What not to feed your pet

Foods that can harm your cat or dog

Even if your pet is begging you to feed him these food items, don’t give in.

Caffeine
Drinks that have caffeine can cause muscle tremors, restlessness, bleeding or rapid bleeding. So avoid giving tea, coffee, caffeinated drinks like colas and energy drinks to your pet.

Chocolate
Did you know that chocolate can be fatal for your dog or cat? Chocolates have caffeine and theobromine that can cause anything from vomiting to seizure.

Onions and garlic
It doesn’t matter what form you offer them in — cooked or raw, powdered or dried — onions and garlic can lead to anaemia since they cause loss of red blood cells in domesticated animals if they are part of their diet.

Grapes and raisins
Even small quantities of grapes and raisins can make your pet sick with vomiting and exhaustion. Larger portions can amount to kidney failure.

Dairy products
Adult dogs and cats cannot digest milk and other dairy products. Milk could give them an upset stomach and diarrhoea. Dairy products also make them more prone to food allergies.

Raw dough
Raw dough that contains live yeast could expand in your pet’s stomach and cause stomach ache if it’s consumed in a small quantity. Feed him/ her bigger chunks and your pet will have difficulty breathing. Call the vet if your pet looks disoriented and shows loss of co-ordination. In severe cases, your buddy will be unable to stand up.

Raw eggs
Raw eggs have an enzyme that impedes the absorption of certain B vitamins. Other things to avoid are raw salmon and trout, which may have a parasite responsible for “fish disease” or “salmon poisoning disease”.