Feeding pets food that we enjoy is not only wrong, it can also be fatal. There are some foodstuffs that humans relish which cause illness and death if eaten by pets.

Chocolate, macadamia nuts and onions are good examples. Each of these foods contains chemicals which rarely cause problems for humans, but for dogs, these same chemicals can be deadly.

Chocolate toxicity 

Chocolate contains Theobromine, a compound that is a cardiac stimulant and a diuretic.

When affected by an overdose of chocolate, a dog can become excited and hyperactive. Due to the diuretic effect, it may pass large volumes of urine and it will be unusually thirsty. Vomiting and diarrhea are also common. The effect of Theobromine on the heart is the most dangerous effect. Theobromine will either increase the dog's heart rate or may cause the heart to beat irregularly. Death is quite possible, especially with exercise.

After their pet has eaten a large quantity of chocolate, many pet owners assume their pet is unaffected. However, the signs of sickness may not be seen for several hours, with death following within twenty-four hours.

Cocoa powder and cooking chocolate are the most toxic forms. A 10-kilogram dog can be seriously affected if it eats a quarter of a 250gm packet of cocoa powder or half of a 250gm block of cooking chocolate. These forms of chocolate contain ten times more Theobromine than milk chocolate. Thus, a chocolate mud cake could be a real health risk for a small dog. Even licking a substantial part of the chocolate icing from a cake can make a dog unwell.

Semi-sweet chocolate and dark chocolate are the next most dangerous forms, with milk chocolate being the least dangerous. A dog needs to eat more than a 250gm block of milk chocolate to be affected. Obviously, the smaller the dog, the less it needs to eat.

Onion and garlic poisoning 

Onions and garlic are other dangerous food ingredients that cause sickness in dogs, cats and also livestock. Onions and garlic contain the toxic ingredient Thiosulphate. Onions are more of a danger.

Pets affected by onion toxicity will develop 'hemolytic anemia', where the pet's red blood cells burst while circulating in its body.

At first, pets affected by onion poisoning show gastroenteritis with vomiting and diarrhea. They will show no interest in food and will be dull and weak. The red pigment from the burst blood cells appears in an affected animal's urine and it becomes breathless. The breathlessness occurs because the red blood cells that carry oxygen through the body are reduced in number.

The poisoning occurs a few days after the pet has eaten the onion. All forms of onion can be a problem including dehydrated onions, raw onions, cooked onions and table scraps containing cooked onions and/or garlic. Leftover pizza, Chinese dishes and commercial baby food containing onion, sometimes fed as a supplement to young pets, can cause illness.

Onion poisoning can occur with a single ingestion of large quantities or with repeated meals containing small amounts of onion. A single meal of 600 to 800 grams of raw onion can be dangerous whereas a ten kilogram dog, fed 150 grams of onion for several days, is also likely to develop anemia. The condition improves once the dog is prevented from eating any further onion.

While garlic also contains the toxic ingredient Thiosulphate, it seems that garlic is less toxic and large amounts would need to be eaten to cause illness.

The danger of macadamia nuts

Macadamia nuts are another concern. A recent paper written by Dr. Ross McKenzie, a Veterinary Pathologist with the Department of Primary Industries, points to the danger of raw and roasted macadamia nuts for pets.

The toxic compound is unknown but the affect of macadamia nuts is to cause locomotory difficulties. Dogs develop a tremor of the skeletal muscles, and weakness or paralysis of the hindquarters. Affected dogs are often unable to rise and are distressed, usually panting. Some affected dogs have swollen limbs and show pain when the limbs are manipulated.

Dogs have been affected by eating as few as six macadamia kernels (nuts without the shell) while others had eaten approximately forty kernels. Some dogs had also been given macadamia butter.

Luckily, the muscle weakness, while painful, seems to be of short duration and all dogs recovered from the toxicity. All dogs were taken to their veterinary surgeon.

Pet owners should not assume that human food is always safe for pets. When it comes to chocolate, onions, garlic and macadamia nuts, such foods should be given in only small quantities, or not at all. Be sure that your pets can't get into your stash of chocolates, that food scraps are disposed of carefully to prevent onion and garlic toxicity and that your dog is prevented from picking up macadamia nuts if you have a tree in your garden.

Other potential dangers

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HOT WEATHER TIPS
 

Long summer days can bring fun and relaxation, but please remember the special consideration you should make for your companion animals. For example, a routine romp at the wrong time of day could lead your dog to heatstroke. A window left carelessly open could mean tragedy if your cat falls out of it. Most importantly, you should remember that dogs and cats do not sweat like humans, and so are affected more quickly by and have more pronounced reactions to high temperatures and humidity. Please consider these tips from the ASPCA while you plan summertime activities.

NEVER

  
 Never leave an animal unattended in a car. A slightly open window only provides ample ventilation when the car is moving. A parked car, even with the windows open, can quickly become a furnace for a cat or dog. Parking in the shade offers little protection, as the sun shifts during the day.

   Never give your pet forced exercise after feeding, especially in very hot, humid weather. Always exercise your pet in the cool of the days -- early morning or evening.

   Never tie an animal outside on a choke collar. (This applies during any season). He can choke himself to death. Use a buckle collar instead.

   Never leave your dog standing on the street, and keep walks on the sidewalk to a minimum. Since he is much closer to the hot asphalt and concrete than you, and is not protected by shoes, his feet burn and he heats up very quickly.

   Never let your dog or cat out to run loose. This is a good way for an animal to be injured, stolen or killed. In particular, make sure there are no open windows for your cat to jump through when you're not looking.

   Never walk your pet in areas that you suspect have been sprayed with insecticides or other chemicals. Dog poisonings, in particular, always increase considerably during the summer, when gardens, lawns and trees are usually sprayed for control of weeds, insects and pests. Many of these chemicals can sicken or even kill animals. So keep your pets away from these areas, observe them closely, and call your veterinarian if an animal begins to exhibit  unusual behavior.

   Never take your pet to the beach unless you can provide him with a shaded spot to lie in and plenty of fresh water to drink. Remember to hose him down after he has been swimming in salt water.

ALWAYS  
  
Always provide plenty of cool, clean water for your pet. When traveling, carry a gallon thermos filled with cold water.

   Always keep your pet well-groomed. If he is a large, heavy dog with long, thick hair, shaving his coat down to a 1-inch length will help prevent him from overheating and make it easier for you to treat him for fleas. A clean coat also helps to prevent summer skin problems. Don't shave a dog's hair down to the skin. This robs him of protection
from the sun.

   Always check for fleas and ticks that may infest your pet. Bring him to your veterinarian for a thorough summer checkup (including a test for heartworm), and use a good, safe flea and tick repellent that your veterinarian recommends.

   Always keep a current license and identification tag on your dog in case he gets lost. A license tag does no good at home in your drawer.

   Always be extra sensitive to old and overweight animals in the hot weather.  Those with heart or lung diseases and brachycephalic (snub-nosed) dogs (especially bulldogs, Pekingese, Boston Terriers, Lhasa Apsos and Shih Tzus) are more susceptible to the heat and should be kept indoors and air-conditioned as much as possible.

   Always be alert for coolant leaking from your car or truck engine. During the summer, cars are more likely to overheat and overflow. Both antifreeze and coolants attract your pet, and ingesting just a small amount of either can cause an animal's death.

If, in spite of your care, the 'dog days' of summer bring on twitching, rapid panting, barking or a wild 'staring' expression, call your veterinarian.  Don't immerse your pet in water or use ice packs to counteract heatstroke.  Pour water on every three to five minutes and then place him in a draft or under a fan.

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DANGEROUS PLANTS:

A danger to your pets

It is not unusual for animals to chew on houseplants.  Often pets will eat greenery in the house or in the garden as a way to clean their digestive systems or because of teething, nutritional deficiency, hair balls, or simply boredom.  Pet owners must be aware of the plants they own because many of them are poisonous to their animals.  Symptoms of poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, sleepiness, contracted/pinpoint pupils, shaking or trembling, twitching, staggering, convulsions, difficulty in breathing, excessive thirst, excessive salivation, rear-leg weakness, or paralysis.  If you suspect your pet has been poisoned by eating a plant, rush it to a veterinarian immediately and, if possible, identify the plant.

The following is a list of some plants which may be poisonous to your pets: