Evidently many people dont, but the veterinarians who spoke to AlterNet tell us theyre seeing more animals coming in with hypoglycemia after eating as little as a stick. And even if the animals blood sugar returns to normal, theres quite a bit of concern that liver damage, and possibly death, may follow.
Its not just dogs, its cats as well, says Maureen Saunders, owner/director of the Spring Valley Animal Hospital and Cat Care Clinic of the Nyacks. And its important to get the word out there, so people know to watch for this.
Many of us tend to think that dogs and cats can eat what humans eat. We often dont think twice about giving them a bite of our cookie or worry too much when they scavenge for food. But dogs and cats dont metabolize foods the same way we do, and many of the foods we eat without problems can hurt, and even kill them. Here are eight of the most harmful foods to keep away from your pets.
1. Xylitol.One of the more ubiquitous sweeteners in sugar-free products, xylitol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol found in thefibersof manyfruits,vegetablesand mushrooms. Its typically extracted from hardwoods and corn cobs for commercial use and found in sugarless gum, toothpaste and many low-calorie baked goods.
While xylitol has no known toxicity in humans, just a few sticks of sugar-free gum scavenged by a 20-pound dog can cause its insulin levels to spike and send it into hypoglycemia. Ingesting higher amounts of xylitol can create serious liver problems includingacute hepatic necrosis, leading to death. Cats are also susceptible to xylitol poisoning.
Sometimes vomiting occurs soon after ingestion, followed by hypoglycemia within the next hour. At this point, the animal may act lethargic and lose coordination as a result of lowered sugar levels. Elevated liver enzymes and liver failure can be seen within a few short days.
If caught within the first few hours and taken to a veterinary clinic, many pets can be nursed back to health by inducing vomiting and perhaps the administration of dextrose.
2. Chocolate.Cocoa, the main ingredient in chocolate, is said to have many health benefits for humans, from lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease toreversing age-related memory loss. However, one chocolate bar can be deadly to a dog or a cat.
Chocolate, along with coffee and some soda drinks, contains compounds known asmethylxanthines. When pets ingest foods with these compounds, they may display signs of hyperactivity, discomfort or excessive thirst. Often, these symptoms give way to abnormal heart rhythms, seizures and even death. Baking chocolate and dark chocolates, which contain more of these compounds, are far more dangerous than milk chocolate or white chocolate.
3. Avocados.Guacamole is a staple dip in many households, and we might think its harmless to let our pet lick the bowl when were done. But the avocado fruit contains persin, a fungicidal toxin. While it is harmless to humans (with the exception of those with avocado allergies), when consumed by dogs and cats it can cause vomiting and diarrhea.
Read this article:
8 things you should never feed to cats and dogs