Healthy Animals Healthy People: 01/30/12

Human Foods That Are Dangerous for Pets

There are a number of human foods that are tasty to us but have been proven to be toxic and even deadly to our pets. While it is tempting to give your pet human food, pets should not consume human food unless it's recommended by your veterinarian.

Chocolate, Coffee, Caffeine

Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine, that is toxic to dogs in large enough quantities. Chocolate also contains caffeine which is also toxic. Different types of chocolate contain different amounts of theobromine and caffeine. Baking and Dark chocolate contain the most, then milk chocolate followed by white chocolate which contains the least. In other words a dog would need to consume more milk chocolate in order to become ill. However, even a few ounces of chocolate can be enough to cause a small dog to become ill, so really no amount or type of chocolate should ever be considered “safe” for a dog to eat. Chocolate toxicity can cause vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, rapid or irregular heart rate, muscle tremors, and seizures. Death can occur within 24 hours of ingestion.

Xylitol

Xylitol is used as a sweetener in many products, including gum, candy, breath-mints and toothpaste. It causes a sudden insulin release in dogs, which leads to low blood sugar levels. It can also cause liver failure in dogs. Initial signs of toxicosis typically within 30 minutes of ingestion include vomiting, lethargy and loss of coordination. These signs can then progress to recumbancy, seizures and death. Elevated liver enzymes and liver failure can be seen within a few days.

Grapes and Raisins

Both grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in both dogs and cats. The toxic substance in these fruits is unknown. Vomiting, increased drinking and lethargy can occur 5 to 6 hours after ingestion, followed by anorexia, lack of urination, and tremors. One to two grapes may be enough to cause these clinical signs.

Onions, Garlic, Chives

These vegetables and herbs can cause gastrointestinal irritation but more importantly can lead to red blood cell damage resulting in anemia. Although cats are more susceptible, dogs are also at risk if a large enough amount is consumed.

Avocado

The leaves, fruit, seeds and bark of avocados contain a substance called Persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs and cats.

Macadamia Nuts

Macadamia nuts are commonly found in cookies and candies. The mechanism of toxicity is unknown, but ingestion can caused weakness, depression, vomiting, and tremors in dogs. Signs usually occur 6 or more hours after ingestion and last approximately 12 to 48 hours.

Please visit the ASPCA Poison Control for more information or if you think your pet has consumed any of these foods.

Norovirus

Continuing with water related diseases. The number 3 cause of drinking water outbreaks is Norovirus.

Noroviruses are a group of related viruses (Calicivirus) that cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps and fever in humans. It is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in the US, causing more than 20 million cases each year. Formerly, known as Norwalk viruses named after the original strain, which caused an outbreak in a school in Norwalk, Ohio, in 1968

How do you get it?

Fecal contamination of water and food, such as salads, in restaurants, camps, schools
Uncooked or partially cooked oysters, clams, cockles or other shellfish that have been harvested from sewage-polluted estuaries
Contaminated ice

It is a highly contagious and resistant virus which is why outbreaks are common

Vaccine and Treatment

There is no vaccine and no drug to treat people who get sick from the virus. Antibiotics won’t work because it's caused by a virus, not a bacteria. Therefore, treatment is symptomatic and aimed at preventing dehydration.

Prevention

Once again good hygiene – WASH YOUR HANDS
Environmental surfaces should be disinfected using a chlorine bleach solution 5-25 tablespoons of household bleach per gallon of water
Food and water safety is very important

Noroviruses are relatively resistant and are able to survive freezing and temperatures as high as 60°

Noroviruses can survive in up to 10 mg/liter chlorine

US EPA guidelines for municipal water systems recommend residual chlorine concentrations of at least 0.2 mg/liter

Historical Outbreaks

In 2010 twenty-one NBA players and three staff from thirteen teams in eleven states were affected.
Butter Cream Frosting Incident. In 1982, one man mixing icing for a Minneapolis-St. Paul area bakery caused some 3,000 illnesses. Investigators discovered the infected worker mixed the uncooked icing in a giant vat with his bare arms and hands.
1987 two related outbreaks involving ice produced by a company that supplied both Philadelphia’s Franklin Field stadium and to a museum fundraiser in Wilmington, Delaware. The cause was traced to flooding of the company wells from an infected stream.

Shigellosis

Keeping with the topic of water related diseases I thought we'd continue with the list of top 5 drinking water outbreaks and briefly talk about number 2 on the list Shigellosis.

Shigellosis is an intestinal infectious disease caused by a group of bacteria called Shigella. Humans are the only natural hosts however Shigellosis has been diagnosed in monkeys. According to the CDC there are approximately 14,000 reported cases in the US every year.

How do you get it?

Ingestion of feces-contaminated water, vegetables or dairy products

Clinical Features

It is most often seen in pre-school age children in nurseries and daycare. Not to gross you out but remember transmission is fecal-oral.
Symptoms typically include bloody diarrhea (secondary to ulceration of the colon wall), fever, nausea and stomach cramps.
Mild cases usually resolve within 5 to 7 days without treatment. However, severe infections can occur in children under the age of 2 years old.