Do you or your kids ever feed your pets
'people food'? I think most of us do from time to time. We might not
even do it on purpose-if you've ever seen what a dog can do with an
unattended plate of food, you know what I mean! While it's better to
keep them on their own food because it's better suited to their
dietary needs, most vets don't have a problem with an occasional
table scrap or two. There are, however, some foods that you should
never feed your pets. Some are obvious, but not all of them.
For instance, never let a pet-any
pet-eat chocolate! The offending substance is called theobromine,
which can be found in the cocoa found in all chocolate-white
chocolate included. The higher the cocoa content, the higher the
risk. Animals cannot digest any kind of caffeine because their bodies
are unable to break it down in a way that would make it safe for
their nervous or circulatory systems. The result, among other things,
is a dangerously irregular heartbeat and possibility of seizures.
Contrary to popular belief, dogs are not the only pets affected. For
more information, check out
http://www.facts-about-chocolate.com/chocolate-and-dogs/.
Believe it or not, milk is another food
your pets shouldn't have. Despite all the cute pictures we've seen
of cats drinking milk, most adult animals don't have the enzymes
necessary to digest the lactose in milk. Just like a
lactose-intolerant human, this can cause cramps, gassiness,
diarrhea-a whole host of digestive problems. Cream, however, doesn't
appear to be as harmful and thus can be ingested in small amounts.
The occasional lick of Breyer's vanilla ice cream should be fine.
Don't let your pets have alcohol or
tobacco. I'm sure I don't have to explain why.
Contrary to popular belief, never feed
your cat 'people-food' tuna or raw fish. Some of the enzymes can
cause a B-vitamin deficiency, leading to malnutrition and
neurological problems. If Fluffy likes fish, get the packets made
especially for cats.
The chemical Persin found in
avocados can be harmful and/or fatal to birds and rodents.
Vets aren't entirely sure why, but
grapes and raisins have been associated with kidney problems in dogs.
This is important to mention because many members of the rodent
family (chinchillas, ferrets, etc) enjoy raisins. While definitive
research hasn't been done yet regarding raisins and exotic pets such
as rodents or reptiles, it's probably best to avoid them.
Garlic, chives or other types of onions
can be problematic in excess. Ditto salt. While these substances are
found in some pet foods, animals should never have 'extra' amounts of
them. In other words, tell your son to stop feeding the dog pretzels.
:)
As with humans, raw meat and eggs carry
the risk of E. coli and Salmonella bacteria.
Due to the 'expanding' nature of yeast,
raw dough can be harmful to your pet. Aside from the gassiness, it
can cause a blockage or rupture of the intestine if it 'rises'
enough. This risk reduces once the dough is cooked, though, so the
occasional scrap of bread as a treat shouldn't cause problems.
For more information about foods you
shouldn't feed pets, visit the ASPCA's page at
http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/poison-control/people-foods.aspx.
As always, check with your veterinarian.
No comments:
Post a Comment