Foods That Are Dangerous for Dogs and Cats
Some everyday foods can make animals seriously ill. Keep these out of reach, especially during family gatherings.
Sharing food feels kind, but several common foods are toxic to dogs and cats - some even in small amounts.
Keep these away from your animals
- Chocolate, coffee and caffeine - can cause vomiting, a racing heart, tremors and seizures. Dark chocolate is the most dangerous.
- Grapes, raisins and sultanas - can cause sudden kidney failure in dogs.
- Onions, garlic, leeks and chives - raw, cooked or powdered; they damage red blood cells. Cats are especially sensitive.
- Xylitol - a sweetener in sugar-free gum, sweets and some peanut butters; causes a dangerous drop in blood sugar and liver damage in dogs.
- Alcohol and raw yeast dough.
- Macadamia nuts - weakness and tremors in dogs.
- Cooked bones - can splinter and injure the mouth, throat or intestines.
- Very fatty leftovers - can trigger pancreatitis.
Special warning for cat owners
All parts of lilies - including pollen and the water in the vase - can cause fatal kidney failure in cats. Keep lilies out of homes with cats entirely.
Festive seasons and gatherings
Dates with stones, rich meat dishes, sweets and nuts often end up within reach during Ramadan and Eid gatherings. Ask guests not to feed your animals, and keep leftovers covered.
If your animal eats something toxic
Contact a vet immediately, even if your animal seems fine - some poisons take hours to show signs. Bring the packaging or a photo of what was eaten, and note roughly how much and when. Do not try to make your animal vomit unless a vet tells you to.