NEW ORLEANS — As families gather to celebrate the New Year and settle in for meals, the ASPCA warns pet owners that many traditional holiday foods can be harmful or deadly to dogs and cats.
Pet owners who believe their animal has ingested a toxic food are urged to contact their veterinarian or ASPCA Animal Poison Control at (888) 426-4435.
ASPCA Poison Control experts say pet owners should avoid feeding animals the following foods:
Alcohol and yeast dough
Alcohol can cause vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, tremors, coma and death. Yeast dough can expand in a pet’s stomach, causing painful bloating and potentially life-threatening complications. Yeast also produces alcohol once ingested.
Chocolate, coffee and caffeine
These products contain methylxanthines, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures and death. Darker chocolate and higher caffeine content increase the risk. This includes brownies, wrapped chocolate candy, chocolate chip cookies, soda, coffee, and hot cocoa.
Avocado
Avocado can cause cardiovascular damage and death in birds and rabbits, and swelling and heart-related issues in horses, donkeys and ruminants. Foods like guacamole should be avoided.
Citrus
Stems, leaves, peels, fruit and seeds can cause irritation and depression if ingested in significant amounts. Any food with citrus flavoring should be avoided.
Grapes and raisins
These can lead to kidney damage in dogs due to their inability to process tartaric acid. This will include such foods as fruit cakes, bread pudding.
Onion, garlic and chives
These vegetables can cause gastrointestinal irritation and red blood cell damage. Certain foods to avoid include mashed potatoes, sweet potato pie and casseroles, stuffing, gravy, soups, ham, and bacon.
Milk and dairy products
Because pets lack sufficient lactase, dairy products can cause diarrhea and digestive upset. Deserts like ice cream and eggnog should be avoided.
Macadamia nuts
These can cause weakness, incoordination, vomiting, tremors and hyperthermia in dogs. Watch out for baked cookies and brownies containing chocolate or certain nuts.
Other nuts
Almonds, pecans and walnuts contain high levels of fats that can cause vomiting, diarrhea and pancreatitis.
Coconut and coconut oil
These products may cause stomach upset, loose stools and diarrhea due to their oil content.
Raw or undercooked meat, eggs and bones
These foods can expose pets to bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli or cause gastrointestinal injury or obstruction.
Xylitol
This sweetener can cause low blood sugar, seizures and liver damage, sometimes within 12 to 24 hours of ingestion. This includes such things as chewing gum and artificial sweeteners
Excessively salty foods
Too much salt can lead to increased thirst and urination, abnormal electrolytes, tremors, seizures, and death. This will include bacon, oven-baked ham, and turkey…