ABQjournal: Onion Powder Not Part of a Healthy Cat's Diet

Monday, September 30, 2002

Onion Powder Not Part of a Healthy Cat's Diet

By Dr. Jeff Nichol
For the Journal
    Q: My kitty's special treat is one half jar of meat baby food every morning. I have heard that it's not good for her as it contains onion salt or onion powder. I have read the labels, and haven't seen any reference to onion salt. Do you know of any problems that could occur from her having her treat? She is perfectly healthy, and her coat just gleams in the sunlight. We love her so much I don't want to feed her anything that will harm her.
    Dr. Nichol: Did you know that 75 percent of American pet owners regard their pets as children?
    We are not alone. Enjoy sharing your love with your beautiful cat but don't forget that she is actually member of a different species. Onions, aspirin and Tylenol are completely safe for most humans, but are potentially deadly for cats.
    You are right to be concerned about baby food. Many varieties of these pediatric delicacies have onion powder added as a flavor enhancer. If small amounts are used and not listed on the label you could still have a sick kitty. Onions can function as oxidants that damage the red blood cells of cats. The resulting breakdown of the red cells (called Heinz body anemia) can cause weakness, fever and loss of appetite. You may be playing with fire.
    I recommend quitting the baby food habit. Pet supply stores have lots of yummy (and healthy) cat treats that are perfectly safe — unless you feed your cat too many of them. In that case we will need to discuss getting you a forklift to manage the hefty overfed feline.
    Q: Our snake is a 11/2-year-old Red Tail Boa. It has just shed. Today when we pulled it out of its terrarium we noticed a circular spot on its underbelly. It is very tender to the touch and is pinkish orange in color. The scales are peeling off almost entirely. The spot is roughly the size of a quarter. Do you have any ideas on what this might be and the cause and what we can do to help heal this?
    Dr. Nichol: Reptiles can be difficult pets to manage. Species that are indigenous to other climates get easily stressed in captivity. Those needing improvements in their living conditions may not shed normally, but healthy snakes have skin that's clean and smooth after the shed is complete. The color change and painful nature of that lesion on your boa may be a bad sign.
    If you feed live prey, like rats or mice, this may be a bite wound. A cornered varmint can get dangerous and inflict horrible injuries. Ideally, captive boas are fed fresh killed or frozen rodents that are thawed. Snakes can be fussy about their food; many are gourmet diners when it comes to vermin. Be sure those tender morsels are irresistible. On the other hand, if you use a heat rock or heating pad to warm the cage, your snake may have a burn. Either way that painful spot is an important early symptom.
    Your snake needs an exam and possibly a bacterial culture to determine the correct antibiotic or topical treatment. Infection in the wound could spread to the whole body of your boa. The stress to his system could cause him to lose his appetite and die. I would act quickly.


    Dr. Jeff Nichol is hospital director of the Adobe Animal Medical Center in Albuquerque. He is the author of two books on health and behavior, "Is My Dog OK?" and "Is My Cat OK?" Send questions to www.DrJeffNichol.com (click "Ask the Doctor") or 5920 Fourth NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107.