One of the biggest concerns when you have pets is to ensure that you feed them healthy foods. However, there are moments when one may be tempted to share a morsel of food from their plates as a treat. This may be an issue in some cases because some human foods are harmful to both dogs and cats. Below is a list of foods that you need to avoid feeding your dogs and cats.

1. Alcohol

Alcohol and its associated products can easily cause gastrointestinal issues, such as vomiting and diarrhea in your pets. In some cases, it can cause serious issues, such as central nervous system damage, tremors, impact blood acidity, cause difficulty in breathing, and decrease coordination.

2. Avocado

Avocados are known to cause cardiovascular damage to pets and can even result in death. More common reactions as a result of consumption are swelling of the organs and major tracts in the body.

3. The two C’s

Do not feed your pets products that have caffeine and chocolates, as they contain an element known as methylxanthines. This is found in the seeds of coffee plants and is also present in nuts that are used for extracting sodas. The immediate reaction is mostly vomiting and diarrhea in dogs and cats. It can also cause complications such as hyperactivity, panting, abnormality in heart rhythm, excessive thirst as well as urination, and tremors. In severe cases, it can lead to seizures and death. Dark chocolate is highly dangerous to pets more than milk-based ones.

4. Citrus

Any part of the citrus plant – stems, leaves, seeds, peels, or the fruit itself – when ingested can cause major levels of nervous system disorders. This is due to the presence of varying levels of citric acid and essential oils that are irritating to pets. A smaller dose can probably cause a stomach upset.

5. Dairy and milk

This is a human food that is highly harmful to dogs and cats because these pets lack the enzyme lactase. Lactase is largely required to break down the lactose contents of these products. Consumption of these foods can easily cause gastrointestinal disorders and more permanent damage if given in large quantities regularly.

Many other human foods cause harm to dogs and cats, and these include – coconut and coconut oil, macadamia nuts, grapes and raisins, nuts, onions, garlic, chives, raw meat, undercooked meat, eggs, bones, salty foods, yeast dough, and artificial sweetener- Xylitol. You must not share your food with your dogs and cats unless you know them to be safe. Avoiding this habit will also ensure that you only give them foods that are best suited to their diet and not cause any health issues.