Clams

A little cooked, shelled clam meat is usually fine for cats, but raw shellfish carries a high bacterial risk and canned or seasoned clams are far too salty; shellfish are also a common allergen.

Vomiting, diarrhoea, reduced appetite; too much salt causes thirst and increased urination.

Contact a vet immediately for persistent vomiting, diarrhoea or lethargy.

Keep clams to an occasional one-small-piece treat, always cooked and shelled; do not use canned clams or clam broth to flavour cat food, and cats have no need for shellfish.

Raw or undercooked shellfish can carry Vibrio, Salmonella and other pathogens and may concentrate environmental toxins, while canned and ready-seasoned clams are very salty; too much sodium causes thirst, vomiting and even sodium toxicity.

Vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, reduced appetite; excess sodium brings intense thirst, frequent urination, a stumbling gait and, in severe cases, seizures.

Contact a vet immediately if persistent vomiting, diarrhoea or an unsteady gait appears after feeding.

Cook clams thoroughly and remove every shell fragment, and serve only a small piece (one for a small dog); shellfish are a common allergen, so start smaller and watch for 24 hours, and never feed canned seasoned clams.