Foods to Avoid for Dogs and Cats…
• Chocolate: While recent studies have shown chocolate to have healthful benefits for humans, thanks to the antioxidants; for dogs and cats, chocolate is nothing but a sweet toxin. The theobromine in chocolate can cause severe reactions. The caffeine is also a no-no.
• Raisins and grapes: Surprisingly yes. Grapes and their shriveled form are both toxic to dogs. (For cats, you shouldn’t risk it either.) Raisins and grapes may seem harmless, but “nature’s candy” can mean acute kidney failure for dogs
• Mushrooms: Another seemingly healthy addition to your dog’s diet, but certain mushrooms for certain dogs could be poison. Signs of upset include vomiting, abdominal pain, lethargy, excess salivation, and even more severe reaction like seizure.
• Onions: For both cats and dogs, onions can lead to anemia. Garlic for cats can result in the same.
• Caffeine: From coffee to tea bags. Like chocolate, these caffeine-containing foods can lead to severe reactions. The stimulant in them may be too much for your cat to take and it’s best to keep these away altogether. For us, caffeine is fine; but for our pets, not at all.
• Garden plants and flowers: You never know which is “poison” for your pup or cat. It’s simply best to keep them away. To distract from such attractive greenery, give pets plenty of toys to chew and get lost in
• Seeds: From apples, peaches, and apricots, you’ll want to keep your kitty and her tummy away from these.
Basically, you’ll want to keep your pet on a healthy diet – one that doesn’t involve table scraps or harmful foods! Let them be a dog or cat and give them food made especially for them, whether it’s purchased in-store or prepared at-home. Most importantly, you’ll want to make sure it meets your pet’s daily requirements and also, is approved by a vet. Your beloved pet will be curious by nature, but still, you wouldn’t want him/her to suffer for it.
Bottom line: Be your best friend’s line of defense.
Though it may be tempting to give your pet scraps from the table, think again! Think about your pet. Giving into begging is never good for your pet’s diet, which should be for the most part controlled.
A pet is unlikely to say no to a goodie that’s delicious. They’re simply not aware of what it could mean to their health, so it’s up to you, as pet guardian, to make sure there’s no access to such harmful foods. The toxicity in certain foods could mean a trip to the vet and a lesson learned the hard way. Protect your pet from the start, from the risk of health problems.
* The highly loved and respected family business NATURA is under contract to be sold to Proctor and Gamble. The laws are such that the buying company does not need to list a change in their recipes of Natura for six months and has a longer time to keep using the same packaging. Natura made the following dog foods: EVO, INNOVA, CALIFORNIA NATURAL, KARMA.
