Dogs are often food lovers, and what their owners eat can be particularly appealing. Occasionally indulging your pet is fine, but certain things can make them very sick and even be lethal. Canines are also adept at getting into food on their own. As a result, it is important to secure kitchen cabinets and trashcans and keep kitchen counter tops clear of things you do not want your pet to eat.
Certain substances may be fine for human consumption, but you should be aware of everything your dog eats or gets into. By carefully monitoring everything that is around your pup, you can have peace of mind that your pooch will stay healthy.
Whether you have owned your dog for several years or are thinking about getting one, you should know exactly what to feed it. You may be tempted to give your pet some special treats, but you have to make sure to avoid these toxic foods that are bad for dogs.
Dangerous Foods That Are Toxic To Dogs
Although you may be tempted to share a slice of delicious chocolate cake with your precious pup, it is best to keep the chocolate all to yourself and store it away when you are not eating it. There is a compound known as bromine in chocolate that causes digestive problems for dogs. If your pet eats even a small piece of chocolate, there is a chance that it may start vomiting and twitching. If you know your pup has gotten into some of your chocolate, make sure to call the veterinarian right away.
Keeping your furry friend in good health means that you must avoid feeding it certain types of food, and if you choose to ignore this advice, then you will be putting its health in danger.
Chocolate, Candy, & Sweets
Although they are safe for human consumption, many candies can be harmful to dogs, so keep treats that taste sweet away from your pet. Xylitol is the ingredient that inflicts the most damage, and it can cause your dog’s blood sugar to drop to a dangerous level. If this problem remains unaddressed, your pet can experience organ failure.
Chocolate
You are probably already well aware of this one. It is practically common knowledge that chocolate is bad for dogs, and enough chocolate has the potential to be fatal. That is because chocolate contains a chemical called methylxanthines. In small doses, your canine may just experience vomiting, but enough of the substance can result in death. Dark chocolate contains more of this material than milk or white chocolate, but all types should be kept away from your pup.
Dogs can have an affinity for sweet treats just like humans, but should avoid chocolate. Generally, the darker the chocolate, the more problematic it is for canines. White chocolate has a lower toxicity level, but should still not be consumed by dogs. Dark baker’s chocolate and un-sweetened cocoa powderare some of the worst types for pets to eat. Ingesting it can lead to vomiting, abdominal pain, restlessness, elevated temperature, seizures and even death.
Sweet Treats
Most people already know that chocolate is toxic to dogs. Darker chocolates and unsweetened cocoa powders contain the highest concentration of toxins, while light and white chocolate usually cause milder symptoms. Still, it is crucial to keep any kind of chocolate away from dogs. The artificial sweetener Xylitol can also be dangerous, as it can cause seizures and liver failure.
Grapes & Raisins
Some pet owners assume that it is safe to feed their dogs all kinds of fruit, including grapes. However, grapes are toxic for them and should be avoided. Raisins should not be given to dogs either because they are dried grapes and are still considered toxic.
Grapes and raisins have recently been linked to kidney failure in some dogs. It is not totally clear why certain canines get sick from these foods and others experience no ill effects. On occasion, the first time a dog eats them nothing happens, but when he ingests them at a later date, gets really sick. Typically, if there is an adverse reaction it occurs within 12 hours. Symptoms can include diarrhea, vomiting and lethargy. As a dog gets increasingly sick, he may become more and more listless and refuse to eat. Initially, urine output may increase but later it may decrease and stop altogether. Dogs with kidney failure can perish in three to four days.Even canines who survive an adverse reaction to grapes or raisins may end up with long term kidney damage. If you suspect your pet is sick due to consuming grapes or raisins, take him to a vet immediately.
Even a few grapes or raisins are enough to cause kidney failure in canines. If you are planting crops in your yard, you should carefully consider which ones you use if you have a dog since many are dangerous foods for dogs.
Avocados
Avocados may be delicious to humans, but they can be downright deadly to dogs. This is due to the fact that avocados contain persin, which is a strong form of dog poison. It can lead to diarrhea, vomiting and eventually death.
Chicken Bones
You already know that your dog likes bones, but are those chicken bones really safe? When you prepare chicken for yourself, you may set the bones off to the side to give them to your pet, but that is not a safe choice. The sharper pieces of bone can cause your dog to choke and become severely ill. There are animals that have passed away due to choking on chicken bones. If you want to give your pup a bone, buy one from the pet store and dispose of the chicken bones properly so that your dog cannot get to them.
Alcohol or Yeast Products
It’s not uncommon for people to give their dog small amounts of alcohol, but pets cannot process it as well as people can. When pets drink wine, beer or vodka, they are put at an extreme risk for liver failure.
Dogs are much more sensitive to alcohol than people, and they can suffer from the same harmful effects of overconsumption. Dogs may ingest alcohol in the form of alcoholic beverages, syrups that contain alcohol or raw bread dough that contains live yeast. The hops that are used to brew beer may also have toxic effects on dogs.
Leftover Meat
Most people have given their dog leftover meat at some point, and doing so might seem to make sense. Although your dog will beg, giving it leftover meat can cause problems. The fat from steak can lead to pancreatitis, but the bones can break apart into tiny chunks, causing choking and damage to the inside of the stomach.
Raw Meat
As carnivores, dogs love to eat meat, so you might not see the harm in feeding your pet raw chicken or beef, but those foods are not as safe as you might suspect. Before they are cooked, meat contains a variety of dangerous bacteria that can impact any dog in a negative way.
Salt
Offering your dog snacks and other human treats might seem like the right thing to do, but avoid giving your pet anything that contains salt. When consumed, salt can cause your dog do experience sodium poisoning and dehydration, so your pet should never eat chips or pretzels if you want them to maintain their good health. If you are not sure whether a particular food contains salt, check the label.
Food In Trash Or In Storage
To protect dogs from accidental poisoning, it is important to stay alert to where you set or store your food and trash. You should also limit the amount of human food that you give a dog to reduce the risk of mistakes or oversights. Even with these measures, though, it is always essential to keep a close eye on what you and any dogs in your house are eating.
Other Dangerous Foods
There are various fruits, vegetables and herbs that can be harmful to dogs. Some of the more dangerous natural foods include:
- Garlic, which can damage red blood cells. If a dog eats something with high garlic content, such as concentrated powder, the risk of poisoning is significant.
- Onions, which have the same effects as garlic. Onions are less toxic but still potentially harmful.
- Grapes and raisins, which cause illness in some dogs. These foods also have been associated with kidney failure.
Additionally, any kind of food that has developed mold can produce toxins that are poisonous to dogs.
Certain Plants
If you have a garden but also a dog, then you need to be mindful of what exactly you plant. Some flowers may look pretty, but certain plants contain toxins that can be deadly to puppies. Some of the plants you should be wary of include:
- Daffodils
- Tulips
- Rhododendrons
- Sago palms
- Azaleas
If your dog does consume poison, it is important to remain calm. You should take a pup to a veterinarian right away so that the proper techniques can be applied. You may not have seen your dog actually eat the poison, but if he or she starts acting out of the ordinary, then that is more than enough reason to seek treatment.
Be Sure To Keep An Extra Eye On What Your Dog Eats
Last but not least, please remember that when it comes to caring for your pet, always pay attention to the types of food that you feed it. One wrong choice is all it takes for something unthinkable to happen, so always question any human food before offering it to your pet, and if you have any doubt, then don’t let your dog eat it.
You can find many foods, snacks and treats at the pet store that were packaged with the needs and health of your pet in mind, and offering your dog high-quality dog food will keep it looking and feeling its best for as long as possible. Don’t forget that dogs are curious animals, and they will likely start exploring your home when they get the chance. So, always do your best to keep dangerous foods out of reach when you want to enjoy peace of mind.
It can be miserable to watch your dog needlessly suffer from eating the wrong things. Avoiding these foods is one way to help ensure your pet stays healthy.