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With the Halloween candy season behind us and the Christmas holiday about to swing into full gear, now is a great time to remind pet-owners of treats that can prove toxic to our four-legged family members.  Sometime our pets get into these things on their own, or sometimes we slip them a snack that seems tasty and harmless.  When you’re tempted to give your pet a taste, remember to steer clear of these toxic treats:

Chocolate: We’ve all heard it, chocolate is bad for dogs. However, I for one have a Beagle who has ingested an entire chocolate cake without so much as a guilty conscience.  So what’s the deal with chocolate and pets?  According to the ASPCA, chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine, both of which toxic, especially in large doses.  A good rule of thumb to follow is the darker the chocolate, the worse it is for our pets. Ingestion of large doses of dark or baking chocolate can lead to vomiting, tremors, seizures, and death.  

Bread Dough: That’s right, this one might not be so obvious.  Bread dough is actually extremely dangerous if ingested.  The active yeast in the dough finds the perfect environment in a pet’s warm, moist stomach, where it will readily multiply and expand.  This can cause quite a bit of discomfort and even cut off blood supply to a dog or cats internal organs or make breathing difficult. The yeast also produces alcohol, which can cause alcohol intoxication (which brings me to my next toxic treat).

Alcohol: Pets are much more sensitive to alcohol than people are, so even a small amount can cause severe alcohol intoxication.  Symptoms include vomiting, disorientation, coma and seizures.

Grapes and Raisins: Both are known to cause kidney failure in dogs, so keep your pooch away from them (and any desserts that contain them).

Gum and Candy: Lots of candy and gum (especially the sugar-free variety) contains a sweetener called Xylitol which can cause quick and severe liver failure in dogs.  To play it safe, keep the candy to yourself.

Avocados: While avocados are only mildly toxic to dogs, they can be extremely toxic to other pets like birds, rabbits, and horses. Once ingested, avocados can cause respiratory distress and fluid accumulation around the heart, serious problems that can lead to death.  

If you suspect your pet has ingested any of these toxic treats (or any other suspected poison), contact a veterinarian right away.  Another useful resource is the pet poison helpline, which is available 24-hours a day by calling 855-764-7661.

About the Author:
Farynn Kimmes has served as a small and large animal veterinary assistant and has interned at a local wildlife rehabilitation center. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Sustainability at UMD.