Pets and People Food
It can be tempting to share your favorite foods with your four-legged friend every now and then. After all, those great big eyes and enthusiastic tail can be hard to resist… And let’s face it, even if you’re devout about not sharing the people food with your pet, it’s more or less inevitable that someone will slip your pet a little something-something when you’re not looking; or that you may want to try your hand at making your own pet treats.
Whatever your interest might be when it comes to pets and people food, it’s important to remember that while some people foods are fine (and others even healthy) for your pets, others can make your pet very sick, or even be fatal.
Because of this, it is important to what you can and cannot feed your furry family members.
Foods That Your Pets CAN Eat
Some people foods are not only safe for your pets to eat, but are actually good for them. You may be surprised at some of them. Dogs and cats can eat:
- Cantaloupe
- Green beans
- Pumpkin
- Carrots
- Leafy Greens
- Apples (never the cores or seeds, though)
- Spinach
- Blueberries
- Bananas
These foods are healthy for your pet and provide much-needed vitamins and minerals. This does not mean that you should feed them to your pet as a meal (unless you’ve consulted with your veterinarian about your pet’s nutritional needs to formulate your own pet food), but instead use them as treats, pet treat ingredients, or for special occasions.
Foods That Can Eat… Sometimes
Like humans, there are some foods your pet can eat occasionally without causing any trouble. These should not be used as a regular treat or reward, but can be given every once in a while.
- Cheese – Give cheese sparingly and never feed an animal moldy cheese.
- Peanut butter – Many packaged treats contain peanut butter. Before feeding it to your pet in any quantity, make sure he or she is not allergic to it by offering a very small taste and waiting several hours for possible reactions.
- Eggs – Cooked eggs can be given to a cat or dog, but be sure there is no adverse reaction, as some animals are allergic to them.
Foods That Are Toxic and Should Never Be Given
Some foods that are perfectly normal for a human to eat can be deadly to animals. Any time you see your pet eating these (or suspect that they have), monitor your pet’s symptoms and call to see if you need to bring your pet in for immediate veterinary care.
- Chocolate
- Onions and Garlic
- Raisins
- Grapes
- Rhubarb
- Mushrooms
- Uncooked dough
- Macadamia nuts
While your pet may get lucky and not get ill after eating these foods, the next time he or she might not be so lucky. Don’t take the toxicity of these foods for granted.
This list is not all-inclusive. If your pet ingests a food not on this list, monitor for symptoms of toxicity. Call us immediately if your pet in the Rocklin & Roseville area isn’t feeling well or acts unusual. We are happy to answer questions about food poisoning in pets.