Pet Danger List: Toxic Food, Plants, and Flowers

When you're spoiling yourself, it's only natural to want to spoil your pet too. But some foods could seriously risk the health of our pets. The Pet ‘Danger’ List will help you identify what foods and plants are toxic to dogs and cats, and what to do if toxicity does occur. Please note, this is not a comprehensive list of dangers to your pet, but should act as a guideline for common risks.

Did you know chocolate is toxic to dogs?

Chocolate is made from cocoa which contains the compound theobromine
Theobromine is toxic to dogs and other pets at certain doses
Cocoa powder, baking chocolate and dark chocolate contain higher levels of theobromine compared to milk chocolate
The toxicity of theobromine is dose-related but can affect dogs in different ways

Easter is a time of the year when all of us are particularly ‘susceptible’ to chocolate – never feed your dog Easter eggs, and supervise children and dogs during Easter egg hunts or if chocolate eggs are left where dogs could find them. Also be wary of your pets swallowing foil, which in itself can be dangerous.

What are the symptoms of chocolate poisoning?

Restlessness, excitement, hyperactivity and nervousness
Trembling, vomiting and diarrhoea
Increased drinking, urination and heart rate
Muscle tremors, seizures and possibly death

Keep your dog away from chocolate

Never feed your dog any chocolate and make sure they can’t accidentally access any chocolate in your home. If your dog has ingested chocolate (even a small amount) you should call your local vet as soon as possible. Vets usually induce vomiting and follow up with supportive therapy like intravenous fluids and monitoring if required.

Did you know lilies are toxic to cats?

It’s not known exactly which specific toxin is responsible but what is known is that it causes severe kidney damage – leading to kidney failure within 1-3 days and death within 3-7 days.

All parts of the flower are toxic – even cats that don’t nibble on the flower can get a toxic dose by grooming pollen off their coat or even drinking water from a vase containing lilies.

The following lily plants – including the petals, stamens, stems, leaves and even the pollen – are all toxic to cats:

Tiger (Lilium tigrinum)
Day (Hemerocallis spp)
Asiatic (Lilium asiatic)
Easter (Lilium longiflorum)
Japanese Show (Lilium speciosum)

Mother’s Day is a time when cats are at greater risk of lily poisoning – if you have cats or are giving a gift of flowers to a cat parent, avoid lilies.

What to do if your cat gets lily poisoning

If your cat has ingested even a small amount of a lily plant you should call your local vet as soon as possible. Vets can treat lily poisoning early by inducing vomiting and administering activated charcoal that binds to any toxin still in the gut. There is no antidote so early treatment is crucial and supportive intravenous fluid therapy is required to support the kidneys.

What are the symptoms of lily poisoning?

Increased drinking, salivation and vomiting
Increased urination progressing to no urination
Reduced appetite and anorexia (not eating)
Depression

Other plants, flowers and foods harmful to dogs

Alcohol, Apple Cores, Apricot Seeds, Avocado, Bacon Rinds, Chives, Chocolate, Coffee, Cooked Bones, Corn Cobs, Currants, Fatty Meat, Garlic, Grapes, Mouldy or Spoiled Food, Mushrooms, Nuts, Onions, Peach Seeds, Potato Peel, Raisins, Sultanas, Tea