Paws-itive Press
They Are What They Eat
By Mark Planco of Planco Veterinary Care
This is the first of a two part article covering food for your pets. This one will cover what not to feed your pet and what to avoid with the winter holidays just around the corner.
There are many substances that are dangerous to your pet. There are also many misconceptions about what pets can eat and what they can’t.
Pet dogs and cats shouldn’t eat raw or undercooked meat, eggs or bones. Bacteria such as Salmonella can infect pets causing severe gastrointestinal effects. This is one major misconception. Wild dogs and cats obviously don’t cook the prey they kill but to think that domesticated animals have the same enzymes and immune systems as wild animals is wrong. Pets have been domesticated for so long that certain protective mechanisms are not there.
Another major toxin to pets is chocolate. Others that fall into this category are coffee, tea, candy, gum and toothpaste. Chocolate has methylxanthines in it that has toxic properties to dogs. Dark chocolate, especially baking chocolate is most toxic due to the high levels of methylxanthine in it. Milk chocolate and white chocolate have less. Chocolate also has caffeine which is also dangerous to pets. These stimulants can cause vomiting and diarrhea as well as heart arrhythmias. This is why coffee and tea are not for pets. Candy, gum and human toothpaste has xylitol which is dangerous to pets causing hypoglycemia and liver damage.
Many fruits, vegetables and nuts are toxic to dogs and cats and should be avoided. Onions, garlic, grapes, raisins, avocado, walnuts, macadamia nuts and pits, leaves and stems of fruits and vegetables are harmful if ingested.
There are other foods and ingredients that should be avoided including salt, hops and milk. The take home message here is to feed your pet(s) dog and cat food and fresh water. Human food additions should be done with care and only after diligent research.
Dr. Mark Planco’s compassion for animals has been a lifelong labor of love. He earned both his undergraduate and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degrees at the University of Florida. Dr. Planco has treated small and large animals since 1991, and has been in Palm Beach County since 1994. Dr. Planco is a member of the Palm Beach Veterinary Society, American Veterinary Medical Association and the Florida Veterinary Medical Association. Visit PlancoVetCare.com for further information or call 561-795-9507.
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Disclaimer: This column is not intended to provide information on which you should use to diagnose or treat a medical condition or delay seeking medical attention. This column is of no value with respect to any medical condition that needs prompt attention. If you have a question that needs an immediate answer, you should call your own veterinarian or emergency animal hospital, especially if you are confronting a medical emergency!
Furthermore, we urge you to always seek the advice of your own veterinarian, and you should not disregard, discount, or delay seeking the advice of your veterinarian because of any response posted in this column.