Dedicated dog lovers are known to be extremely kind people. We give our homes and hearts (and for some lucky pups, even our beds) with our doggie pals.
It’s not a problem in sharing our most loved people’s food with our dogs, too, do you think? Not necessarily. A lot of foods that humans eat just fine can lead to serious health issues.
Even if your pet has digested these foods before without issues there is a chance that they may be leading to serious issues you may not be aware of.
Here are some foods you should never feed pups, no matter how cutely they beg:
Chocolate
Chocolate contains toxic substances called Theobromine isn’t harmful to humans, but it’s the poisonous part of chocolate for dogs. It’s found in all types of chocolate, but particularly in dark and baking chocolate. Even just a little bit of chocolate can cause a dog to vomit, have diarrhea, and become overly thirsty.
A large amount can cause abnormal heart rhythms, tremors, seizures, or even death.
Keep the sweets for yourself. Avoid having chocolates in a place that is accessible for your pet. If it happens and your dog ingests chocolate, contact a vet or Pet Poison Helpline as soon as possible.
Garlic and Onions
Allium vegetables, including onions, garlic, chives, shallots, and leeks, are bad news for both dogs and cats.
A small amount of any form (cooked, raw, powdered, dehydrated, minced) of these vegies can actually destroy a dog’s red blood cells, which can lead to anemia, vomiting, diarrhea, breathlessness, weakness, a reduced appetite, rapid heart rate, dark or pink urine, fainting or collapse, and a loss of interest in food may be signs of allium toxicity.
Consumption of as little as 20 – 30 in dogs can result in clinically important changes in the blood. Onion toxicity can be severe if dogs ingest more than 5 percent of their body weight at one time.
Avocado
Although many websites (even reputable ones) indicate that avocados can poison pets because of a toxin they contain called Persin, a substance avocados contain in their leaves, seeds, bark, and fruit.
Persin can be toxic in high doses. Dogs, however, are relatively resistant to persin, and it will need a significant amount of avocados to do harm. When the avocados are ripe, the levels of persin decrease as well. So, What’s the issue with avocados?
Well, If you have an avocado plant inside your home or backyard, your dog might indulge in unripe fruits and persin; however, the actual danger lies in the stems, seeds, and pits. All of these are hard to digest and may cause intestinal blockages or choking, which could be fatal.
If you have an avocado tree, as many people do in certain parts of the United States and elsewhere, make sure your pup can’t get anywhere near it or the fruit that falls to the ground.
Prepare avocados for your pet by removing any harmful elements, including the pits, and only use fully ripe avocados. If you do this, your pet will probably be able to eat avocados safely. However, like all food mentioned here, always consult your veterinarian before feeding human food with your pet.
Grapes and Raisins
This is a sneaky example of dangerous food items, as your dog may have had some raisins or grapes without any issues. However, it’s still risky.
The grapes and raisins are both known to trigger kidney dysfunction in dogs. Your dog’s kidneys may begin to fail, leading to lethargy and nausea, and eventually can lead to death.
It’s recommended to keep the raisins and grapes away from your dog.
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