From barbeques at your patio to pool parties and other
gatherings, celebrations are an excuse for our pets to be exposed to food that
piques their curiosity, Heavenly smelling burgers, delicious fish, juicy back
ribs and other drool-worthy goodies. While you may think that treating your pet
to a nibble here and there is okay, well, sorry to burst your bubble, you may
be accidentally poisoning your furry friend.
To avoid rushing to the veterinary ER over the weekend, keep these popular foods out of your pet’s reach.
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Fatty Foods
Foods that are rich in fat can cause diarrhoea and vomiting.
Pancreatitis often follows the ingestion of fatty meals, especially in dogs.
Certain breeds like schnauzers, miniature, Shetland sheepdogs and Yorkshire
terriers appear to be more susceptible to a bout of pancreatitis than other
breeds. So, you have to fight the temptation to share fast food leftovers,
foods jampacked with grease and oil, or junk food with your pet. Burgers, ribs,
steak, hot dogs, pork chops, and fried chicken is a big NO for your pet.
Raw Fish and Meat
Its one thing to properly prep up the food and feed your pet
a raw food diet, totally another thing if your pet counter surfs and eats raw
meat or fish that hasn’t been carefully handled. Raw fish and meat, like raw
eggs, contain bacteria that causes food poisoning. Keep your raw meat and fish
in a place where your pet can never reach. Certain kinds of fish such as trout,
salmon, shad, or sturgeon can contain a parasite that causes “fish disease”. If
not treated, the disease can be destructive within weeks. The initial signs of
illness are fever, vomiting and swollen lymph nodes.
Caffeine, Coffee and Chocolate
Caffeine, Coffee and Chocolate contain substances called
methylxanthines, which are found in cacao seeds, the plant used to make coffee,
and the nuts of an extract used in some sodas. When consumed by pets,
methylxanthines can cause diarrhoea, vomiting, panting, excessive urination and
thirst, abnormal heart rhythm, seizures, tremors, hyperactivity and even death.
Also, dark chocolate is deadlier than milk chocolate.
Alcohol
Alcohol is briskly absorbed into the bloodstream and affects
pets quickly. Pets can easily become attracted to a discarded bottle or cup of
wine, beer or especially sangria left sitting on the ground after a party.
Consumption of alcohol can cause dangerous drops in blood sugar, body
temperature and blood pressure. Intoxicated animals can experience seizures and
respiratory failure. Bear in mind, desserts containing alcohol or
yeast-containing dough are often the unknown culprits.
Fat Trimmings and Bones
Table scraps generally contain meat fat that a human didn’t
eat as well as bones. Both are dangerous for dogs. And, although it seems normal
to give your dog a bone, a dog can choke on it. Bones can also splinter and
cause laceration and obstruction to your dog’s digestive system. So, it's
better to have a trash can with a lid or a trash bag that can be sealed so that
your pet cannot nose around for bones or scraps.
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