Avoiding Toxic Foods

While many people think giving your pet occasional table scraps is perfectly fine, these foods may contain harmful ingredients. Toxic ingestion can lead to severe health complications or even death. Fortunately, your vet near you at Dessau Veterinary Clinic in Austin, TX, provides prompt treatment for toxic ingestion to keep your pet healthy and happy. We are here to tell you which foods are harmful to pets and how you can prevent poisoning.

Which Foods Are Toxic?

The first step toward preventing toxic ingestion is understanding which foods are poisonous for pets. Some of the most common foods or substances that your pet should avoid include:

•             Chocolate

•             Raisins and grapes

•             Onions

•             Gum, peanut butter, and other foods with xylitol sweetener

•             Fried or fatty foods

•             Yeast dough

•             Avocados

•             Alcohol

•             Caffeine

•             Macadamia nuts

Ways to Prevent Toxic Ingestion

Pets can knock over garbage cans in your kitchen or yard and get into their contents. Doing this puts your pet at risk of needing a trip to the pet hospital for toxic ingestion. Emptying indoor garbage cans more frequently helps reduce the risk of your pet eating a harmful substance.

Another way to limit your pet’s chances of eating a poisonous item is by keeping toxic substances out of its reach. Keep chocolate, raisins, and other dangerous foods behind closed cabinets your pet cannot reach. Even packaged food requires proper storage to prevent toxic ingestion.

Lastly, you should always check food labels before giving your pet any of it. For example, some peanut butter contains an artificial sweetener called xylitol. This substance is dangerous for pets and can lead to significant health complications. When in doubt, reach out to our pet hospital if you are unsure about the safety of foods or substances.

What Should I Do if My Pet Has Been Poisoned?

Even with the above advice, clever and curious pets can still get into places they shouldn’t. Here’s what you should do if your pet ingests a toxic substance:

•             Call our pet hospital immediately and inform us about the substance your pet ingested

•             Bring your pet in for treatment

•             Go over treatment options with our vet, such as inducing vomiting or pet surgery if needed

Visit Our Veterinary Hospital in Austin, TX, for Toxic Ingestion Treatment

If your pet ingested a substance and shows signs of poisoning, contact Dessau Veterinary Clinic in Austin, TX, for immediate treatment. We can flush the substance out of your pet’s system or perform pet surgery to protect your pet’s health and well-being. Call us and schedule an appointment today at (512) 339-3177.