Take care throughout the year, and especially around the holidays, to keep chocolate candy and other chocolate treats out of reach of your animals.
Most dogs love the smell and taste of chocolate and are great at sniffing it out! Unfortunately, it’s highly toxic to dogs and cats alike, and should be kept in a safe place out of reach of both (think: refrigerator or a closed cabinet).
Although cats are less likely to consume chocolate as they’re not typically drawn to the scent in the same way dogs are, the crinkle of a candy wrapper can make for a fun toy, which could cause them to ingest the candy (or the wrapper) by accident, neither of which would be good news for your feline.
Foods That Are Hazardous to Your Dogs and Cats:
- Avocado
- Bread Dough (due to the live yeast)
- Chocolate
- Dairy (milk/cheese) While not toxic, many cats and dogs are lactose intolerant, which could result in digestive upset
- Garlic
- Grain Alcohol or Drinking Alcohol
- Grapes
- Hops
- Macadamia Nuts
- Moldy Foods
- Onions
- Raisins
- Xylitol (sugar-free sweetener often found in sugar-free gum)
When pets eat something their bodies can’t handle, it can affect them quickly—and sometimes more seriously than we expect.
You might notice things like vomiting, diarrhea (sometimes with blood), excessive drooling, low energy, loss of appetite, or signs of discomfort like abdominal pain. Dehydration can also set in faster than you’d think.
These symptoms can show up within just a few hours, which is why it’s so important to act quickly. Reaching out to your veterinarian right away can make all the difference in keeping your pet safe and helping them recover.
In the case of accidental poisoning, call your veterinarian or Pet Poison Helpline immediately at 1-800-213-6680.
The sooner a case of dog or cat poisoning is diagnosed, the easier, less expensive, and safer it is to treat.