Protecting pets from their appetites

Americans are besotted with their pets. The status of cats and dogs over the thousands of years they have been consorting with humans has risen immeasurably. Once expected to earn their keep by controlling rodents or guarding the homestead, they are now cherished and, yes, cossetted companions whose sole responsibility is simply to be their amusing, affectionate and very individual selves.There are currently an estimated 95.6 million cats and 83.3 million dogs living in American homes, not counting untold numbers of other small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish. And they don’t come cheap.The ASPCA lists the annual cost of minimum humane care at $580 to $875 for dogs, depending on size, and for cats, $670. First-year costs, which include spaying/neutering and supplies such as leashes, collars, litter boxes, scratching posts, carriers, crates and such, add approximately $470 to $560 for dogs and $365 for cats. Cute little sweaters are extra, as are kennel and pet-sitter fees, but that may not be much of an issue if you’re among the 32 percent of dog parents who take their pups along when traveling for two or more nights, lodging at the many pet-friendly accommodations that have sprung up across the country.The American Pet Products Association (APPA), whose business it is to keep track of these things, has pegged Americans’ 2013 spending on our pets and their care at $55.7 billion and expects it to rise to $60 billion this year. The APPA adds the interesting — but not especially relevant — aside that this is $10 billion more than Germany’s annual defense budget. So we love our animal companions, and we enjoy spoiling them a bit, but can we overdo it? Perhaps, if that means caving to those imploring eyes when we’re eating something that looks irresistibly tasty to a dog or cat. Some things that are harmless to us can be toxic to them.No beer for dogsThis is probably less of an issue with cats, most of whom are reasonably discriminating. A dog, though, will eat pretty much anything it can get in its mouth. Our schnauzer once got drunk eating droppings left by our pet geese. We called the vet in a panic, thinking he was having a stroke, but she soon determined that he was simply potted on the fermented grain he’d consumed and would have to sleep it off and endure a hangover. (Hungover the poor little guy was, but he recovered.) It goes without saying that pets should never be offered or have access to alcohol, beer probably being the most appealing to them. And also that you should keep a careful eye on them if you have herbivores roaming the property.There are any number of treats that you might assume would be a healthy snack for your pet. Cored and seeded apples, melon, carrots and cooked sweet potato are a few that are. However, avocados (and their stepchild, guacamole) can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. Grapes and raisins are worse, with the risk of acute kidney failure added to those unpleasant symptoms. As few as 10 macadamia nuts can cause vomiting, weakness, tremors and joint pain.It’s probably common knowledge that chocolate is bad for dogs, the degree of toxicity depending on the amount and darkness of the chocolate and the size of the dog. But given that it can cause seizures, tremors, rapid heart rate, vomiting, diarrhea and worse, there’s no reason that any dog of any size should be eating chocolate at all. Ever vigilantVigilance is required, however, because there are any number of unlikely things that a dog will gobble up if given the chance. While it’s one thing to keep your dog away from chocolate you’d consider edible, remember that cocoa hull mulch in the garden, smells as chocolaty as Hershey’s premium stuff. The ASPCA Poison Control Center reports that it gets an astounding number of calls each year regarding pets ingesting human prescriptions, including medications for ADHD, which kids may hide rather than take. Pets can overdose on their own medications, too, which are often made more tempting with a meaty aroma. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen are dangerous, and just one acetaminophen tablet can cause liver damage in a dog and kill a cat. There are obviously dangerous substances such as antifreeze, fertilizers, solvents, petroleum products, laundry and cleaning products, and pesticides that always should be kept out of pets’ reach, but you might not guess that onions, leeks and all members of the allium family can cause anemia and stomach upset in pets. Unbaked bread dough can expand in the stomach, requiring emergency surgery. Xylitol, an artificial sweetener used in gum, candy and mints, can be fatal to dogs. And the zinc in pennies is highly toxic to both dogs and cats. According to the ASPCA, the ingestion of one zinc penny can lead to serious and possibly fatal consequences, ranging from anemia to kidney, liver and heart failure. For a list of potential poisons and tips for pet-proofing your home, visit the ASPCA’s website at www.aspca.org.Writer Cyd Emmons is a communications consultant based in Falls Village, Conn. Cyd Emmons Associates provides advertising and public relations services to health-care and small-business clients.