Poisonous food to avoid giving your pup during the Christmas period on throughout the year.
We are heading toward the most wonderful time of the year where families and friends get together to give presents, and obviously to have Christmas lunch together.
This includes rich food and puddings. Our dogs are often with us begging at the table for a piece of what you are eating, because human food seems so much better than dog food (the dog may think). But in reality, some human food can be fatal in dogs, or make them very ill.
As tempting it is to give your dog a piece of what you have, rather keep the below list in mind in order to avoid illness, death, heartache and guilt. Here are a list of what to avoid giving your dog this Christmas:
Human Food Items to Avoid
- Butter – if ingested in a large quantity this can be fatal. It can cause pancreatitis. Do not leave it within reach. Dogs Love butter!
- Chocolate – if eaten in large quantities can have an adverse effect on some dogs. Some dogs are fine. It is an allergic reaction to the ingredient theobromine.
- Xylitol – banters take note! Xyllitol even in small amount is extremely harmful and can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), leading to seizures seizures, liver failure or even death! Check any ‘sugar free’ products to see if they are Xylitol sweetened. We’ve yet to see Xylitol sweetened peanut Butter on South African shelves, but rather stick to un-sweetened, organic peanut butter if you’re giving it to your dogs.
- Fruit stones, seeds and pips: Be careful of any seeds, stones and pips of most fruits. Fruit pips are generally very high in oils and may contain harmful chemicals e.g. a form of cyanide in apple seeds. All pips and seeds may cause respiratory difficulties such as strenuous-breathing, coughing and sneezing.
- Grapes: In large quantities can be toxic to dogs as they may cause vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy, abdominal pain, lack of appetite and kidney damage.
- Hops: Craft beer and micro-brewing enthusiasts please don’t leave your ingredients in dog reach – symptoms are excessive panting, elevated heart rate, seizures and may result in death.
Pesticides and Other Toxic Substances to Avoid
- Snail Bait – do not use when you have a dog, they like the taste and will die if not caught in time…seldom pull through.
- Anti Freeze – dogs like the taste of this too so make sure it is not lying around on the floor. Seldom pull through.
- Rat Poison – Your dog will die from ingesting, so again make sure none about. This will cause internal bleeding. Can be fatal. Also please watch out for poisoned rodents that may make it onto your property, or encountered on walks and be eaten by your dogs, or cats – according to the numbers secondary poisoning is a much lesser risk, but it’s still not a good idea!
Plants in Your Garden to Avoid
- Cycad fruit…die within 4 hours of ingesting
- Seringa Berries if ingested in large quantities will cause poisoning
- Amarylla bulbs…make the dog very ill and affects the liver
- Delicious Monster/ Yesterday today and tomorrow/Strelitzia/Clivias: all of these if consumed or chewed on will cause drooling/vomiting and diarrhoea…sometimes seizures.