Dogs are the most loyal friends you can have around the house but they also get greedy sometimes and will nibble at food if they get the chance. Sometimes, children or guests may give food to your dogs innocently without knowing the possible side effects. It is therefore important to watch and have a strict set of rules for what your dog can or can’t have and that includes a long list of some foods that human beings eat. In reality, your pet needs high-quality pet food tailored to your pet’s needs, not food we humans eat. If you realize that your dog may have eaten any of these foods on the list, you should check the quantity consumed and seek medical care for it immediately.
Onions, Garlic and Spices
Onions may not sound like much of a problem to humans but they are very dangerous for cats and dogs. In whatever form they come, whether raw, dried, powdered or cooked, garlic and onions have a component that kills red blood cells in pets. If they consume large quantities in one sitting, you may notice symptoms such as weakness, vomiting and breathing problems. If the symptoms are not instant, they may show up later as the dog becomes anaemic.
Chocolate
Dogs can eat certain baker’s products but don’t under any circumstances allow them to eat chocolate. The main toxin is a chemical called theobromine which is found in all types of chocolate. Now, dark chocolate has more toxins than milk chocolate, but all of them are still dangerous because the fat and sugar in milk chocolate can also cause pancreatitis. There is no determining how much chocolate it will take before your dog is poisoned because it depends on the dog’s size and state of health and you can’t be too sure about it so you should just keep chocolate away from dogs.
Caffeine
Dogs and cats have more sensitive stomachs than human beings which is why small quantities of regular chemicals can harm them. Caffeine is another toxin found in chocolate and other regular human foods that can be poisonous for dogs if consumed in high quantities. Caffeine raises the blood pressure in dogs just as it does in humans and it may result in cardiac arrhythmia. Some dogs may have seizures and tremors or just collapse dead if not treated in time.
Raw Meat
It is true that dogs enjoy eating raw meat and it may not kill your dog immediately but the side effects may be catastrophic for both the dog and the family. Raw meat is highly likely to carry bacteria such as salmonella and E. Coli and it may result in a bacterial infection in the dog. The worst thing about bacterial infections is that when you interact with him/her at home, you may also catch the infection. It is safe to just cook meat before feeding it to your dog because bacteria are killed that way.
Grapes And Raisins
Grapes and raisins are very healthy for humans as they contain cardiac health-boosting properties but you should never allow your dogs to eat them. Consuming grapes and raisins cause dogs to suffer acute kidney failure. It is not clear why grapes can be so toxic. Some suggest that they may contain a toxin that affects urine production in one way or another.
Almonds
Dogs like peanut butter and other nut butters but they are not exactly the safest foods for them because of the high-fat content. High-fat foods tend to cause pancreatitis in dogs. Now, one or two won’t hurt but too many almonds pose lots of risks. The almonds may also block your dog’s oesophagus, windpipe or intestines which can be fatal. Some almonds that are flavoured or salted may also affect your dog’s stomach or kidneys.
Avocados
Avocados are one of the healthiest fruits in the world but not for your pets. Avocado leaves, skin, pit and even flesh contain persin, a type of fungal toxin. It is bad for many animals and dogs are not spared. While the flesh doesn’t contain as much persin as the rest of the fruit, it still contains some and there is no agreement on how much it will take for your dog to be affected by the toxin. It can cause diarrhoea and vomiting in the dog. The high-fat content in the avocados can also cause gastronomical irritation and pancreatitis.
Xylitol
Xylitol is now one of the most widely used food sweeteners both at home and in factories. It is used in gums, candies, peanut butter, medications, syrup, toothpaste and other common products used at home and there is no way of knowing where it is unless you read the ingredients. It is therefore advisable to check the ingredients of any products and keep your dog away from any that contain it. Xylitol is an artificial sweetener that causes the dog’s body to release lots of insulin causing hypoglycemia which can be fatal.
Alcohol
Alcohol is dangerous enough for human beings not to mention pets and dogs are not any safer. Even small quantities of alcohol like what is found in syrups and foods such as bread dough can cause alcohol poisoning in dogs. Alcohol poisoning causes dogs to have tremors and seizures and can result in organ failure.
Raw Eggs
Eggshells are actually porous to allow for oxygen to go through to the embryo and that goes for bacteria as well. Eating raw eggs can cause dogs to have salmonella, E. Coli and other strains of bacteria associated with raw food. It is therefore better to boil or scramble the eggs before dogs can eat them.
If you know of any other human foods that are bad for our fur babies do let us know in the comments below.
