Does your pet like to eat everything? Pet food, human food, and maybe even other things too! Maybe your young children feed your pet things they shouldn’t. After all, we do teach our children that ‘sharing is caring’.

In our Vetsure for Kids series, we’ll be helping you and your children think of ways to stop your pet eating everything! Be sure to check the link at the bottom of this article for a free Vetsure for Kids Pet Pack that’s full of all sorts of ways to help your children care for their pet!

Why is it important to stop your pet from eating everything?

Our pets should never eat anything that they aren’t supposed to, as this could cause upset to their tummies. There are some human foods, like raisins and chocolates, which could make your cat or dog very, very sick.

Poisonous foods are very dangerous for pets, and if they eat something they shouldn’t, then the vet might have to treat the pet to make sure the poisonous food comes out of their tummies. It’s a good idea to take any of the remaining packaging or food to the vets with you, so they can see exactly what your pet has eaten. Your pet may then need to stay at the vets until they feel better.

Other things, like socks, can get stuck inside our pets’ tummies if they’re eaten and won’t come out without the help of a vet.  If your pet eats a sock, they may need to have an operation to take out the sock that’s stuck.

You may want to explain the dangers of your pet eating bad food, and other things to your children, so they understand how important it is to never feed your pet foods that you haven’t agreed to first.

What can you do to prevent your pet eating bad things?

Once you have explained the dangers to your children, you could give them a list of things they can do to help keep your pet safe from bad food, and other things they shouldn’t eat. You may want to include things like:

  • Keep toys tidied away when you aren’t using them – we know it can be boring tidying away your toys, but your pet will be very thankful for it!
  • Dirty socks and clothes should go in the washing basket, and not in our pet’s tummies!
  • Never feed your pet human food, even if it’s only a small amount. Pets have special food that’s good for them and won’t hurt them.
  • If you see your pet eating something they shouldn’t, tell a grown up straight away!
  • Never try to take bad food or socks away from your pet, as they may not want to give it back and this could accidentally hurt you.
  • Ask a grown up before giving your pet any kind of treats!

What types of food are dangerous to our dogs and cats?

Here are the top 8 toxic foods to our dogs:

  • Onions
  • Chocolate
  • Nuts
  • Corn on the cob – corn is digested by dogs, but the cob can cause a serious blockage!
  • Avocado
  • Artificial sweetener (Xylitol)
  • Cooked bones – These can easily splinter and cause damage to the gut.
  • Grapes and raisins

Here are the top 6 poisonous foods and other things for our cats:

  • Onions and garlic
  • Milk and dairy– most cats are lactose intolerant despite the stereotype surrounding cats and their love for milk!
  • Chocolate
  • Lilies – cats often like to eat grass when they are outside, but lily flowers in particular have a sweet scent which attracts curious cats, however its orange pollen is highly toxic and can make our cats very poorly.
  • Medicine such as ibuprofen and paracetamol are highly poisonous.
  • Grapes and raisins

Vetsure for Kids – My Pet Eats Everything – Pet Pack

Our Vetsure for Kids Pet Pack includes lots of helpful tips on how your children can help your pet to stop eating everything! We’ve even included a pet safety checklist for your children to fill out every day!  At the end of the booklet, you will find a certificate which can be awarded to your children for all their hard work caring for their furry friend!

Download your free Vetsure for Kids Pet Pack designed by our senior claims assessor, Veterinary nurse, mum and pet owner, Amey Montgomery.

Vetsure Pet Insurance

Having a pet who likes to eat everything can become quite concerning, especially if you need to visit the vet each time something bad is eaten. With Vetsure Pet Insurance, there’s is no limit to the number of unrelated claims you can make for accidents. This means you can rest easy knowing your pet is covered, no matter how many accidents happen.

All our policies are lifelong, meaning that if your pet keeps eating everything whilst you have an active policy with Vetsure and gains a long-term condition because of the bad things they’ve eaten, then we’d look to cover the condition for as long as your pet lives.

Get a Vetsure Pet Insurance quote today, or give our friendly customer service team a call on 0800 050 2022, to find out more.