Don’t poison your pets

Published October 8, 2008 Most people know that chocolate is dangerous for cats and dogs, but there are a number of other human foods to keep away from pets — even some it’s hard to imagine them wanting in the first place. Coffee and cigarettes, for example. “Any caffeine- and nicotine-ontaining products are not good,” said Dr. Jason Suazo, veterinarian at Pecan Acres Pet Care in Clute. “Some dogs will chew on cigarettes and it can make them pretty sick. They get welts and diarrhea and vomiting.” Other odd foodstuffs to hide from cats and dogs include green tomatoes and tomato plants, fruit pits and xylitol, an artificial sweetener found in sugar-free gum among other things. Xylitol can cause a fairly sudden drop in blood sugar, which can result in depression or seizures, according to www.petdoc.com. Raisins or grapes can... [read full story]