It’s the Pits (and other food hazards for your pet)

By Mary Morris, Volunteer

Late summer is a great time for Colorado produce, especially Palisade Peaches.  But did you know that peach pits can be lethal if ingested by your pet?

Recently a client at Pikes Peak Vet Clinic called on an emergency basis as her dog had swallowed a peach pit.  Being an astute pet owner, she quickly researched and discovered that peach pits are toxic to pets.  Thankfully, Dr. Lay and her team were able to induce vomiting and her dog is fine.

In another instance, a staff member’s dog swallowed a penny (don’t ask how!). She was not working that day and contacted one of the doctors to ask if she should worry. Pennies are made of zinc now, which is also toxic to dogs. Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to get her pet in soon enough that vomiting brought up the penny and it needed to be surgically removed.

Many pet owners know the potential health hazards of chocolate, grapes/raisins, garlic, onions, and avocados, but zinc and the seeds and pits of fruit are a little more obscure. The pits in cherries, plums, nectarines, peaches and mangos as well as the seeds in pears, apples and persimmons all naturally contain cyanide compounds which can cause severe illness and death. They are also a choking hazard, so do your best to keep them away from your furry friends.

According to OneGreenPlanet.org, death or cardiac arrest is possible after ingestion within two to four days without treatment. Symptoms of cyanide poisoning include dilated pupils, hyperventilation (rapid breathing or panting), shock, vomiting, cardiac arrhythmia, and skin irritations. Persimmon and its seeds in particular can cause diarrhea, then intestinal inflammation.

It’s hard to keep up with all of the information we need to keep ourselves and our furbabies safe. Hopefully this helps you with some of the basic information. But the most important thing is to know that the veterinarians and staff at Pikes Peak Vet or your personal clinic are there to direct you should questions arise or an emergency occur.