List Poisonous Foods for Cats and Dogs
As pet owners we often like to share with our pet all of the things that we ourselves enjoy in life, including food. However, there are a couple of reasons that you should always be very careful when considering introducing special treats to your pet. The first reason is that the food you want to share may not be a particularly healthy food item and therefore you should think twice about allowing your pet to acquire a taste for something they shouldn't have. Secondly and most importantly, although you may very well enjoy a particular food yourself, it might actually be very poisonous for your pet.

The following is a list of foods that your pet should avoid as they are all poisonous to some degree.

Note: A detoxifying formula sent by one of our readers follows this list.

Alcoholic Beverages – Any type of alcohol can be poisonous to your pet and aside from intoxication, can cause a coma or even death.

Apple Seeds – Can have varied effects on pets.

Apricot Pits – Can cause respiratory difficulties such as breathing, coughing and sneezing.

Cherry Pits - Can cause respiratory difficulties such as breathing, coughing and sneezing.

Candy containing the sweetener Xylitol – Can cause liver damage and even death.



Chocolate – Although pets should never have any type of chocolate, milk chocolate is not nearly as dangerous for animals as semi-sweet or unsweetened bakers chocolate. Chocolate poisoning can cause irregular heart rate and rhythm, restlessness, hyperactivity, diarrhea, vomiting, panting, muscle tremors, abdominal pain, bloody urine, increased body temperature, seizures, coma and possibly even death.

5/17/2007: Matt writes: "I know that's it common knowledge for the most part, but adding CHOCOLATE to the [poisonous] list may save the life of a pet whose owner doesn't know this."

Coffee – Can result in increased breathing and heart rate, restlessness and affects the central nervous system.

Grapes – Large amounts of grapes can be poisonous to pets and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, abdominal pain, lack of appetite and kidney damage.

Hops – May cause panting, elevated temperature, increased heart rate, seizures and possibly death.

READER QUESTION RE GARLIC
12/12/2006: Helen writes, "I am using garlic to treat my dog for yeast infection in the paws. I have since read that Garlic is very bad for dogs and also dangerous. Is this true? Should I be giving my dogs Garlic?"

Ted replies, "Usually if you want to give dogs garlic it is o.k. for most local applications. However don't let the dogs eat garlic. They usually won't unless you mixed it in their food. It can be applied to their paws, etc. for external purposes. That is then ok. Garlic given internally in large amounts can be toxic. If the dog should happen to lick the garlic on his paws, the amount should not be enough to kill him.

Dog's metabolisms are very different to humans and yes garlic is toxic to them if taken in large amounts. However there are other foods that are toxic such as chocolate, grapes, raisins, coffee, nutmegs, bread (yeast!), milk and yes spoiled foods!

Dogs are NOT vegetarians and they can die of a kidney disease by taking foods high in oxalates, where the food comes from the bean family. In humans, kidney stones and disease takes a little while longer if the food were high in oxalates. One interesting thing I found is that dog foods sometimes cause yeast infection especially after eating dog food or certain antibiotics. Many vets med are quite toxic to dogs and I don't know why they give them anyway.

I would like to point out that there is misinformation re multivitamins and vinegar, that they are bad for dogs. In my case, I saved my dog's life twice with multivitamins and I need not give him beyond 2 days. I just gave enough for the dog to recover. The other time was my dog was poisoned from an unknown source, in one case, and in another confirmed insecticidal dog's shampoo poisoned the dog. In both cases the use of vinegar saved the dog's life. Ted"

READER QUESTION RE HOPS:
7/31/2006: B asks, "I was just reading your list of poisonous foods & must inquire about your sources. As an animal herbalist in practice since 1992, I have used hops frequently as a medicinal herb in both dogs and cats. Is your inclusion here because of beer, or do you have some research to indicate its ill effects. If so, what side effects are you seeing? Thank you!"

8/2/2006: Dawn replies, "Here's some info in response to your reader's question... The poisonous agents within the Hops plant have yet to be identified. However, it is known that they can cause serious problems such as panting, increased heart rate, elevated temperature, seizures and sometimes even death. It seems that certain breeds are especially sensitive to Hops toxicity (such as greyhounds), but they can be dangerous for any dog. My sources for this particular piece of information include first aid for pets books as well as websites such as, Washington Poison Center, Pet Education.com, many breed specific rescue club sites, and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, they can be reached at 1-888-426-4435 for more information. Hope that helps!"

Macadamia Nuts – Can cause vomiting, lethargy, hyperthermia, abdominal pain, stiff joints, lameness and tremors.

Moldy Foods – Can have varied effects on pets including vomiting and diarrhea.

Mushrooms – Different types of mushrooms can have varied effects on pets such as, depression, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, tearing, hallucinations, defecation, liver failure, seizures, drooling, urination, kidney failure, heart damage, hyperactivity and in some cases, death.

Mustard Seeds - Can have varied effects on pets.

Onions and Onion Powder – Can cause gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting and diarrhea.

Peach Pits – Can cause respiratory difficulties such as breathing, coughing and sneezing.

Potato Leaves and Stems – Can cause problems with the digestive, nervous and urinary systems.

Raisins - Large amounts of raisins can be poisonous to pets and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, abdominal pain, lack of appetite and kidney damage.

Rhubarb Leaves - Can cause problems with the digestive, nervous and urinary systems.

Salt – In large quantities can cause electrolyte imbalances.

Tea – Can have varied effects in pets.

Tomato Leaves and Stems - Can cause problems with the digestive, nervous and urinary systems.

Walnuts – Can cause gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting and diarrhea, as well as respiratory issues such as sneezing, breathing and coughing.

Yeast Dough – Can be dangerous as it will expand and result in gas, pain and possible rupture of the stomach or intestines.

NOTE: If you suspect that your pet has been poisoned, contact the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435. This is 24 hour a day hotline. (Note that in some cases a consultation fee may be charged to your credit card.)

REMEDY TO CURE POISONING IN DOGS
6/13/2007: a poster writes: "re: curing poisioning and stomach toxins: I had a full size male doberman pinscher, was poisoned with antifreeze. Tried to take him to the vet, and would not take him said there was nothing they could do. Well being he was my baby i didn't give up. Someone told me to cook bacon, take the grease, a raw egg, and a lemon lime soda, mix it together and force him to eat it, granted he threw up alot, it was bright neon green, but i kept feeding it to him until it was no longer green, then feed him pedialight for dehydration, he lived and is fine today, it seems to force any toxin that is in their system out."

Fayeroe has flopppy ears. and is prone to ear infections and yeast infections. i prevent those by putting organic apple cider vinegar in her ears every other day. just a dropper full. i don't want to put that poisonous stuff in that vets prescribe. plus vinegar is readily available and inexpensive.

this information was copied from a website http://www.earthclinic.com/Pets/poisonous_foods.html