Pet owners love their fur babies so much, it can be hard to say no when they want a bite of our human food. It’s important to resist the big puppy eyes! Also best to stick to diet dog food, canned food, pup food and any other pet food your veterinarian may have recommended. Let house guests know that they cannot feed your pet without your permission, because certain human foods can be detrimental to your pet’s health. Here is a list of foods that are toxic for your pets:

1. Chocolate and caffeine

Though these foods are a human favorite, they are poisonous to our pets. Toxicity levels are dependent on how much chocolate is ingested and the weight and size of your pet. Chocolate actually contains caffeine and theobromine which increases blood pressure and cardiac arrhythmias in pets. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is.

2. Onions and garlic 

If your dog or cat eats any form of onion, garlic, leeks or chives, (cooked, raw, powdered, fresh) it can damage their red blood cells and cause life-threatening anemia. Because these foods are part of the Allium species, they have sulfur-containing oxidants which are toxic for pets.

3. Dairy foods

Dairy products are not as life threatening as the other items listed here, but they shouldn’t be given to pets. Pets are lactose intolerant and aren’t able to digest dairy properly. As a result, they can experience diarrhea-induced dehydration, and have other issues like pancreatitis or obesity.

4. THC edibles

If you are a pet owner who has THC edibles at home you’ll have to take extra precautions to keep them out of reach from your pets. Marijuana buds resemble catnip which can be ingested by your cat, and the most dangerous type of THC edible is marijuana butter which contains very high THC levels. Pets digest THC much slower than humans, meaning the effects can last longer. If ingested, pets can experience slowed breathing, abnormal heart rate and in severe cases, even a coma.

5. Grapes and raisins

Even one grape can cause problems for your pet, so it’s best to keep them out of reach and out of foods like baked goods or trail mix. Ingesting grapes, raisins or zante currants will lead to kidney damage and kidney failure.

6. Macadamia nuts

They don’t only have a high fat content which could lead to weight gain and potentially cause pancreatitis in your pet. Dogs who have eaten macadamia nuts may experience vomiting, tremors, lethargy, and inability to walk.

7. Xylitol

Not a food on its own, but this is an ingredient found in many foods as a sugarless sweetener, like dairy products, certain peanut butters, energy bars, and most commonly in sugar-free cubed gum. It’s also found in household products, such as baby wipes and dental hygiene products. The danger of this ingredient is that if consumed, it can cause your pet to have liver failure or severely low sugar levels.