🚫 Vet Guide 2025: People Foods to Avoid Feeding Pets by Dr Duncan Houston

Pets may beg at the table, but many of our favorite snacks are toxic to them. This 2025 expert guide from Dr Duncan Houston highlights common human foods that can harm dogs and cats—covering symptoms, risks, and first-aid steps. Protect your furry family members from accidental poisoning. 🐶🐱

⚠️ Emergency Contact Info

If your pet eats any of these items, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 888‑426‑4435 immediately :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}.

🍫 Chocolate, Coffee & Caffeine

Contain methylxanthines (theobromine, caffeine), causing vomiting, tremors, seizures, arrhythmias, hyperactivity, and even death. Darker chocolate has higher toxicity than milk or white chocolate :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}.

🧊 Alcohol & Yeast Dough

Alcohol causes vomiting, coordination issues, respiratory depression, coma. Raw yeast dough can bloat and ferment into alcohol internally—a surgical emergency :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}.

🥑 Avocado

Persin in leaves, bark, fruit, and seed can upset stomach and cause serious effects in birds and large animals. Avoid giving any avocado products :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}.

🍇 Grapes & Raisins

Even small amounts can cause acute kidney failure in dogs. The precise toxin is unknown, so complete avoidance is safest :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}.

🌰 Macadamia Nuts & Other Nuts

Macadamias cause weakness, tremors, hyperthermia lasting up to 48 hours :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}.

Almonds, pecans, walnuts are high in fats and may cause vomiting, diarrhea, or pancreatitis :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}.

🧅 Onions, Garlic & Chives

Alliums can cause anemia through oxidative damage to red blood cells—look for weakness, pale gums, vomiting :contentReference[oaicite:10]{index=10}.

🧃 Citrus, Coconut & Dairy

• Citrus peels/oils may irritate GI tract—small amounts usually okay; larger portions may cause depression :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}.
• Coconut products may lead to stomach upset or diarrhea :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}.
• Milk and dairy often cause GI upset due to lactose intolerance :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}.

🍬 Xylitol

Common in sugar-free gum, candy, peanut butter, toothpaste—causes rapid hypoglycemia & liver failure in dogs. Even small amounts (<100 mg/kg) cause vomiting; higher doses lead to seizures, liver damage :contentReference[oaicite:14]{index=14}.

🥖 Salt & Salty Snacks

Excess salt leads to excessive thirst, tremors, seizures, and sodium ion poisoning. Avoid chips, salted nuts, popcorn :contentReference[oaicite:15]{index=15}.

🥚 Raw Meat, Eggs & Bones

Risk bacterial contamination (Salmonella, E. coli), avidin in raw eggs reduces biotin (skin issues), and bones can splinter—causing obstruction or perforation :contentReference[oaicite:16]{index=16}.

🧓 Moldy Foods & Toxic Plants

Moldy foods may contain aflatoxins, causing tremors, seizures, liver failure :contentReference[oaicite:17]{index=17}.

📋 Summary Table of People Foods to Avoid

✔️ What to Do if Exposure Occurs

1. Save packaging/amount info.
2. Call your vet or ASPCA Poison Control: 888‑426‑4435. They may charge ~\$100 consultation fee :contentReference[oaicite:18]{index=18}.
3. Follow expert advice—prompt care improves outcomes.

📣 Ask A Vet Support

Accidental ingestion? Uncertain if food is toxic? Visit AskAVet.com or download the Ask A Vet App for 24/7 vet guidance. We’re here to help ensure your pet gets timely, accurate care—and peace of mind. 📱🐾

✅ Final Thoughts

Although sharing is caring, your pet’s safety comes first. Keep these human foods securely out of reach and educate family members about hidden hazards. With awareness and swift action, you can prevent poisoning and keep your beloved pets safe and healthy. 🌟