By: Lori Horton
When it comes to our pets we want them to have the best; and sometimes we think that means they deserve to snack on what we eat. While this may be safe some of the time, often times it is not. There is a large assortment of foods that we consume on a daily basis that are poisonous to our canine and feline companions. This week is Pet Poison Prevention week, so it’s a good time to become familiar with some do’s and don’ts when it comes to your furry friends and sharing food.
In every morning routine the
average family eats plenty of foods that we should not be sharing with our four
legged companions. Coffee; the first thing we reach for to wake us up in the
morning is toxic to our pets. Caffeine is found in coffee, which is poisonous
to both dogs and cats. Caffeine is actually similar to the chemical Theobromine, which is found in chocolate. Both of these chemicals can cause
similar adverse effects such as restlessness, vomiting, elevated heart rate,
seizures, and in extreme cases, death. One or two laps of coffee will probably
not hurt your pet, but large amounts can be dangerous. What goes best with
coffee? Milk.
Cat’s and milk; a picture we
have seen in movies and books for years. They love it, right? Wrong. Too much
milk product can lead to vomiting, gas and diarrhea. Both cats and dogs are
actually lactose intolerant and cannot digest any dairy. This is because they
lack the necessary enzyme, called lactase, to digest dairy products. They only
have enough of this enzyme when they are kittens and puppies and thrive on
their mother’s milk. Once they grow up, they do not have the enzyme to digest
lactose any longer and need protein to thrive. Do not confuse cow milk with Raw Goat’s Milk and Kefir. They do not have the lactose enzyme and provide many
benefits.
These are just two of the
many toxins that our pets have access to almost daily. Become familiar with
this list so that you can help prevent a terrible incident. Follow this link for
a full list of poisonous foods:
http://www.petpoisonhelpline.com/poisons/
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