My City Wellness Spring 2021

My Wellness

5. Chocolate I think most of us know that chocolate is hazardous to many animals. It contains substances called methylxanthines that if ingested by your pet will cause vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, heart problems, seizures, coma and death. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is, with white chocolate having the smallest amount of methylxanthines and baking chocolate the highest. 6. Dairy Products Although not necessarily fatal, except in extreme circumstances, eating dairy will cause our pets digestive discomfort. They do not have a significant amount of the enzyme lactase in their intestines to break down the lactose in milk. It has always been believed that cats want nothing more than a nice bowl of milk. Resist the myth! You’re only causing our feline friend future discomfort.

7. Grapes & Raisins One of the great mysteries in pet health is the hugely negative effect of consuming grapes and raisins. Science has not yet identified the reason, but eating a seemingly harmless grape can cause rapid kidney failure in both cats and dogs. Within 24 hours, a cat will experience abdominal pain, reduced appetite and decreased urination, leading to complete kidney failure. Do not keep grapes or raisins in a place where your pet can access them. 8. Macadamia Nuts For most of our pets, nuts are a problem, in general. The high fat content can potentially cause pancreatitis, but for dogs specifically, eating macadamia nuts is extremely dangerous. Dogs will experience weakness, depression, tremors, vomiting and hyperthermia. 9. Onions & Garlic These two are very common to our diets and very harmful to our pets. Cats are the most susceptible, but dogs can still be affected. Onions, garlic, chives and shallots contain thiosulphate, a compound that destroys red blood cells, leading to hemolytic anemia. Onion soup mix and garlic powder are also dangerous. Be very careful when feeding your kitty or pup table scraps – it is easy to forget that you included onions or garlic in your dish. 10. “People” Medicine Just because it works for you, does not mean it works for Mr. Cuddles. Common pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen can be fatal if ingested. Giving any “human medicine” to your pets is tantamount to poisoning them. Never give your animal anything over-the-counter, unless explicitly directed to by your vet.

ANNETTE SHAFF / STOCK.ADOBE.COM ROBERTOM / STOCK.ADOBE.COM PIXEL-SHOT / STOCK.ADOBE.COM ERMOLAEV ALEXANDR / STOCK.ADOBE.COM PIXELROBOT / STOCK.ADOBE.COM ALTER_PHOTO / STOCK.ADOBE.COM

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