Apr 09 2009
Foods Drinks and Flowers that Can Kill Our Cats and Dogs - Pet Owners Beware
Foods Drinks and Flowers that Can Kill Our Cats and Dogs - Pet Owners Beware
We all love our pets. But could we be killing them with kindness? –
Many foods, drink, over the counter medicine and flowers could actually kill our cats and dogs. –
So next time you reach for a treat for your furry friend; think on!
Animals always appear to be hungry, even though we know they’re not. But we still like to give them a scrap of our dinner or piece of whatever it is that we are eating.
They look at us with appealing eyes, rubbing around our legs with a purr and a woof. But don’t be fooled, this is acting and simply a case of animal cupboard love.
They are on ‘the scrounge’ and it is in their instinctual nature as an animal, to beg or steal food whenever it is present.
They want to know what it is that you are eating, they are naturally inquisitive and they want a taste. But don’t give in, as this action could potentially kill them.
It is kinder to the animal to be on a diet that is approved or recommended by your vet and certainly, as the pet becomes more senior the diet will then need to be adapted to their needs.
Their bodies are smaller than ours and so are their organs. It is wise not to feed ANY human food to animals, just to be on the safe side.
Below is a list of foods, drinks, over the counter medicine and flowers which are dangerous and can be potentially fatal to cats and dogs and other small animals. -
“In 2007, the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center received more than 130,000 calls. Most cases of animal poisoning were caused by common human foods and household items”.
- Foods- Drinks – Medicines - and Flowers That are Toxic To Small Animals -
- DRINKS –
BEER/ALCOHOL -
Whilst some may find it funny to feed their pet beer or alcohol to see the reaction, alcoholic beverages can do serious damage to their small livers and brains. It can even be fatal. Alcohol of any kind should definitely NEVER be given to a pet.
CAFFEINE –
Tea and coffee and any other product that may contain caffeine should NEVER be given to an animal. A severe reaction to this stimulant can be heart palpitations and can prove fatal depending on the quantity that the animal consumes.
- FOODS -
NUTS –
Nuts can cause death to small animals! They are particularly toxic and macadamia nuts and Walnuts are the worst offenders. The adverse effects incurred can be paralysis, hyperthermia and then death. They are lethal.
AVOCADOS -
Avocados are extremely toxic to most animals. They contain Persin which is lethal to most animals. It can cause damage to the lungs, heart and other body tissues. This is another deadly food which can cause death to animals.
SWEETS/CANDY -
These can contain a sweetener that is found in certain products and brands. Xylitol is an artificial sweetener which can cause seizures and ultimately death in animals. The animal will have a swift drop in blood sugar if consuming any product containing this sweetener.
CHOCOLATE -
I think most people know by now that chocolate can be lethal to family pets. Because of the ingredient, theobromine, any form of chocolate or cooking chocolate should NEVER be fed to a pet. It can cause the heart to race or to become irregular in rhythm, with a possibility to result in an immediate heart attack.
GRAPES/ RAISINS -
A small amount of these can be fatal to a cat or dog. Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure. Fed these over a period of time, the toxin will accumulate in the system and ultimately lead to death. Grapes are deadly poison to pets.
ONIONS -
Onions can also be very dangerous to small animals. They can seriously affect their red blood cells and over time, destroy them. The effects can lead to anaemia, breathing difficulties and muscle weakness.
MUSHROOMS -
Mushrooms are another dangerous food which can cause severe liver or neurological problems.
- MEDICINES -
For an animal to ingest human medicine can be extremely dangerous. Medicines containing acetaminophen and ibuprofen or any active ingredient can be fatal to our pets.
Medicine poisoning is the most common cause of gastric ulcers, liver damage, kidney failure and death in small animals. An aspirin would be lethal if given to a pet.
- FLOWERS AND PLANTS -
LILIES are extremely toxic to cats and can cause asphyxiation and seizures, followed by Death.
- Other Flowers Dangerous to Cats and Dogs -
Morning Glory - Amaryllis - Crocus - Buttercup - Calla - Christmas Rose - Chrysanthemum - Daffodil (bulb) - Easter Lily - Foxglove - Jessamine - Hyacinth (bulb) - Iris (root) - MARIJUANA -
- THE EFFECTS -
Lethargy, stomach upset, diarrhoea, tremors, shock, liver failure, asphyxiation, seizures, heart Failure, respiratory failure, death. -
Signs to look out for in case of poisoning are muscle tremors or seizures; vomiting and diarrhoea; drooling; redness of skin, ears and eyes; and swelling and bleeding.
‘If you suspect your pet has consumed, inhaled or come in contact with a toxic substance, stay calm and call for help immediately.
If you see your pet consuming anything you think might be toxic, seek emergency help immediately even if she or he is not exhibiting any symptoms’.
Christianna Garrett-Martin
I never knew that some of these things could be so damaging to cats! Particularly the flowers, onions, and grapes/raisins! I did a quick google about the lilies to see what it is about them that makes them so dangerous to cats, and apparently all parts of the lily are considered toxic, and consuming even a small quantity of it can be fatal. Some of the other plants as well like daffodils and buttercups could quite easily be consumed by a cat. When they go out to eat grass when they have furballs, a common garden flower like that could easily be eaten up by a cat without your knowledge, and it’s just a little frightening really to think that everytime your cat leaves the house it could easily end up eating a damaging plant completely by accident.
Very interesting article, and I hate to think how many cats die each year as a direct result of eating dangerous foods/flowers. Most people probably aren’t aware of the dangers of most of these things. Like you say; it’s in a cat’s nature to beg for food when it’s there, and it’s all too easy to cave in and feed them when they’re asking. It’s horrible to think that feeling sorry for a cat and feeding them could ultimately be what kills them.
As a massive fan of cats, I really enjoyed this one, and the pictures you’ve used here are both incredibly cute. You really are a brilliant writer, and this is an incredibly informative and very well written article. I’m proud of you.
This is an excellent post, but also important to note is that most commercial pet food is absolute crap. The majority of U.S. pets are overweight because of what we feed them. Ideally you should stick to foods with ingredients that your animals would eat in the wild.
For example, many cat foods contain beef - there is absolutely no way my cat (no matter how badass he thinks he is) could take down a cow in the wild. Therefore he shouldn’t be eating it.
Read the ingredients in your pet’s food - if you don’t know what it is, they probably shouldn’t be eating it (just like our own food).
Educate yourself.
Example - see if “animal digest” is listed in the ingredients. Any idea what this is? When cows regurgitate their food back into their mouths, they naturally bring up this “digest” to make it taste better to them. This is added to a number of pet foods to make it taste better, normally to mask the taste of foods your pet would never eat.