February 23 is National Dog Biscuit Day and we’re looking forward to showing our furry friends just how much we love them with a few treats! And don’t worry, cat parents, your feline friends can participate in the fun, too!
Whether you plan to bake something for your pet, give them their favorite biscuit, or just give them a bite of your snack, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) has made it easy to remember which human foods are safe, and which are unsafe for your pet.
Unsafe Foods:
Alcohol can cause vomiting, diarrhea, decreased coordination, central nervous system depression, difficulty breathing, tremors, abnormal blood acidity, coma, and even death.
Avocado is primarily a problem for birds, rabbits, donkeys, horses and ruminants including sheep and goats. For birds and rabbits, ingestion could cause cardiovascular damage and death. Horses, donkeys and ruminants frequently get swollen, edematous head and neck.
Chocolate and coffee both contain methylxanthines which can cause vomiting and diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures and even death.
Garlic and onions can cause gastrointestinal irritation and could lead to red blood cell damage and anemia. Although cats are more susceptible, dogs are also at risk if a large amount is consumed.
Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure.
Macadamia nuts can cause weakness, depression, vomiting, tremors and hyperthermia in dogs.
Xylitol is used as a sweetener in many products, including gum, candy, baked goods and toothpaste. It can cause insulin release in most species, which can lead to liver failure. The increase in insulin leads to lowered sugar levels. Initial signs of toxicosis including vomiting, lethargy and loss of coordination. Signs can progress to seizures and elevated liver enzymes and liver failure can be seen within a few days.
Raw yeast bread 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.
APCC has a full list of unsafe foods for pets.
Safe Foods:
All of the items listed on our graphic above should be shared sparingly with pets without any seasoning and cut into pieces. Be sure to remove any seeds, cores, stems or peels from fruits.
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