Inappropriate People Food
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Awhile ago, The Today Show was going to run a segment about people food that’s bad for pets. I missed that part, and was hoping you could tell me something about foods that we shouldn’t give pets.
- Cathy
There are indeed many ordinary “people foods” that may cause serious problems for out pets, Cathy. It is important to prevent access to these foods, which we’ll list here:
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Alcoholic beverages
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Chocolate (baker’s, semi-sweet, milk chocolate)
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Coffee (ground, beans, chocolate-covered espresso beans)
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Moldy or spoiled foods
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Onions & onion powder
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Garlic & garlic powder
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Salt
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Yeast dough
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Macadamia nuts
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Raisins and grapes
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Avocado
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Hops (used in home brewing)
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Fatty foods
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Bones
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Milk
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Raw eggs
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Raw or undercooked meat
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Products containing the sweetener xylitol
In general, people food should be avoided for both dogs and cats—though occasional treats may be acceptable in small amounts. It is best to stick with a high-quality premium food formulated to meet the specific needs of your pet.