Foodstuff that can cause toxicity

 

          Keep toxic people out of your life they say. I agree.

        While you are at it you may want to also keep toxic stuff that is a part of your home out of your pet’s life. We don’t need toxicity of any kind.

 

          A lot of parent’s are unaware that certain foods, beverages in their own home will not go down well with a family member of another species.

Have these at home? Be very careful of who gets access to them..

 Alcohol

 

Guess what? Alcohol is a toxin to us as well! While we may sure enjoy having our brains addled and getting inebriated, it certainly isn’t a wise choice to have your pet experience the same. 

C’mon, best friends do not give each other bad habits.

Keep alcohol away from your pets (and your children, and yourself when possible)

When consumed, it can cause abdominal pain, bloating, ataxia, depression and coma. 

 

Cannabis, Marijuana and Hashish

 

Let me remind you the possession of these is illegal in our country. So far.

Also, right now is a very bad time to be found with it.(NCB has been very busy off late for those who are not in touch with the news.)

But incase by some means, your pet goes on an illegal weed trip, make sure you have an honest conversation with your vet. We are here to save pet lives and if we don’t know what you pet has consumed (voluntarily and otherwise) we will not be able to help.

 

The legal implications ofcourse, are toxic for you. But, the minimum toxic dose is 3 mg/kg for dogs. Which means small doggos need lesser to go on a trip. Mind you, inhalation is also risky. So, smoking up will also get your pet intoxicated.

Your high on weed pet will exhibit either depression or aggression, dilated pupils (just like the human counterpart), sensitivity to light and sound, weakness, inability to walk properly.

It will mean a visit to a vet, lots of discomfort for your pet, induced vomiting,  a lot of explaining from your end. Best just to keep it out of their lives, no?

 

Chocolates and Caffeine

 

What??? She cant have a chocolate cake for her birthday??

I’m sorry but she can't. Perhaps the most heart breaking thing is that you cannot share your favourite chocolate icecream, chocolate cake, Nutella whatever with your pooch because chocolate infact is SUPER TOXIC to dogs and cats alike.

Your favourite coffee/coffee cake etc also can never feature on you pooch’s diet.

Sadly, these beautiful animals will never know the joy of chocolate and coffee.

 

Caffeine and theobromine are the toxic elements. Darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is. It will cause vomiting, diarrhoea and heart beat irregularities.

Theobromine deaths have been reported after ingestion of 100 mg per kilogram of body weight. Caffeine is toxic at about 130 mg per kilogram of body weight. Unsweetened baking chocolate contains almost seven times more theobromine than milk chocolate.

 

Small dog and dark chocolate that’s why can become a fatal combo.

 

You may wanna pick another birthday cake.

 

Fruits

 

My general word of advise is, always give without the seeds. While most fruits are fine, the seeds when consumed in large quantities can cause a problem.

Eg apples, apricots, cherries, peaches, plums – Get the seeds out.

Mango – That seed will definitely lead to surgery if swallowed whole. Get that seed out!

 

Avocado:

 

For the parents with exotic tastes, this fruit can be potentially fatal for your pet if the seed is consumed. It will lead to a surgery.

The leaves are extremely toxic and this fruit is an absolute no no for your pet bird. So while you enjoy your avacado on toast, make sure your furries don’t get to share in those table scraps.

 

Grapes

 

This one is an exception. Seeds or seedless, your pet should be kept away from grapes. The toxic dose is not known, but signs have been reported with as little as 14 grams grapes/kg bodyweight and 4 grams raisins/kg bodyweight. It causes kidney failure. It can also induce vomiting, diarrhoea lack of appetite, lethargy, or abdominal pain. A whole lot eaten could also prove fatal.

 

Grapes and their dried up counter parts, raisins, should well be out of reach.

    Macadamia nuts

 

These are popular with fitness conscious parents . These nuts are not healthy for your canine or feline. I honestly recommend against nuts and dried fruits of any kind, to be safe.

The toxin in macadamia nuts is unknown, but a dose of 0.7–5 grams/kg body weight has been shown to be toxic (roughly 5–40 nuts per 20kg dog). This includes both raw and roasted macadamia nuts.

The ones covered in chocolate could turn into a lethal combination.

From vomiting, diarrhoea, inability to walk to perhaps paralysis, these nuts may have a host of benefits for you but are nothing but poison for your pet.

Macadamia nuts are rich in vitamins, minerals, fiber, and antioxidants. But restrict it to human consumption only.

 

Nutmeg

Large doses have proved fatal. Tremors, muscle spasms, seizures, hallucinations, vomiting are all signs to look out for. 

So while you try spicing your food up with nutmeg, ensure that your pooch is not up for some tasting as well.

No nutmeg cakes for the dog.

 

Mouldy food

 

Bread kept out for too long or dry food which gets spoilt essentially has mould i.e. fungus growing on it. While some fungi like certain mushrooms are okay for consumption, this mould can prove potentially fatal to you and your pet alike. Toxins secreted by these fungi can cause damage to the liver and ensuing jaundice, vomiting, anorexia, lethargy, oedema, bleeding and coma.

Throw that mouldy food out and make sure the dustbin is not within reach.

 

Onions and Garlic

 

We Indians love our spices and onion and garlic and what not in our meals. Some of us feel this strong desire to make our pets also taste authentic Indian food with all of these ingredients.

But did you know? Onions, garlic, chives and leeks (Allium spp.) all contain sulfoxide and disulfide compounds?

In layman terms, this can cause abnormalities in your pets RBCs ultimately leading to anemia. Fresh, dried, raw, cooked or crushed have all been shown to be potentially toxic. Cats are more sensitive than dogs.

Small quantities of garlic may be accepted well but if consumed in excess, both onions and garlic can make them vomit, have loosies, have discoloured urine, cause liver damage and anemia. They aren't going to particularly enjoy an indian cuisine after that experience. Its best to stick to food specific to that species.

 

Tobacco

 

Needless to say, all of our addictions are toxic to our four legged partners. Iv had to see nicotine toxicity because some dogs indiscriminately will chew up butts that haven't been disposed off properly. So if you can’t quit smoking, at least responsibly dispose the butts.

This also includes toxicity of nicotine via patches/chewing tobacco/gum/vaping etc.

Clinical signs seen include muscle tremors, hallucinations, excitement, tachypnoea, salivation, vomiting and diarrhoea. Animals can also seizure.

Xylitol

 

Xylitol is used as sugar free and is also an integral part of products like toothpaste, chewing gum, mint, oral rinses.

Xylitol causes insulin release in pets thus reducing their blood glucose to near fatal levels. This can cause tremors, seizures, loss of consciousness. Toxic dose has been shown to be as low as 0.1 g/kg. A stick of gum has 0.3 g. 

Dispose off your gum also responsibly and hide those sugar free packets.

 

Other special mentions:

 

Tomato – Can cause bladder stones in the long run even if they aren't acutely toxic. Pav bhaji can never make it to your dog/cat’s diet chart.

Potato – Green potato skins can cause a lot of damage. Otherwise, potatoes, cooked and skinned are very safe.

Liver – Stick to 3 times a week ONLY. Always cooked. Has the potential to cause Vitamin A deficiency.

 

          Look around you now and see how many of these food items can easily be nicked from the kitchen and snacked on by your pet. Educate your family and friends about these so we have to see lesser cases of toxicity. If you want to know if anything else is safe/unsafe for your pet’s consumption, drop it in the comments or mail to me.

 

Keep them safe and toxin free!

 

Dr. N