Foods that are genuinely dangerous for dogs and cats

Most of what gets shared about toxic foods is either exaggerated or missing the dose that actually matters. Here is the version worth keeping.

Genuinely toxic — treat as an emergency

• Xylitol (in sugar-free gum, some peanut butters, some medicines). Causes a dangerous insulin release in dogs within thirty minutes. Among the most lethal items on this list, in very small amounts.
• Chocolate, particularly dark and baking chocolate. Theobromine. Severity scales with cocoa content and the dog's weight.
• Grapes and raisins. Can cause acute kidney failure in dogs. There is no established safe dose, and sensitivity varies between individuals for reasons that remain unclear.
• Onion, garlic, leeks, chives — including in cooked form, and including in the gravy of leftover sabzi. Damages red blood cells. Cats are more sensitive than dogs.
• Macadamia nuts. Weakness, tremors and hyperthermia in dogs.
• Alcohol and raw dough. Raw dough ferments in the stomach, producing both alcohol and expansion.

Dangerous for a different reason

• Cooked bones. They splinter. Chicken bones from your plate are a common cause of intestinal perforation.
• Milk. Most adult dogs and cats are lactose intolerant. Not toxic, but a reliable route to diarrhoea.
• Very fatty food. A plate of fried leftovers can trigger pancreatitis, which is painful, expensive and occasionally fatal.

Cat-specific

Cats cannot process several compounds dogs tolerate. Paracetamol is lethal to cats in doses a person wouldn't think twice about — never medicate a cat with anything from your own cabinet. Lilies, including the pollen and the vase water, cause kidney failure in cats.

If your pet has eaten something

1. 1Work out *what*, *how much*, and *when*. Keep the packaging.
2. 2Call a vet immediately. Do not wait for symptoms — for most of this list, by the time symptoms appear the window for the easiest intervention has closed.
3. 3Do not induce vomiting unless a vet tells you to. With corrosive substances and with some situations it makes the injury worse.

If you are unsure whether something is a problem, ask. A two-minute conversation is cheaper than an overnight stay.