Sandton SPCA warns to keep these away from cats and dogs

Many people who own pets will tell you that their dogs eat everything, and their cats own their humans’ houses. Yet, not everyone knows that some of the common household remedies can be harmful and toxic to their pets.

Did you know that lilies and clivias can trigger symptoms in cats and dogs such as salivation, vomiting and diarrhoea; or that oleander can trigger respiratory distress, or even heart failure?

Curious to know what more could cause unwitting harm to pets, kennel manager Keamogetswe Konzane and vet, Dr Diedre Kempis, spoke on what to look out for.

“As a rule of thumb, though, we often discourage giving dogs bones in the vet world because of the number of obstructions which we’ve seen from bones,” Konzane said, sharing Kempis’ feedback. “Chicken bones cause protrusions because they’re so sharp. They cut, and pierce, the stomach lining and throat – or get stuck somewhere. We get so many people call in with a dog bone stuck somewhere in the throat.”

Dog owners also tend to want to celebrate their companions’ birthdays with cake, however, Konzane shared an anecdote that reflected on how seriously dogs react to human food in cases.

“Once, in my previous company, we got a call to fetch a dog. The owner wanted to celebrate the dog’s birthday, and had bought her a human cake,” said Konzane. “It was a good gesture which just didn’t turn out quite well. That’s why there are actually people who supply dog cake, made from ingredients which are safe for dogs: not chocolate.”

The eye-opening conversation with Konzane moved on to cats. “You might be at home thinking, ‘My cat hurt its leg, let me give it a piece of Panado’ – don’t do it. It would have a reverse reaction: as opposed to helping your cat, it causes problems,” said Konzane, explaining how cats’ bodies require specific doses of only cat medications.

“So when it comes to cats and medication – if it’s not specified for the cat, rather don’t give it. Ask a vet or a pet clinic to advise you on what to get for controlling tics and fleas. They’ll give you the correct dosage for your cat to be able to take without harming the animal.”

Konzane reminded Sandton why it’s important to refrain from feeding their cats dog food. “There are certain amino acids that cats need for their heart which don’t exist in dog food”.

In both species, cats and dogs, too much liver can cause fusion in the spine. People who feed their pets liver should do so moderately
Things to keep out of reach of dogs:

• Chocolate
• Grapes and raisins
• Bones
• Sawdust (finely grinded bones)
• Xylitol (peanut butter ingredient)

Things to keep out of reach of cats:

• Dog food
• Medication – cats require precise dosage where necessary.

Related article: Sandton SPCA welcomes your assistance