Thursday, March 5, 2015

Forbes Living on The Common Foods Which are Bad for Pets



We love our pets so much that some of us let them sit at the table when we eat.  But there are some foods which are dangerous for pets that Forbes Living reviews below.

Never give these foods to cats or dogs because it can be terribly harmful if not fatal:

Avocados: all parts of an avocado, including the pit and skin, contain persin, which is a substance which can produce vomiting and diarrhea in dogs and perhaps cats.

Chocolate: Theobromine, an alkaloid in chocolate does not metabolize in dogs and reach toxic levels which lead to cardiac arrest.  Dogs love sweet stuff. Keep all chocolate locked up high and away from the family pooch.

Onions: Onions and garlic contain sulfoxides and disulfides which can damage red blood cells and lead to anemia in pets.  Onions are worse for pets than garlic.  The sulfoxides and disulfides can damage red blood cells and lead to anemia in pets.  No hamburgers with onions and garlic for the four-legged kids.

Lemons and Limes:  The ASPCS reminds that both of these are bad for dogs and cats. The fruits contain a substance called psoralens, which when combined with the acidity in lemons and limes, can make ingestion dangerous. Also, the essential oil found in lemon peel can be toxic to cats when taken internally, applied to the skin or simply inhaled.

Xylitol: This is a common sweetener in candy, gum and vitamins which is fatal to dogs if they find and eat it. Five grams of it (three pieces of gum) is fatal to dogs. It only takes 15 to 30 minutes before a dog’s insulin levels surge and blood sugar levels drop causing the dog to feel lethargic and losing balance.  Keep food, gum and vitamins out of reach from pets at all times.


Lettuce: Maybe the family feline is a health nut or just likes the fresh, crunchy taste of lettuce. A few small, small pieces is okay but a regular salad every night is hard on the cat’s digestive system. The leafy green (or red) contains enzymes which are not absorbed and digested well. Forbes Living TV suggests growing some cat grass instead since it is healthier for them and more fun to chew on.


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