There is a tremendous lack of awareness among pet-owners when it comes to the foods that they should and should not be feeding their pets. While we consider our pets a part of our families, it is important to remember that they are not humans, which means the diet that suits us does not necessarily suit them. Here is a list of some food items that are toxic to pets:

Chocolate
While chocolate being harmful for pets is now more commonly known by people, it is still important to put it out there. All forms of chocolate are extremely toxic to animals and can severely affect their bodily processes. Chocolate contains a toxin known as theobromine, which, if ingested, can pose a great risk to the health of your pet.

Caffeine
Caffeine can have a similar effect as chocolate on pets. It is proven that pets are more sensitive to caffeine than humans. Make sure to keep all caffeinated foods and beverages out of their reach as they can cause anything from fever to coma and in some cases, even death.

Grapes and alcohol
While grapes aren’t particularly harmful to all pets, they have been known to cause stomach issues and sometimes, kidney failure in dogs. Even the smallest amount of alcohol can be poisonous for dogs.

Xylitol
Xylitol is a naturally occurring substance that is used as a sweetener in products such as toothpastes and sugar-free candies. Consuming this can cause a sudden drop in your pet’s blood sugar, leading to extreme weakness. Ingesting xylitol can also harm their liver.

Onions and garlic
Onions and garlic, in all forms, are harmful to animals, and can lead to anemia. Both these foods are of the allium species, which is considered extremely toxic for animals. In acute cases, they can also lead to organ failure and death.

Macadamia nuts
If your pet ends up ingesting even a little amount of macadamia nuts, then it can cause some serious health problems. These nuts, while popular among humans, are extremely poisonous for dogs, and can result in issues such as vomiting, abdominal pain, hypothermia, and sometimes, depression too.

Bones and fat trimmings
When preparing a bowl of meat for your pets, it is important to be extra careful and get rid of all the bones and fat trimmings that may be present in their food. With bones, the obvious hazard of choking is always there, but aside from that, consuming fat trimmings and the marrow from bones can lead to pancreatitis.

Raw eggs
Just as we know that raw eggs are bad for our gut due to the possibility of them being infected with E. coli or Salmonella bacteria, it is equally harmful for pets for similar reasons. Do not feed them raw or undercooked eggs in any way as that can lead to infections.

Before, or even after, getting a pet for yourself, it is important to do as much research as you can about the kind of lifestyle—especially diet—that they will need to have, because as pet-owners, it is our responsibility to ensure their well-being.