Dinner for Fido

When your new pet is staring up at you at the dinner table, it is so hard to resist those pleading eyes. We have all heard how bad “people food” is for our pets, but could it be deadly?

Last year, more than 130,000 cases of animal poisoning were reported to the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center, and most occurrences were caused by human food and household items. An article listing the most toxic foods was recently posted on the Today Show web site, and included avocados, nuts, chocolate, beer, and raisins. Foods that were okay to occasionally treat your pet with were also listed, including pasta, vegetables, and lean meats. It should go without saying that they're probably talking about dogs, and maybe cats. We'd hate to see you try to feed lean meats to your fish or pasta to your snake (though we guess if you feel the need, that's your business.)

Additional information and complete lists of dangerous food and plants can be found on the ASPCA’s web site. Signs of pet poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, and redness of the skin, ears, and eyes. If you are worried that your pet may have been poisoned, call the Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. A consultation fee may be applied.

Do you have any personal cautionary tales of people foods to avoid giving your pets?[Today]