When Your Pet Eats Something They Shouldn’t Have

What to do if Your Pet Eats Human Food

You come into the kitchen and find a fiasco! Your pet has gotten into the food you left on the counter – or maybe they even broke into a cabinet or the trash! It’s upsetting enough when your pet gets into your food, but now we also have to worry about the effects of the food they ate.

Below will give you a quick reference on what to do once you find your pet has gotten into human food.

  • The first step is to figure out what your pet ate and how much. For a dog, a bag of potato chips is going to cause many different concerns than a bag of chocolate chips. Once you know the food in question, you should refer to the following website to determine if it is toxic.
  • If you find out the food is toxic, it is important to call the poison control number at (888) 426-4435. While this phone call does cost money, it will help you determine if the food your pet ate might cause an emergency as well as the treatment options.  You will be able to take this information to your veterinarian to get your pet the quick and necessary help it needs to prevent serious illness!
  • If you do not see the food listed on the list as toxic, it is best to either call or make an appointment with your veterinarian to discuss your options for minimizing any illness from human food exposure.

In the end, while not all human foods will make your pet sick, it is best to confirm with your veterinarian or poison control to ensure we do not miss a window of opportunity to prevent serious illness.

Recent Posts

How Dog Skin Infections Can Cause Your Pet to Be Itchy

We all know that look of discomfort on our furry friend’s face when they can’t stop scratching….

Read More

10 Signs That Your Dog Has Food Allergies

You know your fur baby better than anyone else. You notice when they’re wagging their tail more…

Read More

Is it Normal for My Dog to Have a Dry Nose?

So, you’ve noticed that your dog’s nose is a bit on the dry side, and now you’re…

Read More

Cat Wheezing: Causes and Treatment Options

We know that when your feline friend starts wheezing, it’s easy to get concerned. After all, our…

Read More
cat drooling

When Cat Drooling is Normal and When it is Not

If you’re here, chances are you’ve noticed your feline friend drooling a bit more than usual. Maybe…

Read More

About Us

Heart + Paw was founded in 2018 by Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. George Melillo, who currently serves the Mid-Atlantic area. Heart + Paw offers a combination of veterinary care, pet grooming, and dog daycare to help be a resource in your pet parenthood journey.

We'd Love to Meet Your Four-Legged Friends

Find out how the friendly veterinary team at your local Heart + Paw can help your pets live longer, healthier lives by searching for a location near you.