There are a few foods, however, that pets should always avoid! Even though most of them sound tempting, my mom tells me that I am never allowed to have anything from the following list:
- Chocolate
- Onions / Onion Powder
- Mushrooms
- Grapes and Raisins
- Avocado / Guacamole
- Macadamia Nuts
- Bread Dough
- Garlic
- Anything sweetened with xylitol
- Salty and fatty foods
- Alcohol
- Coffee
If you suspect that your pet has ingested any of these items, call your vet or the ASPCA’s National Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435. (A $55 consultation may be applied to a credit card, but it’s worth it to me if it’s a matter of life and death!)
If you are prepared when you call, they will be better able to assist you. They’ll want to know the name of the toxin, approximately how much was ingested, how long ago it happened, the weight of your pet, and any signs of distress (vomiting, tremors, salivation, gum color, respiratory and heart rate, and body temperature).
If you don’t have all that information handy, don’t panic. Call your vet or the poison control center anyway as soon as possible because time is of the essence!
