Food poisoning can occur in dogs and cats from eating commercial pet food that has become contaminated with toxin (poison) from bacteria or fungi (molds). Table scraps that have not been properly cooked or stored can also be a source of food-borne toxins.  Vomiting or diarrhea are the most common signs of food poisoning.

Cause and Incidence
Bacteria that cause food poisoning are Staphylococcus, Clostridium, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella, E. coli, or Camplyobacter. 
Staphylococcus and Bacillus cereus are the most frequent known causes of food poisoning vomiting.  Staphylococcus produces toxins in meat, dairy, or bakery products that are contaminated by human hands and left at room temperature too long.  Cooking the food later does not destroy the toxin.  Bacillus cereus is usually acquired from reheated rice.   Clostridium perfringens is a bacteria that often grows in reheated meat products.  It produces a toxin that causes abdominal cramping and diarrhea. Aspergillus is a common mold of peanuts, corn, and soybeans (all are used in the production of pet foods) that produces toxins and food poisoning.

Symptoms/Signs
Vomiting is a common sign of food poisoning (there are many other causes for vomiting).  Cats and especially dogs vomit more easily than people do.  This allows dogs and cats to scavenge for food with less risk of absorbing the toxins of spoiled food.  Vomiting occurs in 1 to 6 hours after Staphylococcus or Bacillus cereus toxin ingestion.  Diarrhea may follow, but recovery usually occurs within 24 hours.

Watery diarrhea with abdominal cramps beginning 8 to 16 hours after eating is usually caused by Clostridium perfringens.  Recovery may take 1 to 4 days.

Other signs of food poisoning can be depression, loss of appetite, or fever.  Mycotoxins from mold can cause liver damage, liver cancer, and death from liver failure.

Diagnosis
The diagnosis is usually based on the signs and a history of the food recently eaten.  Mold on food does not necessary mean that toxins have been produced, but moldy food should be discarded as a safety measure.

Treatment

Most food poisonings can only be treated symptomatically with intravenous fluids and occasionally antibiotics and antidiarrheal drugs.  There is no specific treatment for liver disease caused by mold toxins.

Prevention
Steps to take to reduce the risk of food poisoning in pets are:

• If feeding a moist commercial food, be sure that the cans or packages were properly sealed before feeding and are properly stored (sealed and refrigerated) after being opened
• Properly stored, previously opened, moist pet food should be used within 2 days
• Store only about one month’s supply of unopened packaged or sacked food at home (unopened canned food is safe for months or years)
• Dry food should be kept cool and in a dry location in containers that can be sealed and should be used within a month  
• Do not feed any left over table scraps that have been at room temperature (more than 40F) for more than 2 hours

For more information, contact your local veterinarian or the MU Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital 573-882-7821 or visit their web site.