Certain types of human foods can be dangerous and even deadly for dogs and cats. The nutrition experts at the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Animal Poison Control Center have created a list of the major toxic human foods to avoid feeding pets:
* Alcoholic beverages
* Avocado
* Chocolate (all forms)
* Coffee (all forms)
* Fatty foods
* Macadamia nuts
* Moldy or spoiled foods
* Onions, onion powder
* Raisins and grapes
* Salt
* Yeast dough
* Garlic
* Products sweetened with xylitol (often these products are gums or candies).
In addition, cats should not be fed sweets or foods that are high in starch or carbohydrates. Cats are strict carnivores, so they do not digest high levels of starch or sugar well and may develop diarrhea or other gastrointestinal problems. It should also be noted that cats are not able to taste "sweet" as we do.
For more detailed information about why these foods are toxic to our companion animals, visit the Web site of the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at www.aspca.org.
