27+ Foods Your Pet Should Never Eat

This article was originally published on worldtravelling.com and has been republished here with permission.

Giving your pet a bite of the food you enjoy can be tempting, thinking it’s okay for them since it’s not harmful to you. But, unfortunately, many foods that, although safe for humans, are incredibly toxic for your dear pets. It’s best for them to stick to a balanced diet supervised by a veterinarian. Dogs and cats can be really sneaky and steal food without us finding out, so we need to foresee these scenarios and be aware of their surroundings.

Take this chance to read about these 30 examples of foods you should avoid giving to your pet. If you have any doubts, don’t hesitate to go and consult your local veterinarian for professional advice in these matters. Here’s a list of all the foods to forbid your pet and healthy treats that are actually good for your pet.

Avocados

Avocados can be a superfood to humans, but that doesn’t mean that it’s healthy for the rest of the animals. It can do serious damage to dogs and cats if eaten. The high-fat content of avocado can cause pancreatitis in your pets, among other health scares. Also, avocados produce a special toxin called persin, which is mildly poisonous to cats and dogs but deadly to horses, sheep, birds, cows, and other hoofed animals.

Macadamia nuts

It’s still unknown to scientists why macadamia nuts are specifically toxic to dogs. Although macadamia nuts are not a common household food, they do come in various types of baked goods or trail mixes. We need to be very careful not to leave any of these within reach of our dog.

What happens if your pet eats it? Macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs and can cause a range of symptoms, including vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, tremors, and elevated body temperature. In severe cases, ingestion of macadamia nuts can lead to hyperthermia, difficulty walking, and tremors.

Bread dough (yeast)

Unbaked bread dough can be very harmful to both dogs and cats. Bread that is fully baked and free of raisins can be given to pets as a treat on occasion. However, it is important to avoid giving them uncooked yeast dough, as the yeast will ferment the carbohydrates in the dough, producing ethanol and carbon dioxide.

What happens if your pet eats it? Once inside their bodies, the rising dough expands in the stomach and can cause severe blat or even twist the animal’s stomach. It can cause vomiting, weakness, abnormal heart rate, and even death. The yeast in the dough can produce alcohol in the animal’s stomach, and it can cause subsequent alcohol poisoning as well as low blood pressure, body temperature, and blood sugar.

Cherries pits, apple seeds

Humans have an instinctive reflex to spit out a cherry pit, but we can’t expect the same from a dog or cat, who might just swallow the cherry in its entirety! The problem lies in the fact that their pits, stems, and leaves contain cyanide, a natural enzyme that prevents cells from getting oxygen.

What happens if your pet eats it? Swallowing a single cherry pit won’t give your dog cyanide poisoning, but it could create a blockage in its digestive system. But ingesting a large amount can lead to symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, as well as more serious health problems such as breathing difficulties, heart problems, and in severe cases, death.