Foods Harmful to Dogs and Cats

A commercially-prepared diet can ensure that your dog or cat receives all of the nutrients that it needs without any dangerous side effects. If you like to feed your beloved pet the occasional table scraps, you should familiarize with the potentially harmful foods to avoid compromising the animal's health.

  1. Fruits, Nuts and Vegetables

    • Some fruits and vegetables are safe for pets including carrots and peas, but others can prove toxic. Avoid giving your dog or cat grapes, raisins, onions, avocados, tomato leaves, potato leaves, garlic and apple seeds. Also avoid pits such as peach pits, cherry pits and apricot pits, and nuts such as macadamia nuts and walnuts. Grapes and raisins are especially harmful as they can cause kidney failure, and avocados contain persin, which is poisonous to dogs and other small mammals.

    Fungi

    • Never give moldy foods to a dog or cat, even foods prepared for consumption such as blue cheese. In addition, never give mushrooms to a dog or cat, as they can cause serious gastrointestinal problems. Yeast dough is dangerous as well, as it may continue to rise within the animal's digestive tract. After the yeast has risen and cooked, this risk no longer applies, and you can feed your pet bread in small doses. If feeding your pet meat and eggs, make sure to cook them thoroughly, as undercooked meats and raw eggs can be harmful.

    Caffeine

    • Caffeinated products, like chocolate, tea and coffee contain substances called methylxanthines, which can increase the animal's heart rate, contribute to illness, vomiting, and in some cases even death. Never give your dog or cat any product containing caffeine.

    Milk

    • Though you may feel tempted to give your cat a warm saucer of milk, you should avoid doing this at all costs. Cats and dogs cannot properly digest milk due to an inability to break down lactose, and the consumption of milk may lead to diarrhea and digestive difficulties.

    Alcohol

    • Alcohol can cause digestive problems in a dog or cat, as well as problems relating to the central nervous. In some cases, the animal may fall into a coma or die. Even small amounts of alcohol are highly hazardous to an animal's health, so keep it away from your pets at all costs.