Think twice before sharing lunch with your dog or cat. Cats and dogs metabolize nutrients differently than we do, so you could be feeding your furry friend something that could potentially sicken or even kill them.
While dogs tend to appreciate a human treat, human food should make up only 10% of their intake. Cat owners should limit human treats even more.
(Luckily, cats tend not to be as interested in human food.)
“It’s not a good idea to feed your cat human food and think you’re going to get it right,” said Eliza O’Callaghan, DVM, managing veterinarian for Small Door Vet in the West Village.
“The food you’re giving your cat can be dramatically low in taurine, an amino acid, which can cause heart disease.”
A general rule is to make sure you only feed products vetted by the Association of American Feed Control Officials, the non-profit that sets quality and safety standards for animal feed and pet food, according to Anna Kaufman, DVM, a veterinarian at Bond Vet in Cobble Hill.
The same goes for raw meat.
“There’s so much viral content on TikTok and Instagram promoting raw or natural food for pets,” O’Callaghan said.
“That’s not what your pet should be eating. These claims are often anecdotal and not evidence-based at all.”
“The veterinary foods we recommend for pets are ones that have gone through rigorous quality testing,” she said.
“Balance is the key and human food should never make up a pet’s core diet.”
However, “we don’t want to cut out all the treats — we just want to use them wisely and in moderation,” said Kaufman.
“Treats help with the animal/human bond.”
Be careful when introducing a new human food to your dog or cat, too.
“Go slow,” said Kaufman.
“Make sure your pet is tolerating these foods well and isn’t experiencing belly upset in the process.”
Make sure to avoid chocolate, which contains methylxanthines, a stimulant that can stop a dog’s metabolic process.
Grapes (or raisins) can cause kidney failure in dogs, while tomato leaves, stems and green parts can be toxic.
The artificial sweetener xylitol (sometimes labeled as birch sugar) is just as dangerous.
“It can cause acute liver failure from insulin release,” she said.
For cats, onions, garlic and chives can cause a cat to develop anemia.
Also, always avoid leaving alcoholic drinks within reach.
“Licking alcohol can cause serious central nervous system issues in cats,” O’Callaghan said.
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