As most pet parents know, providing food and treats is one of the best ways to bond with a cat or dog. But not all treats are created equal. As tempting as it is to share table scraps with your loving pet, some human foods can actually do more harm than good, causing long-term complications from pet toxicity to canine and feline diabetes. Here are five common household foods that are bad to feed to cats and dogs:
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1. Onions and garlic
Plants in the allium family, such as onions, garlic, leeks, or chives, are extremely toxic to dogs and cats. In low doses, they can cause upset stomach, vomiting, or diarrhea. High doses can cause symptoms of toxicity such as increased heartrate, anemia, organ failure, or death. Because onions and garlic can be used in powdered form, they can be easily hidden in human foods one wouldn’t expect, like prepackaged pretzels, pasta sauces, salad dressings, and more.
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2. Raw eggs and raw meat and bones
The wild ancestors of our beloved cats and dogs were known to hunt live prey, so you might think raw meat is perfectly safe. In fact, raw meat is bad for pets for the same reason it tends to be bad for humans. Meat that hasn’t been cooked at proper temperatures poses the risk of foodborne illnesses like salmonella and listeria. On a similar vein, raw eggs can also play host to harmful bacteria. Bones should be avoided because they can break and cause intestinal blockages. Instead of bones, try a commercial treat like a rawhide chew, which is more digestible than a bone while providing the same enrichment.
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3. Chocolate
This popular sweet contains a compound called theobromine, which human bodies can process. Unfortunately, dogs and cats are unable to metabolize it, so ingested theobromine can build up in the system, overtax the liver and kidneys, and essentially result in a poisoned pet. The purer the chocolate, the more theobromine it contains. However, it’s best to avoid all chocolate-based products when it comes to pet health.
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4. Caffeine
Caffeine is all-natural, extremely common, and relatively inexpensive, but it’s still a powerful stimulant. Dogs and cats are more sensitive to it than humans, many of whom might drink several cups of coffee a day. Therefore, it takes much less to trigger toxicity symptoms, which include irregular heartbeat, gastrointestinal distress, dehydration, and even seizures.
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5. Grapes and raisins
Researchers are still trying to determine exactly why grapes are toxic to dogs and cats. For now, experts agree that feeding a dog or cat grapes in particular can trigger common signs of poisoning, including kidney failure. Raisins, which are made from grapes, are just as harmful.
