12 Foods that Dogs Should Not Eat
While you may not always be in control of what your dog consumes, it’s good to stay educated about what you can feed them and especially what you can’t. Educate your kids about this too, and afford them the chance to learn why certain foods are actually toxic to dogs.
Things to Know About Foods that are Dangerous to Dogs
Younger dogs will often put anything they see into their mouths. It’s their way of experimenting and learning what they can eat, chew, or tear apart. While this is important for the development of your dog, it can also lead to an emergency vet visit if a dangerous food has been swallowed. Always remember to have the following preventative measures in place:
- Teach your kids to keep all human food out of reach where your dogs can’t get to them.
- Make sure you have pet insurance in place. If you don’t, find out the dog insurance health cost and take out a policy to ensure you have the means to rush them in for an emergency visit if something dangerous is ingested.
- Don’t expect your dog to naturally know what they can and can’t eat. This isn’t always the case.
- Keep your dogs away from household trash, as it may contain a number of foods that are toxic for them.
Now that we have some safety measures in place, let’s look at 12 foods that are toxic to dogs.
Chocolate
Not only does chocolate contain caffeine, it also has theobromine. Both of these can be toxic to dogs if they consume enough of them. So, if your dog has found their way to your chocolate bars or boxes, best to get them checked at your nearest veterinarian.
Grape and Grape Products
Even a few grapes or raisins can cause quick kidney failure in your dog if consumed. Scientists aren’t exactly sure why grapes have this effect on dogs, but some think it may have something to do with pesticides, while others think it’s a natural compound exclusive to grapes.
Sweeteners Like Xylitol
Many of the things you and your kids eat may contain xylitol, which is an alternative sweetener in sugar-free products. This substance is considered toxic to dogs because it quickly increases their insulin levels and leads to eventual liver failure.
Yeast
Yeast has a terrible effect on dogs in more than one way. Their stomachs simply can’t handle the expansion of yeast once it reaches the gut, and they struggle to metabolise it like humans do. In most cases, your dog’s stomach will expand if they eat anything with raw yeast in it (like raw dough). In some dogs, yeast can also affect the skin, causing severe irritation and burning.
Macadamia Nuts
While many nuts are perfectly healthy for dogs, macadamia nuts are a big NO! The natural compounds in these nuts can cause your dog to feel weak, get tremors in their muscles, and even cause them to vomit.
Onions
Onions have an interesting effect on the red blood cells of dogs. The compounds in onions severely damage red blood cells and can cause your dog to become anaemic very quickly.
Garlic
Just like onion, garlic has the same effect on the red blood cells of your dog. Dogs that have eaten either of these alliums have shown to develop anaemia within two to five days.
Smoked or Cooked Bones
It’s important to remember that there’s a big difference between raw bones and bones that have been cooked, boiled, or smoked. Once they go through this process, bones become more brittle and can break into splinters if chewed by your dog. Avoid cooked bones and go for raw ones instead.
Deep Fried Foods
Pancreatitis in dogs is the inflammation of the pancreas that can be caused by eating too many seed oils. Seed oils are bad for people, too, but they are especially bad for the metabolism of your dog. Avoid giving them any deep-fried foods, and keep them out of reach if your dog likes to steal food off your counter.
Moldy Bread, Cheese, or Meat
If you’re feeding moldy food to your dog rather than throwing it away, stop immediately. Mold is considered toxic to dogs and can cause a range of bacteria-related health problems in the skin and the organs.
Avocado
Humans should eat avocados as often as they can. But for dogs, this is a toxic food containing persin. Persin is not good for certain breeds of dogs and could kill them if they consume too much of it.
Wrapping Up
Remember to feed your dog a healthy, vet-approved dog food that will keep them satiated and relatively uninterested in the food you and your family eat on a daily basis. Educate yourself on what human foods are healthy for them, and be sure to treat them with foods that are healthy rather than harmful.
