Feed pets right
MANILA, Philippines - The “Well-Fed, Well-Nurtured†campaign of the US pet food association, Pet Food Institute (PFI) and the Veterinary Practitioners Association of the Philippines (VPAP) have compiled a list of food items that are commonly consumed by people, but should not be fed to pet dogs or cats.
Chocolate and cocoa. Chocolate can be deadly to cats and dogs. The culprit in chocolate is the compound theobromine. Dark chocolate generally has higher levels of theobromine than milk chocolate, and unsweetened chocolate is higher still.
Caffeine. Coffee tea, colas and other beverages that contain caffeine can increase a cat or dog’s breathing and heart rate and can even be fatal.
Xylitol. Pet owners may be unwittingly giving their dogs this ingredient when they feed them candy, gum, toothpaste or baked goods. Vomiting, lethargy, and loss of coordination are initial symptoms but eventually, the dog may have seizures and within just a few days, liver failure may occur.
Milk and other dairy. People may be tempted to share their ice cream with their dogs or cats. However most adult pets are lactose intolerant, so milk and other dairy-based products can cause digestive upset and diarrhea.
Alcohol. Alcohol affects dogs and cats in the same way it affects their owners, except with more severity and at much smaller doses. It only takes two teaspoons of whisky to cause a coma in a five-pound cat. One more teaspoon could be fatal. Fatty and raw or undercooked meat. Like humans, dogs and cats can become obese with a steady diet of fatty food. Moreover, dogs and cats can suffer pancreatitis, a painful swelling of the pancreas. Plus raw meat can contain bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli that can be harmful to people and pets. Feeding your pet bones might cause choking or injury to a pet’s digestive tract should the bone splinter.
Garlic and onions. Garlic and onions in any form can cause various problems for a dog. Onions if eaten in sufficient quantities can result in anemia by causing blood cells to break down. Even in smaller quantities, garlic and onions cause gastrointestinal irritation.
Grapes and raisins. Grapes and raisins should not be fed to pets. It is not understood exactly how, but grapes and raisins cause potentially life-threatening illness in cats and dogs like kidney failure.
The Pet Food Institute (PFI), the US trade association for the makers of cat and dog food, as well as the Veterinary Practitioners Association of the Philippines (VPAP) strongly advise Filipino dog and cat lovers against feeding table scraps and other foods that people eat to dogs and cats.
