5 Dangerous Foods to Keep From Your Pets

While providing care to your pets while you're away, be assured that Floppy Hat Pets won't feed your furbabies these 5 dangerous foods to keep from your pets, table scraps, or anything else that you haven't specifically provided in their diet. Sometimes owners provide "people food" to their pets thinking they're doing it out of love but end up harming their pet and huge vet bills. I have seen many times someone allows their dog scarf up anything that falls to the floor. Floppy Hat Pet & House Sitting Services provides a list dangerous foods to your pets should not eat to our clients via email to our clients. Here's a few foods your pets should avoid:

1. Alcohol: Alcohol is toxic to animals. While it may be amusing to see a tipsy Tabby or fumbling Fido, it can be very dangerous and even cause death. Signs and symptoms of too much alcohol in your pet can include:

• Vomiting

• Disorientation

• High body temperature

• Restlessness

• Excessive panting

• Muscle tremors and seizures

2. Raisins, sultanas, currants, and grapes: It is unknown why grapes and their dried versions cause kidney failure, but this is the risk you're putting your dogs and cats at if they consume this tasty snack. Signs and symptoms include:

• Lack of appetite

• Diarrhea

• Weakness

• Lethargy

• Decreased urination

• Possibly death

3. Garlic and Onions: Plants such as garlic, onions, leeks, scallions, chives and shallots should not be given to your pets to spice up their boring kibble. The allium in these foods cause red blood cells to be damaged. This means that the cells cannot carry oxygen through your pet's body causing a low RBC (red blood cell count) otherwise known as anemia, resulting in the cells not being able to carry oxygen. The anemia may lead to internal organ damage, organ failure or even death. Please note that cats are more at risk than dogs. Signs and symptoms include:

• Pale gums

• Hyper-salivation

• Lethargy

• Weakness

• Ataxia (lack of muscle coordination)

• Brown or red discolored urine

• Occasional vomiting and/or diarrhea

4. Sugar-Free Foods (Xylitol) – Xylitol is a natural sugar substitute that can be very dangerous food for dogs. You can it most frequently in diet sodas and chewing gum. Many of us use peanut butter to give medications to our dogs, be sure it doesn't contain Xylitol. It can cause profound hypoglycemia (a drop in blood sugar) and potential liver damage. Signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia:

• Vomiting

• Weakness

• Ataxia

• Depression

• Seizures

• Coma

5. Chocolate - A half ounce of milk chocolate per kilo of body weight is a potentially fatal dosage in dogs. The toxic ingredients are Theobromine and caffeine.

Signs and symptoms of chocolate ingestion can last up to 72 hours:

• Excessively thirsty

• Vomitting

• Diarrhea

• Restless

• Hyperactivity

• Lack of coordination

• Tremors

• Seizures

• The animal may pass large amounts of urine

• A very rapid and irregular heartbeat

• Rapid breathing

• A bluish tinge to the skin and mucous membranes

• High blood pressure

• Fever

• Coma

Always speak to your local veterinarian if you are worried about your pet’s health or think that they've consumed a dangerous food.

This is a great infographic from www.caninejournal.com to print out for your pet sitters or add to your dog friendly restaurant or pub postings.

Thanks to www.dogtipper.com for the cute photo!