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Alcohol

Highly toxic to all pets!  Can cause dehydration, low blood sugar, electrolyte imbalances, and kidney/liver issues.

Avocados

All parts of the avocado contains persin, a fungicidal toxin.  This is extremely toxic to cats, horses, birds, and most of our four-legged pet friends.

Garlic

Contains thiosulfate which damages pet's red blood cells leading to vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, and weakness.

Moldy Foods

Feeding moldy food can cause vomiting, diarrhea, muscle tremors, seizures, elevated body temperature, and death.

Nicotine

Consuming or inhaling nicotine can be lethal for our animal family members.

Onions

Plus Onion Powder, Shallots, Leeks, & Chives cause your pets red blood cells to break down leading to anemia.

Xylitol & Artificial Sugars

Extremely toxic to dogs, xylitol is quickly absorbed into their bloodstream which causes low blood sugar and can cause liver failure.

Apple Seeds

Contains a toxic chemical called cyanide which can cause difficulty breathing, excessive drooling, convulsions, and death.

Caffeine

Please do not share your coffee, soda pop, or energy drink with your pets!  It takes only a few milligrams of caffeine per pound of pet weight to be fatal.  Pets need water, not people drinks!

Grapes & Raisins

Contains tartaric acid which leads to kidney damage and kidney failure.  Watch out for grape juice or grape-based products, too!

Mushrooms

Certain varieties both in-store and found in the wild can be highly toxic to both cats and dogs.  Some mushrooms will make your pet sick almost immediately while others may take up to 12 hours to affect your pet.

Nuts

Specifically Walnuts, Pecans, Almonds, & Macadamia Nuts.

Raw Meat/Eggs

Raw meat and eggs can contain bacteria that causes food poisoning that can pass to your human family members as well!

Milk & Dairy

Did you know that both cats and dogs are lactose intolerant?  This means that they cannot break down the enzymes in most cow-based dairy products.  Small quantities may be okay, check with your vet.

Stone Fruit

Apricot, Cherry, Peach, & Plums have toxic stems, leaves, and pits!  If you opt to feed your pet the fruit, make sure they do not get the pits or stems!

Chocolate

Chocolate in all forms is highly toxic for our pet family!  It contains both caffeine and theobromine which can cause diarrhea, elevated heart rate, seizures, and even death!

Hops

Used in home brewing, it causes a condition called malignant hyperthermia where your pet cannot regulate its own body temperature leading to seizures and death.

Mustard

Mustard seeds, the main component of mustard, are toxic to our pets and can cause severe gastroenteritis.

Salt

Too much salt causes sodium ion poisoning which leads to neurological issues and death.

Rhubarb

Causes imsoluable crystals to grow in your pets kidneys and other organs leading to organ damage and death.

My pet ate something they shouldn't have! What do I do now?

Don't Panic! Instead...

Most importantly, do you know what your pet ate?  Try to identify the toxic substance that your pet got into and if there's any remaining that your pet hasn't consumed, remove it so that they cannot ingest more.  Next, contact a local vet as soon as possible!  Provide them with as much information as you have including: what your pet ate, how much they consumed, how long ago it was, and what, if any, signs of discomfort or illness your pet is showing.

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Want more information?  Our friends at Chewy have an exhaustive list of not only toxic and harmful foods but also the signs that your pet needs to be seen at a vet ASAP.  Click here to learn more!

© 2026 Barry County Humane Society. Webmaster: Carissa Hopkins
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