A Guide to Food You Shouldn’t Give to Your Pets

Not all foods are equally good for animals. Some vegetables, fruits, and sweets may cause indigestion in pets and other serious health issues.

We at 5-Minute Crafts made a list of foods that your pets shouldn’t eat.

Foods that are dangerous for dogs

• Chocolate
  Chocolate contains 2 components that might be dangerous for dogs: caffeine and theobromine. It over-stimulates dogs’ nervous systems and may cause a constriction of the arteries and an increased heart rate. And if a dog eats too much chocolate, it might even die.
• Avocados
  Avocados are very good for humans but might be dangerous for dogs. The flesh, skin, and pit contain persin that might cause diarrhea and vomiting in pets.
• Cherries
  All parts of cherries, except the flesh, contain cyanide that disrupts the transportation of oxygen in the cells and is toxic for dogs. Dilated pupils, red gums, and difficulty breathing might be signs of poisoning.
• Grapes and raisins
  Even one grape might be potentially dangerous for a dog. These berries contain a chemical that can cause severe kidney failure that might lead to death. If you notice a poor appetite, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, and you suspect that your dog might have eaten grapes, visit a vet immediately.
• Onions and garlic
  All kinds of onions and garlic are dangerous for most pets. The sulfoxides and disulfides in these foods might damage red blood cells and cause anemia, and they also might damage the liver.
• Tea, coffee, and other drinks with caffeine
  While the human body knows how to deal with caffeine, dogs can’t handle it. Caffeine poisoning can lead to an increase in arterial pressure and an increased heart rate, causing hypothermia and cramps.
• Raw eggs
  Raw eggs can be a source of salmonella and they can also cause a biotin deficiency that leads to digestion problems in dogs.
• Macadamia nuts
  Experts believe that even a little bit of macadamia nuts can kill a dog. When a dog eats them, it might have seizures, a fever, and vomiting that will require a doctor’s help immediately.
• Bacon
  Bacon, which seems harmless, might actually lead to digestion problems and cause pancreatitis.
• Boiled bones
  While raw bones are a great source of nutrients, cooked bones are bad for dogs. They might crack in their mouth and cause serious internal damage if a dog swallows a bone.
• Sweets
  Sugar causes the same issues in dogs as it does in humans. A lot of sweets can cause dental problems, obesity, and diabetes.

Foods that might be dangerous for cats

• Chocolate
  Cats, like dogs, shouldn’t eat chocolate. Theobromine can cause heart problems and seizures.
• Onions and garlic
  In any form (raw, cooked, dry) these products can cause anemia in cats. The symptoms you might notice if a cat eats onions are: pale gums, weakness, poor appetite, and dark urine. If you notice these signs in a pet, see a vet immediately.
• Dairy products
  As surprising as it seems, dairy products are not recommended for cats. Some cats are lactose-intolerant and dairy products can cause indigestion, vomiting, and diarrhea.
• Potatoes
  Due to their high concentration of starch, cats can’t digest potatoes and that leads to indigestion, vomiting, and diarrhea.
• Raw eggs
  Egg whites contain a chemical that doesn’t allow cats to absorb biotin. It can lead to skin problems and make their fur lose its shine.
• Fat trimmings and bones
  Fat, both boiled and raw, can cause indigestion, vomiting, and diarrhea in cats. And pieces of bone may damage the intestines and clog them.
• Avocados
  There are very few cats that like avocados. A high concentration of persin (which is toxic for cats) may cause indigestion, difficulty breathing, and in some cases, even lead to death.
• Grapes and raisins
  The same as for dogs, grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in cats. This poisoning can be quite severe and usually requires a doctor.

Foods rabbits shouldn’t eat

• Avocados may be dangerous for rabbits and cause difficulty breathing.
• Apples, apricots, peaches, and plum pits contain a chemical that is toxic for rabbits. If you give fruits to rabbits, make sure there are no pits in them.
• Rhubarb is not a good plant for rabbits. It can cause digestion problems and prevent calcium from absorbing in the body.
• Iceberg lettuce contains lactucarium that can cause diarrhea and weakness in rabbits.
• Due to a high concentration of starch, potatoes are not very good for rabbits. It takes a long time to digest them even though it doesn’t do a lot of harm to the rabbit. Potato tops might also be poisonous to rabbits — so don’t give them to your pets.

Foods that hamsters and other rodents shouldn’t eat

• For hamsters, eating bitter almonds may be dangerous. These nuts contain emulsin that, in large quantities, might be lethal for rodents.
• Eating onions and garlic may have a negative effect on a hamster: as they destroy their red blood cells.
• Even though tomatoes may seem sweeter than many vegetables, for hamsters, they are very sour and can cause diarrhea. Tomato leaves are especially toxic to them. Even in small quantities, they might lead to death.
• Potatoes and beans that contain starch may cause diarrhea in hamsters. And in severe cases, dehydration.
• Peanuts may contain aflatoxin, which is lethal to hamsters. Don’t give peanuts to your pet.
• Meat is not a natural food for hamsters. This is why eating meat may lead to obesity, and heart, kidney, and liver issues. If you still want to give meat to your hamster, choose the non-fat kind, like chicken or salmon.