SWEET, BUT DEADLY: Many dishes, snacks and treats contain ingredients harmful to dogs, and as a general rule, dogs must never be given sugary foods or fruits

Taipei Times
Date: Feb 20, 2018
By: Lin Yan-tung and William Hetherington  /  Staff reporter, with staff writer

People should not feed their dogs traditional Lunar New Year dishes, as they contain ingredients that might cause illness or event death in dogs, a Taitung-based veterinarian said.

Various nuts and legumes that are usually offered to guests during the Lunar New Year holiday, such as Brazil nuts, peanuts and walnuts, can cause serious allergic reactions in dogs, said Liu Cheng-chi (劉正吉), a veterinarian at Taitung’s Hsin Yu animal hospital.

The reactions mostly occur in a dog’s immune system or white blood cells and do not have visible symptoms, Liu said, adding that peanuts in particular are dangerous to dogs, as they might contain aflatoxin.

While aflatoxin affects humans as well, its effects are much worse in dogs and cats due to their smaller size, he said, adding that it might cause organ failure or even death.
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