As we load up the picnic baskets this summer and head to a local park to enjoy Mother Nature, we are inclined to include our pet pals in the activities. While we may bring along our favorite foods, many popular picnic foods are considered dangerous and/or poisonous to dogs and cats. These include:
– Chips and dips. While not poisonous, tortilla chips are high in fat and salt content. Salsa dips generally contain onions, a highly dangerous food for our four-legged friends, while guacamole contains garlic, onion and avocado, all of which should be avoided by pets.
– Grapes/raisins. Pick the pieces of fruit you give to your pet as a treat carefully. A small chunk of melon on occasion is harmless, but allowing Fido or FeFe to have a small bowl of mixed fruit salad that has grapes and/or raisins is dangerous. Both foods are highly toxic to our pets.
– Corn on the cob. Corn is safe for your dog to eat in moderation, but allowing him to gnaw on the cob is a no-no. The shape and size of the cob presents a potential choking hazard and should be avoided.
– Hamburger. Our furry friends can appreciate a good burger just like us, but unlike us, their stomachs can’t. The high fat content and salt in hamburger can cause upset stomachs and diarrhea and store-prepared burgers may contain onions which are highly toxic to pets.
– Onions. A crisp crunch and small dose of heat is a nice addition to our salads, cold pasta dishes or on our hot dogs, but to our real dogs, they are highly toxic. Onions can lead to gastrointestinal issues and sometimes heart problems in dogs.
– Chocolate. While most everyone knows chocolate is poisonous to dogs and cats, during barbecue season, it bears repeating and reminding, especially since cocoa is becoming more popular in barbecue sauces and rubs. Chocolate should never be given to a pet in any shape or form, whether it’s a bite from a campfire s’more or corner of a cupcake. A good rule of thumb is to not share any desserts with your pet at all.
– Xylitol. A natural sugar substitute, xylitol is found in baked goods, candies, mints and gums, but is highly poisonous for dogs.
– Pork ribs. Fido might fancy himself a rib master, but only in his dreams. Ribs present a choking hazard to our pets and could potentially splinter when chewed on, leading to further problems.
– Chicken wings. Again, our furry friends might think they have a hankering for a plate of good wings, but chicken wings present a two-fold problem for our pets. Chicken wings have very small and sharp bones which present a significant risk if ingested and most wings are marinated and cooked in sauces and flavoring that contain onion, garlic and other spices not suitable for our pets.
– Whole hot dogs. Fido will have to keep petitioning Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating contest if he wants to enter, as whole hot dogs pose a choking hazard, especially if the bun is still intact. A hot dog chopped into small, bite size portions is fine for your dog as a treat, but with a bun, it is too large for your dog to reasonably swallow in one shot.
– Alcohol. A quick sip or a few tongue laps of a spilt drink can have harmful effects on our four-legged friends. Even a small amount can result in a change of behavior, breathing problems and even more serious problems in our pets. Keep all adult beverages out of reach of our pet pals.
A good rule of thumb to follow when hosting any party that will have an open flame–tiki torches, gas heater or backyard fire pit–is to keep pets indoors during the party. Additionally, extra care should be taken when using insect prevention items, such as mozzie coils, bug zappers, insect sprays and oils, with pets around, as these can burn or poison your pet.
By taking a few minutes to double check foods, preparations and our pets, we can all have a happy and successful picnic season!