Human Foods to Avoid

Although Timberwolf formulas provide a complete nutritional profile, some pet owners may want to mix raw foods in with the kibble. This practice is known as Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (BARF). Feeding raw foods can be a great way to supplement your pet's diet, but care must be taken. Certain foods are known to cause toxicity symptoms and even death in pets.

Contact your veterinarian immediately if you suspect your dog or cat has ingested one of these foods:

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Avocados

contain a substance called persin that is potentially toxic to pets. Any part of the avocado can damage heart and lung tissue, possibly leading to heart failure. The fatty acids may also cause vomiting and diarrhea.

Chocolate

is extremely toxic to dogs and cats. It contains the chemical theobromine, a natural stimulant that can affect the central nervous system, kidneys and heart. Symptoms of chocolate poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, racing heart, increased urination and muscle tremors.

The darker the chocolate, the more deadly it is. Cocoa powder and baking chocolate have the highest concentrations of theobromine, and are the most dangerous forms of chocolate. A 20-pound dog only needs to consume about 0.1 ounces of chocolate per pound of body weight for toxicity to develop. Semi-sweet chocolate is less dangerous, followed by milk chocolate, but both are harmful if eaten in large quantities.

Coffee

produces symptoms similar to chocolate toxicity.

Cooked Bones

can splinter, causing internal damage and bowel obstruction.

Certain fruit pits and seeds

contain cyanide, which is poisonous to both pets and humans. We only use the actual fruit in the production of our pet diets.

Grapes and raisins

are among the most toxic foods a pet can eat. They can cause acute kidney failure, leading to death.

Macadamia nuts

contain an unidentified toxin that causes abdominal pain, vomiting, difficulty walking, tremors and weakness. As few as six macadamia nuts have been shown to cause severe toxicity in dogs.

Certain mushrooms

may contain toxins that are fatal to pets.

Onions

contain a chemical called thiosulphate, which can damage and destroy red blood cells. The more onions the animal eats, the higher the toxicity.

Potato sprouts and green (unripe) potatoes

contain poisonous alkaloids, which cause vomiting, dizziness, depression, difficulty breathing and irregular heartbeat. The green stems of tomatoes have a similar effect. We use ripe fruits and vegetables in our products, and we do not use leaves, sprouts and stems.

Yeast Dough

can expand in the stomach, causing bloating and abdominal distress.

Xylitol

is a sweetener commonly found in sugarless chewing gums and candies. It is deadly to dogs. Xylitol can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, seizures, depression, and liver failure. Symptoms can develop within 30 minutes of ingestion.