Chocolate, Macadamia nuts …these foods may sound delicious to you, but are actually quite dangerous to our animal companions.

Chocolate, Coffee, Caffeine: These products all contain substances called methylxanthines, which are found in cacao seeds, the fruit of the plant used to make coffee and in the nuts of an extract used in some sodas. When ingested by pets, methylxanthines can cause vomiting and diarrhoea, panting, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures and even death. Note that darker chocolate is more dangerous than milk chocolate. White chocolate has the lowest level of methylxanthines, while baking chocolate contains the highest.

Alcohol Alcoholic beverages and food products containing alcohol can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, decreased coordination, central nervous system depression, difficulty breathing, tremors, abnormal blood acidity, coma and even death.

Macadamia Nuts: Macadamia nuts are commonly used in many cookies and candies. However, they can cause problems for your canine companion. These nuts have caused weakness, depression, vomiting, tremors and hyperthermia in dogs. Signs usually appear within 12 hours of ingestion and last approximately 12 to 48 hours.

Grapes & Raisins: Although the toxic substance within grapes and raisins is unknown, these fruits can cause kidney failure. In pets who already have certain health problems, signs may be more dramatic. Yeast Dough Yeast dough can rise and cause gas to accumulate in your pet’s digestive system. This can be painful and can cause the stomach or intestines to rupture. Because the risk diminishes after the dough is cooked and the yeast has fully risen, pets can have small bits of bread as treats. However, these treats should not constitute more than 5 percent to 10 percent of your pet’s daily caloric intake

The SPCA is trying its best to ensure that most of the animals adopted from the shelter are spayed and neutered. We have enhanced our service to our customers and improved the quality of life of animals in our town by including the following in our adoption program: the cost of spaying/neutering your new pet and initial vaccinations. What does pet overpopulation have to do with me? Everything. If your pet has one litter, even if you find homes for most of the pups and kittens, in one year, all the pups or kittens could have litters of their own. A lot of money is spend annually to care for lost, abandoned and unwanted pets…and lots more destroy those that do not find homes. Health and safety are threatened by rabies, dog bites, cat scratches and traffic accidents. Property may be damaged when dogs run “wild” or in packs. Walkways and public areas can be fouled with urine and faeces.

The Benefits of Spaying and Neutering: Besides drastically reducing the possibility of various medical problems occurring, spaying or neutering your pet has a variety of benefits such as: reducing the tendency in male cats and dogs to roam, and makes them easier to train eliminating the inconvenience of the heat cycle in female dogs and cats better health in both male and female dogs and cats eliminating spraying in most male cats easier training, happier pets So please don’t litter — Prevent a litter