them.
Sources: Dr. Brian Serbin, Veterinarian and Owner at Ingleside Animal Hospital and Vicky Eckerdt, Director of Vet Operations at the Arizona Animal Welfare League.
