During the pandemic, one out of five families added a pet to their household. With many stuck at home, a pet provided company as well as entertainment.
But did you know many foods we eat can make your dog or cat very sick or can even be toxic?
Grapes and their dried form, raisins, contain an unknown substance that is toxic to dogs and can cause kidney failure. So as tempting as giving one grape seems, please do not give your dog or cat grapes or raisins.
Most dogs are lactose intolerant and their bodies are not able to break down the sugars in milk. As in humans, dogs can get gas, bloating, vomiting and diarrhea.
Avocados contain persin, which can make dogs sick. Every part of the avocado — the skin, flesh, leaves and pit — although not fatal, could make them vomit and have diarrhea.
This reminds me of a friend’s family dog who used to eat the fallen avocados from their tree. I never asked if the dog got sick from that.
Chicken bones can splinter and cause cuts or other dental problems. Large pieces of bone can get stuck in a dog’s trachea or esophagus.
Chocolate contains methylxanthines, which are the stimulants that give a “feel good” feeling to humans but can cause severe diarrhea, vomiting, seizures and irregular heart rhythm and can even cause death.
Caffeine also contains methylxanthines which cause hyperactivity, increased thirst, excessive urination, tremors, seizures, coma and even death.
Garlic, onions, and chives, all members of the allium family, can harm the red blood cells, which could cause anemia. It can also cause an upset stomach. Symptoms may take several days to appear.
Xylitol is a sweetener in sugar-free, reduced calorie foods, candies and gum. In dogs and cats it causes blood glucose levels to drop and leads to liver failure, seizures, and brain damage.
Alcohol depresses the central nervous system and stresses the liver. It takes only a small amount of alcohol to make your dog ill and can lead to poor coordination, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty in breathing, coma and even death.
One of the most toxic substances for dogs is in macadamia nuts. It makes them extremely ill, with vomiting, weakness, joint pain, increased body temperature, and the inability to walk.
Because of the high fat content, it is best not to give dogs or cats any nuts as it may cause upset stomach or could cause pancreatitis. Peanuts and peanut butter are not considered nuts but legumes, so they are OK in small amounts.
Cats should not eat dog food only, as dog food lacks sufficient vitamin A and taurine, two nutrients cats need to live healthy lives. Dog food is also lacking in arachidonic acid and adequate meat-protein levels that cats need.
Cats cannot eat canned tuna, especially red tuna, which can cause a thiamine deficiency, leading to neurological symptoms such as mental dullness, discoordination, blindness, head tilt, abnormal eye movement and seizures. The thiamin deficiency can lead to death.
Cats absolutely cannot tolerate even a little bit of grapes or raisins. It could be the tartaric acid concentrations in grapes that make them very sick and may cause rapid kidney failure. Symptoms begin as early as 24 hours after ingestion, with vomiting, decreased urination, and painful belly.
As much as cats are related to lions and tigers, they have become so domesticated that they cannot eat any raw meat or uncooked eggs. They run a risk of food borne illnesses. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy.
Do not feed your cat raw yeast dough, which will cause severe swelling of the stomach. It also creates alcohol, which makes the cat drunk. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, disorientation, trouble breathing and even death.
Citrus fruits are great for humans but lemons, limes, oranges, clementines, tangerines and grapefruit contain citric acid and essential oils that make your cat sick. The stems, leaves, peels, fruit and seeds can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, and central nervous depression.
Coconut flesh and coconut water can cause digestive problems. Coconut water is too high in potassium to be safe for pets.
Raw eggs may contain salmonella bacteria and give your cat diarrhea, fever and cause vomiting. Raw eggs also contain avidin, an enzyme that hinders cats from absorbing biotin, a vitamin that’s important for skin and fur health.
So as much as your pets are part of your family, when it comes to eating, feed them only pet food, and not table scraps.
Foodie bites
Hawaii Community College’s The Cafeteria and Bamboo Hale are closed for spring break this week.
Make sure you visit them next week, from Tuesday through Thursday.
Email Audrey Wilson at audreywilson808@gmail.com.