While preparing for a new article, I asked the question "what is the worst thing your pet has eaten?" on my Twitter page. The replies (below) started coming in. It seems that there are quite a few pets who ate all sorts of stuff, edible or not.
Sometimes people give their pets human foods that are toxic to pets, not realizing the dangers. Some foods, like chocolate, vary greatly in the level of toxicity (dark chocolate is more toxic than milk chocolate). Other foods, such as grapes, raisins, macadamia nuts and foods containing the artificial sweetener xylitol, are extremely toxic in small quantities to pets. It is important to note that, while not a food, cocoa mulch, a material used for landscaping, is also very toxic to pets that ingest it.
Read more about human foods that are toxic to pets:
- Chocolate
- Xylitol (artificial sweetener)
- Grapes and Raisins
- Macadamia nut toxicosis in dogs From the ASPCA (PDF format)
- Exended list of human foods toxic to pets
From the ASPCA
Other times, people try to save money and give their pets medications saved from an earlier vet visit, medications prescribed for another pet, or even human medications. Please do not do give any medications without consulting with your veterinarian first! A drug or dose that is perfectly fine for one pet could be lethal for another pet. Cats are particularly sensitive to many drugs and topical products, such as flea and tick preparations. Please read all directions carefully and call your veterinarian with any questions prior to use.
Related Reading:
- Well-Intentioned Pet Owners Unknowingly Poisoning their Pets
- Veterinary Q & A: Dietary Indiscretion
- Top 10 Pet Poison Prevention Tips
What should I do if I suspect a poisoning in my pet?
Finally, pets eat odd things because ... well, who knows? Some articles of ingestion will remain a mystery. Toys and string-like objects are common things for both dogs and cats to eat. It may be out of curiosity, or play time that got out of hand, as in the case of Belle the dog. This comment was from my friend Julie (genglo on Twitter), caregiver for Belle the dog, featured in this post: "Remember when Belle swallowed the high bounce ball? We opted for surgery just in case. They offered us the ball back. Eww!"
I have seen cats that have ingested string (one case with needle and beads still attached), rubber tubing, and the head of a rubber rat toy, to name a few. Dogs, like Belle, have swallowed balls, rocks, sticks, bones, carpet, and many more items.
Here are a few more instances of improper ingestions by pets. You never know what they are capable of next. Items with your scents or food smells are of course, more at risk to be tasted and possibly consumed by pets. Be sure to keep your loose items safe.
Replies from Twitter:
- roxannehawn - Pearl earring, makeup sponge, the peeled felt off a tennis ball (all of it) ... these all went inside our late Dalmatian.
- K9Cuisine - I had an English Pointer that ate tin foil off of a grill. It was not hot.
- itsmanning Two reports - 1) christmas tree lights and bulbs, and 2) the walls in the garage (the dry wall).
- EquinePractice - I knew an Airedale that ate an unopened box of Tampons - never missed a beat.
- LadyRiposter - My childhood dog used to like to eat socks. My current dog thankfully doesn't eat anything she isn't given!
- sandiegoseo - I've "seen" a few stoned dogs.
- Via private message - A bag of chocolate chips, bottle of baby aspirin, feminine hygiene products, rotting dead bird, and other gross things.
- rjwequine1 - Our Irish Setter ate a whole bag of Hershey's kisses and never got sick.
Please share your stories in the Readers Respond section:
Tell us the worst thing your pet has eaten.
Photo credit: Belle the Dog © Genglo
Comments
What a fantastic article! It was both very informative and hilarious at the same time. Xylitol is one thing that worries me most. It’s supposedly deadly for ferrets and included in unsweetened gum. Thanks for including Belle’s smiling mug, too.
Thanks so much for your comment, Julie. I love that photo of Belle!
There are some great (and funny) comments coming in on the Readers Respond section too: Tell us the worst thing your pet has eaten. Some creative appetites out there! Thanks again.
What about turtles? what can be poisonous for them? They’ve eaten grapes and pieces of COOKED low fat meat.
Hi Diane
As far as I know grapes are okay for turtles (though the discovery of grapes and raisins being toxic for dogs is relatively recent so I am hesitant to say they are absolutely fine). They are however quite high in sugar so I’d limit the quantity of grapes given, anyway (occasional treat).
Lean, cooked meat is just fine (always cooked) for turtles, though (except for herbivorous tortoises, of course).
Lianne
Thanks for adding in your comments, Lianne!
Diane, Lianne is also a vet, and Guide to Exotic Pets here on About.com. Her site is an awesome reference for many species of ‘exotic’ pets, including turtles.
What a great article! I’m a high school senior going to OSU for vet school someday. Where did you go? Also,on one of the links it said that milk is toxic to pets since they don’t have the enzyme to break it down. Pardon me if I’m wrong but isn’t there some kind of stereotype I’m remembering about giving kittens a saucer of milk? I think I saw it in a Disney movie, the Aristocats or something.
I have a 3 pound chihuahua that has eaten quite a few weird and icky things!! She loves to get my husbands wallet and chew money and for some reason she is attracted like a magnet to dirty diapers!! It is so disgusting!!
MY UNDERWEAR!!!!!! to the point I quit wearing them.
I no longer need to clean out my cat’s litter box thanks to my dog Rudy. : )
I have a miniature Fox Terrier that has a weight problem.I am very careful what I feed her.She still stays chubby.My son was with me at a vet appointment when they asked was I sure I only gave her the right food.[1/4 cup high quality dry food and 1/4 cup green beans] My son said well she does snack out of the cat litter box.The vet said you would be surprised how many calories are in cat poop.
My sister’s dog just ate the bottle of baby oil, baby tylenol, a small stuffed animal, and one of those little Russian dolls that fit other dolls inside.
My dog confines himself mainly to his dog food, anything the kids drop, and the compost. Will have to be on the lookout for raisins!
“Toys and sting-like objects are common things for both dogs and cats to eat.”
What the heck is a “sting-like object”? Is that a typo or am I unaware of a group of inanimate objects that sing old Police songs?
When I was a child, I had a poodle that ate an entire 5 lb. souvenir Hershey’s Krackle candy bar from Hersheypark, PA when she was 10 yrs. old.
She had diarrhea for a week, and she never ate another thing she wasn’t given after that. She lived to be 19.
From Stephanie: “What the heck is a “sting-like object”? Is that a typo or am I unaware of a group of inanimate objects that sing old Police songs?”
ha! Good catch. A typo – fixed now.
I really enjoyed this article and finded it very useful.
Is it true that if a dog is fond of eating poo (it’s own or anyone else’s) is because it has a pancreatic deficiency and has to be given enzimes?
I also heard that parsley is toxic to rabbits and sunflower seed causes parrots feathers to get dark on the tips but I have not found any corroborating information.
My late dog ated anything she saw me eating, anything! so to give her any medication I used to grab some M&M’s and ate in front of her, when she begged for some I gave her the pill which she swallowed instantly. If I tried to give it to her without the hoax she managed to spit it out.
Interesting and worthwhile article. I read it twice, though, looking for what must be the most common AND DISGUSTING thing that dogs seem to love to eat: POOP !! And why do they seem to love it so? Interested in your comments.
my dog amber likes to eat poop- we are not sure if it is hers or shiloh’s (i am trying to keep on eye on them in the yard to make sure the “land mines” get picked up right away.
she also liked to dig up old fish guts that my husband liked to bury in the garden for fertilizer. (no more of that either) we moved around garden around the house outside of the fenced in area!
my dog may have gotten into a seed packet of green beans.
Is this a serious thing. he is acting lethargic.