Tea eggs contain caffeine and theophylline, which are dangerous for pets, as they can lead to severe muscle contractions, epilepsy, faintness or even death, a veterinarian said.
Caffeine and theophylline are methylxanthines and overconsumption can lead to increased cellular calcium concentration, which can cause intense muscle spasms, Taipei-based Primo Animal Hospital dean Chang Yang-chung (張洋崇) said on May 19, in response to a post on Facebook about a dog that was hospitalized after its owner fed it tea eggs.
Pets begin exhibiting signs of methylxanthine poisoning one to four hours after consuming the substance, with symptoms including spasms, vomiting, diarrhea, palpitations, urine leakage, high body temperature, seizures and faintness, Chang said, adding that poisoning can be fatal.
Tea bags and implements should be stored out of reach of pets to prevent them from accidentally consuming large amounts of tea leaves, he said.
Pets should be immediately taken to a veterinary clinic should they eat tea leaves, he added.
Separately on May 14, Taiwan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals researcher Chen Ting-yu (陳庭毓) drew attention to stereotypic behaviors of pets that receive too little attention from their owners.
Such behaviors — including pacing, spinning in circles, unresponsiveness when called and constant biting or licking of the body despite having no ailment — can be repetitive and seemingly aimless, and are more commonly observed in animals kept in zoos or laboratories than in wild animals, Chen said.
Stereotypies are not treatable and can result in physical harm to pets, such as injuries to limbs due to continuous pacing, skin damage or bacterial infections resulting from biting and licking, she said.
Stereotypies indicate that pets are stressed, lack environmental stimuli and not receiving sufficient care, making them lose their sense of existential purpose, which they compensate for by “seeking fun for themselves,” such as feeling pain by biting themselves, as a way to feel alive, she added.
While stereotypies are irreversible, there are ways to alleviate them, Chen said, adding that people must take the initiative and take incremental steps to interact more with their pets.
Taking pets out for a walk, playing games and talking to them are all goods ways to show them that they are valued and alleviate their stereotypies, she said.
“China is preparing to invade Taiwan,” Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois Wu (吳志中) said in an exclusive interview with British media channel Sky News for a special report titled, “Is Taiwan ready for a Chinese invasion?” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today in a statement. The 25-minute-long special report by Helen Ann-Smith released yesterday saw Sky News travel to Penghu, Taoyuan and Taipei to discuss the possibility of a Chinese invasion and how Taiwan is preparing for an attack. The film observed emergency response drills, interviewed baseball fans at the Taipei Dome on their views of US President
The Central Weather Administration (CWA) today issued a "tsunami watch" alert after a magnitude 8.7 earthquake struck off the Kamchatka Peninsula in northeastern Russia earlier in the morning. The quake struck off the east coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula at 7:25am (Taiwan time) at a depth of about 19km, the CWA said, citing figures from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center. The CWA's Seismological Center said preliminary assessments indicate that a tsunami could reach Taiwan's coastal areas by 1:18pm today. The CWA urged residents along the coast to stay alert and take necessary precautions as waves as high as 1m could hit the southeastern
The National Museum of Taiwan Literature is next month to hold an exhibition in Osaka, Japan, showcasing the rich and unique history of Taiwanese folklore and literature. The exhibition, which is to run from Aug. 10 to Aug. 20 at the city’s Central Public Hall, is part of the “We Taiwan” at Expo 2025 series, highlighting Taiwan’s cultural ties with the international community, National Museum of Taiwan Literature director Chen Ying-fang (陳瑩芳) said. Folklore and literature, among Taiwan’s richest cultural heritages, naturally deserve a central place in the global dialogue, Chen said. Taiwan’s folklore would be immediately apparent at the entrance of the
ECONOMIC BENEFITS: The imports from Belize would replace those from Honduras, whose shrimp exports have dropped 67 percent since cutting ties in 2023 Maintaining ties with Taiwan has economic benefits, Ministry of Foreign Affairs officials said yesterday, citing the approval of frozen whiteleg shrimp imports from Belize by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an example. The FDA on Wednesday approved the tariff-free imports from Belize after the whiteleg shrimp passed the Systematic Inspection of Imported Food, which would continue to boost mutual trade, the ministry said. Taiwan’s annual consumption of whiteleg shrimps stands at 30,000 tonnes, far exceeding domestic production, the ministry said. Taiwan used to fill the gap by importing shrimps from Honduras, but purchases slumped after Tegucigalpa severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan
RSS