M&S Pet Insurance

Dogs make incredibly loving and affectionate pets, and they can also be extremely opportunistic when it comes to getting their paws on anything edible. There is an abundance of foods that can potentially be fatal for your pet if ingested, and knowing which foods to keep well away from paw’s reach will reduce the risk of your pet coming to harm.

Unsafe food for dogs

Many foods are poisonous to pets, and like humans, some dogs may have stronger reactions to some than others. Every pet is unique so it’s best to be on the safe side. Here are some foods you should keep away from your pets:

• Alcohol
• Bones
• Blue cheese/mould
• Chocolate
• Nuts
• Raisins and grapes
• Onions
• Sweets/sugar/sweeteners

Tips on how to poison-proof your home

What is poisonous for dogs is often poisonous for other pets, so bear this in mind if you have other pets that could be at risk. Keep cupboards and drawers with foods or medicines closed, and if they are at pet-height, it might be worth locking them to ensure nothing accidentally opens. If there are any places where it’s hard to lock securely, anti-chew spray can be effective in keeping pets away.

What can happen

Although these foods are safe for us humans, pets have much smaller stomachs and have different rates of metabolism. Signs of food poisoning in pets can vary, but common symptoms include vomiting, diarrhoea, dilated pupils, loss of appetite, restlessness, staggering, and disorientation.

What to do if your pet is poisoned

If you think your pet may have eaten something it shouldn’t have and you’re noticing some of the symptoms, take them to the vet immediately. Never try to induce vomiting as that can cause further harm. When you talk to the vet, mention what they’ve eaten, how much, when and if they are displaying any symptoms (i.e diarrhoea or vomiting).

If your pet does find and eat any of the poisonous items listed, as a M&S Pet Insurance customer you can call the vetfone™ helpline to speak to a qualified veterinary nurse for guidance on the next steps you should follow, available 24 hours a day.

The nurse on the phone will be able to advise whether you should take your pet to the vet or not. Vet bills can become expensive, so having pet insurance in place is key in keeping your pet covered should an accident happen. The three levels of cover to choose from when you buy M&S Pet Insurance makes sure that you have the perfect plan in place to keep your pet happy and healthy.

Find out more about pet insurance from M&S Bank

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