Starfruit

The oxalate and neurotoxin in starfruit are cleared by the kidneys, so **cats with kidney disease must never eat it**; it builds up and can cause hiccup-like movements, vomiting and seizures. Cats need no fruit, so healthy cats are best not fed it either.

Hiccup-like movements, drooling, vomiting, poor appetite, lethargy and hiding; reduced kidney function can bring an unsteady gait, muscle twitching and seizures.

Stop feeding and **contact a vet immediately**; treat any exposure in a cat with kidney or heart disease as a poisoning and never induce vomiting at home.

Cats need no fruit and starfruit adds nothing they require; keep the seeds, peel, leaves and twigs locked away, and keep any treat within about 10% of daily energy intake.

Starfruit holds oxalate and a neurotoxin (caramboxin) that healthy animals clear via the kidneys; **pets with kidney disease must never eat it**, as it builds up and causes hiccup-like movements, vomiting and seizures. Healthy dogs get a tiny peeled piece.

Hiccup-like movements, repeated swallowing, drooling, vomiting, poor appetite, lethargy; reduced kidney function can add an unsteady gait, muscle twitching, seizures and altered awareness.

A small piece of flesh means stopping the treat and watching; **contact a vet immediately** for hiccup-like movements, vomiting or seizures, or if a dog with kidney or heart disease ate any, and never induce vomiting at home.

Never feed the seeds, peel, leaves or twigs, and offer only a small piece of peeled flesh cut up; starfruit is also sugary, so keep it within about 10% of daily energy intake, and dogs with kidney or heart disease are best not given it at all.