We all love our pets, even more than our siblings and children sometimes. But while treating them like our loved family members, we also tend to share our food with them. We must not forget that while they are beloved, they are our furry companions. Sharing our home and hearts with them is safe, but sharing some of our foods with cats and dogs could be harmful to their health. Here’s what to avoid:

1. Chocolate and coffee
These items are rich in methylxanthines, which are found in cacao seeds, the plant from which coffee is extracted. On ingestion, it can cause vomiting, diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures, and in some cases, even death. 

2. Citric foods
While we love the tartness of lime and some sweet orange juice, unfortunately, the citric acid present in this particular fruit is known to irritate your pet’s central nervous system. It can upset their stomach and, in larger doses, can even result in depression. Add this to the list of dangerous foods for dogs and cats. 

3. Macadamia nuts
Who doesn’t love a nutty flavor? Even if your dog or cat begs for it, don’t give them this food. Especially among dogs, eating this nut can cause weakness, depression, vomiting, tremors, and hyperthermia. You won’t see them immediately react to it and may have to wait up to 12 hours to see any symptoms. Even other nuts like almonds, pecans, and walnuts are high in fat and oil, which are not good for your pooch. 

4. Garlic
While we know that you won’t feed raw garlic to your pet, keep it out of their reach so that they don’t accidentally ingest it. Also, do not share dishes with them which have lots of garlic. This is because it is part of the allium family of food items which are five times more toxic to pets than any other allium plant. Among other toxic plants, you should avoid onions, leeks, and chives. Your pet could get anemia, elevated heart rate, weakness, and may even collapse. As the symptoms are delayed, you may not know immediately, and it could also prove fatal by the time it is detected.

5. Raw eggs and undercooked meat
Among the list of bad foods for dogs and cats, raw eggs and meat that hasn’t been cooked properly are two more items to note. If not cooked properly, these items can be a carrier of harmful bacteria like salmonella and E. Coli that could lead your pet to vomit, poop a lot, and have a fever. Raw eggs also have enzyme avidin that prevents essential vitamins from being absorbed in your cat’s skin, leading to coat and skin issues.