Food poisons

Cooking vegetables such as onion, garlic, leek and chives do not make them less toxic.

Overview

Poisoning can occur when a toxic food product is ingested, inhaled, or absorbed.

Causes

There are many food products that are poisonous to our pets. If your pet gains access to the following list of food products, seek veterinary attention immediately.

Common food poisons:

• Chocolate
• Grapes
• Raisins
• Onions
• Garlic
• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Tomato leaves or stems
• Mushrooms
• Macadamia nuts
• Xylitol (sugar substitute)

Signs

General signs of poisoning:

• Salivating
• Twitching or tremors
• Agitation
• Panting
• Seizures
• Vomiting
• Skin burns
• Weakness
• Loss of balance

Some examples of specific poisoning:

Onions, garlic, leek, and chives	They are all members of the same vegetable family and can cause anemia in cats. Cooking them does not make them less toxic.
Raw potato	Can cause tummy upsets with drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea
Wild mushrooms	They vary in toxicity levels but can cause vomiting, liver failure, and death.
Watermelon seeds, apple seeds, and stems	These are toxic and cause dilated pupils, panting, respiratory problems, and shock as they contain cyanide.
Rhubarb leaves	They are toxic and cause kidney failure and tremors.

Tips

The above list is not an exhaustive list of food products. If you are unsure, contact your veterinarian. Care must be taken when feeding pets from our kitchen. Certain food items can be poisonous to our pets. When giving treats, always given in moderation and avoid high fat and high sugar foods.

If your pet shows signs of poisoning such as increased salivation, tremors, difficulty breathing, collapse, seek veterinary attention.