Month: September 2011

It’s amazing (yet scary) how many substances in your yard, compost pile or garage that are poisonous to our pets! Some of these can cause serious problems if ingested by our dogs and cats. Here is the list of yard, garden, and garage products that the veterinarians at Pet Poison Helpline® recommend keeping away from…

With all the potentially toxic people foods out there, it’s helpful to know which foods are safe for cats and dogs. Pet Poison Helpline® recommends feeding the following foods which are both safe for pets and are low-calorie options. Apples Peas Green beans Popcorn (Hold the butter and salt!) Carrots Sweet potatoes Zucchini and summer…

Tomatoes are barely poisonous and are generally pretty safe to feed dogs. Most dogs don’t ingest enough tomato plants to cause a problem. Tomato plants are in the Nightshade family and contain tomatine. Tomatine is found in concentrations of up to 5% in the leafy greens, the fruit blossoms, and in small green tomatoes; this…

Grapes, raisins, and even currants (some currants are actually small, black grapes) are toxic to your dog! In fact, there have been anecdotal reports of cats and ferrets being affected by these also. Ingestion of even a small amount of grapes, raisins, or currants can result in severe, acute kidney failure. All types of grape-…

Many sugarless gums (including some Trident, Orbit, and Ice Breaker brands) and candies contain xylitol, a sweetener which is toxic to dogs. Beware of those desserts or baked goods that could also be made with xylitol! Even small amounts ingested can result in a life-threatening drop in blood sugar, or with large amounts of ingestion,…