Protect your Pet from Harmful Food

Your pet is a valued member of the family, but that doesn't mean they should join you at the family dinner table. Animals cannot digest the same food as humans; in fact some foods that humans enjoy can actually be very harmful to cats and dogs. You should therefore always be very careful about the food you offer your pet from the table.

Some pet lovers say that you shouldn't give your pet any food from the dinner table at all. If you start doing this from a young age, your dog or cat may pester you for food at dinner time forever more. They may not know who or when it is appropriate to ask for food - and important guests could easily get a shock at a dinner party if Fido the dog joins you for dinner!

A more serious implication of feeding your dog or cat from the dinner table is that they may eat the wrong kind of food and become unwell. Dogs are not meant to eat chocolate, for example, as it contains Theobromine; a powerful stimulant that is poisonous to them. Grapes, raisins, sultanas and currants are also dangerous for dogs to eat. Cats should not eat onions, garlic and chives, as they are all poisonous to cats and can cause extreme discomfort or illness. This list is by no means exhaustive, as certain breeds of cat or dog have even more specific dietary requirements. You should therefore check with you vet as to exactly what your pet should or shouldn't eat.

If your pet has eaten potentially poisonous food, you should take them to the vet immediately. If you have good pet insurance you shouldn't even need to worry about the vets bills, as you pet insurance should cover any necessary treatment. Treatment can include complimentary therapies that are deemed necessary by your vet. In extreme cases some pet insurance providers will offer financial compensation for your pet's death caused by injury or as a result of illness.

If you have good pet insurance, you will be able to help your cat or dog recover from a bout of poisoning. The best solution, however, is to not feed them inappropriate food in the first place: your pet should enjoy their own pet food, whilst you enjoy yours.