Some of the foods that make up a healthy human diet are actually extremely harmful for your canine friend. Listed below are some of the most common household foods for your dogs to avoid.
Alcohol
A big no-no. Never give a dog any alcohol, period.
Chocolate (Cacao) or Coffee (Caffeine)
These products contain a substance called methylxanthines, which can induce vomiting, diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst and urination, seizures, and even death. As dark chocolate contains the highest concentration of cacao, they are the most dangerous for your dog. Followed by milk chocolate, then white chocolate. But just avoid giving your dog any chocolates or caffeine.
Citrus
You should avoid giving your dog anything that contains citric acid as this can cause diarrhea, vomiting and possibly central nervous system depression if consumed in large quantities. This includes any stems, leaves, fruits and seeds of citrus plants. While small doses are unlikely to present any major problems, it is good to avoid them entirely.
Dairy (Lactose)
While some dogs may tolerate small amounts of lactose, most dogs do not possess the adequate amount of lactase, the enzyme responsible for breaking down lactose. This means that milk and other dairy based products can upset stomachs, leading to vomiting or diarrhea.
Grapes and Raisins
The toxicity levels in grapes and raisins can be fatal for dogs. Although we are unsure what the exact substance is, ingesting grapes and raisins can lead to acute (sudden) kidney failure in dogs. It would be best to just avoid feeding your dogs any grapes, whether fresh or dried.
Nuts
Most nuts including macadamias, almonds, pecans and walnuts contain a high level of oils and fats. While these oils and fats may be beneficial for human diets, you would want to avoid these for your dog. The fats can cause weakness, depression, tremors, vomiting and diarrhea in dogs, and may potentially lead to pancreatitis.
Onions (and Its Siblings)
Vegetables such as onions, shallots, chives and garlic can cause gastrointestinal irritation, and could potentially lead to oxidative damage to the red blood cells. The damaged red blood cells can rupture, leading to anaemia.
Raw Meat and Bones
Raw meat can contain bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli, which is harmful to both humans and animals. If your pet used to be a wild animal, this can be a natural and healthy option. However, this can be very dangerous for a domestic pet as they might choke on bones, or even sustain a grave injury if the bone splinters and the fragments get lodged in your pet’s digestive tract.
Raw Yeast Dough
While bread is fine, you definitely want to avoid giving your dog raw dough. As the yeast rises, it can cause gas to accumulate in your dog’s digestive system. This can be very painful, and can even lead to stomach ruptures and gastric dilation. Furthermore, yeast creates alcohol as a by-product, which is another no-no for your dog (see above).
Salt/Salty Foods
While salt is an essential component to a dog’s diet, large amounts can lead to excessive thirst and urination, and even sodium ion poisoning. Excess salt consumption can also lead to vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, seizures and even death. You should avoid giving your dog salt heavy snacks like potato chips and pretzels. If your dog has a chronic disease such as kidney or liver problems, you should pay closer attention to your dog’s salt consumption.
