Last updated on April 29th, 2022 at 01:56 am
Fat balls make great food for birds, especially in the winter, but what happens if a dog or cat eats one? Would they cause your pets any harm?
Fat balls are toxic to dogs and cats. They contain such high-fat content that they can cause pancreatitis. You should notify your veterinarian immediately if you see that your pet has ingested part of a fat ball, even if you don’t immediately notice symptoms of poisoning.
Why Fat Balls Are Toxic to Dogs and Cats
Fat balls are toxic to dogs and cats simply because of the high-fat concentration.
Eating a fat ball can cause pancreatitis in cats and dogs, so make sure that you take appropriate medical action if your dog or cat ingests a fat ball or part of a fat ball.
Additionally, old fat balls can develop mold. Mold has high levels of mycotoxins, which can cause tremorgenic mycotoxicosis in pets.
What To Do if Your Dog or Cat Eats a Fat Ball
If your dog or cat eats all or part of a fat ball, the chances are that they’ll develop symptoms sooner rather than later.
You’ll want to keep track of your pet’s symptoms and call the vet if necessary. Let’s talk about these steps more in detail.
Keep Track of Symptoms
Common symptoms of poisoning in cats and dogs include the following:
- Shaking
- Lack of coordination
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Sluggishness
- Coughing
- Sneezing
- Trouble breathing
- Seizures
- Loss of appetite
- Extreme excitability
- Drinking more than usual
However, keep in mind that your pet may not display these symptoms.
And you should take action if you find evidence that your pet has eaten a fat ball, regardless of whether you notice these symptoms.
The earlier you catch the problem, the better, as you don’t want to wait until it’s gotten much worse to do something about it.
Steps To Take
Take the following steps if your pet has ingested a fat ball, whether or not you notice symptoms:
- Put your pet somewhere safe, away from the toxin and other pets. This will keep the toxin from spreading further.
- Call a veterinarian. If your vet is unavailable, you can call the ASPCA’s 24-hour emergency hotline at 888-426-4435, or you can try the nearest 24-hour veterinary hospital.
- Don’t try to induce vomiting. Inducing vomiting could do more harm than good, and you should only do it with the approval and guidance of a veterinarian.
- If the substance is in your pet’s fur, keep them from grooming. Check with your veterinarian to see if a bath is a good idea. In some cases, the water can make toxins absorb into the skin more, but a vet will know whether that’s the case with a particular substance.
How To Make Your Garden Dog and Cat-Friendly
Many garden features can be toxic to dogs and cats, so be careful about letting your pet outdoors.
If possible, keep your pet somewhere separate from potentially threatening toxins, or at least watch them if they’re going to be out in a yard with any toxic features.
Bird Foods That Are Toxic to Pets
Both fat balls and birdseed are potentially toxic to pets.
No matter what kind of birdseed you have, a mix of seeds can cause blockages in your dog or cat’s intestinal tract, leading to a very dangerous condition called bloat.
Birdseed and fat balls also carry the risk of transmitting toxins if it’s damp, moldy, or old.
Keep your birdseed fresh and clean up the fallen seed if you want to keep your outdoor pets safe.
Or, put the bird feeders somewhere where your pets don’t have access.
Fallen birdseed may also carry pathogens from bird feces since it sits right under where birds perch regularly.
Eating bird feces can cause pathogenic diseases like salmonella, which causes seriously life-threatening diarrhea and vomiting.
Common Garden Features That Are Toxic to Pets
Avoiding having toxins in the same area where your pets roam in the yard or garden is key to keeping your pet safe.
That means disposing of or moving the following items, in addition to birdseed and fat balls:
- Compost: This can contain mycotoxins from decomposition.
- Fertilizers: They can cause diarrhea or skin irritation.
- Weed killers: They contain glyphosate, which can cause breathing problems, heart problems, and convulsions.
- Conkers: These, together with all other parts of the horse chestnut tree, contain aesculin.
- Acorns: They contain tannic acid, which causes damage to the kidneys and liver.
- Insecticides/Pesticides: These can contain metaldehyde or disulfoton, both toxic to pets.
- Moss killer: This contains ferrous sulfate (iron), which causes gastrointestinal issues and skin irritation.
- Daffodil, Spring Crocus, or Lily bulbs: These plants are toxic to pets, but especially their bulbs.
- Mushrooms: Some varieties of mushrooms can cause liver failure, kidney failure, or hallucinations.
- Cocoa mulch: This contains theobromine, which causes vomiting, diarrhea, muscle tremors, and seizures.
- Prunus stones: These include the pits of apricots, apricots, plums, and cherries, all containing cyanide and dangerous if crushed and then eaten.
- Toads: They have a venom coating on their skin that causes vomiting and foaming at the mouth if eaten.
- Slug and snail pellets: They contain metaldehyde, one of the most dangerous and most common poisons for pets.
Dog and Cat-Friendly Plants for Your Garden
Part of keeping your garden pet-friendly is planting plants that are safe for them to eat, just in case.
Cats and dogs sometimes dig up and ingest plants, so planting these is a good way to be extra careful and cognizant of their health.
Bachelor’s Button
Bachelor’s Button flowers are edible not just for pets but also for humans.
They can be used as a beautiful garnish for dishes, with their bright blue color and appealing appearance.
These flowers can make a bright, contrasting color for a garden, with the blue popping against green.
Basil and Other Herbs
Basil is also safe for pets, and it makes a great garden plant. It can be used as an ingredient in many different Italian dishes, including pesto or pizza.
Other herbs that are safe for pets to ingest include cilantro and dill, two other plants that make great additions to any meal, especially Italian dishes.
Hibiscus
Hibiscus plants are common in gardens due to their resilience to bad weather, ability to live in different climates and non-toxicity to animals.
They come in many different colors, so hibiscus plants make for a great choice regardless of what else you have in your garden.
You can even include different hibiscus plants in the same garden for a multicolor look.