No matter how varied a diet you provide for your dog, they will always perk up when you are eating and it can be tough to resist that temptation to share some of your meal with them. The problem, though, is that there are a number of foods that we regularly eat that are not suitable for dogs at all.
The last thing you want to do is feed something dangerous to your loyal friend, so to help you out we have put together this list of the top 7 people foods you should stop feeding your dog.
Table of Contents
1. Alcohol
While alcohol provides refreshment and relaxation to humans, it has adverse effects on dogs and should be kept far away from their reach. Ingestion of alcohol can cause vomiting, diarrhea, breathing troubles, and potentially death and so must not, under any circumstances, be intentionally fed to them. The risks are so severe that if you suspect your dog has drunk any alcohol you need to contact your veterinarian for advice on what to do.
2. Caffeine, Chocolate, And Coffee
Dogs go crazy for the smell of chocolate but unfortunately it, along with coffee, contains a range of methylxanthine ingredients, which, when ingested are threatening. This can lead to hyperactivity, diarrhea and vomiting, panting, excessive urination and thirst, tremors, and seizures.
For this reason you should always keep cacao products at a safe distance from dogs. If you really want to feed them chocolate, though, some companies sell dog-safe versions that come with all the goodness without any of the problems.
3. Citrus
Citric acid is not digested properly in a dog’s stomach and can cause some uncomfortable side effects. While ingestion of a small amount will only cause a slight stomach upset, consumption of larger amounts can cause a great deal of irritation and potential damage to the central nervous system. This risk applies to the leaves, peels, fruit, and seeds of citrus fruits and so must never be a part of your dog’s diet.
4. Raisins And Grapes
Very little is known about why dogs don’t deal well with raisins and grapes, but they have been found to generate kidney failure if consumed in a large enough quantity.
5. Macadamia Nuts
Dogs love chewing on harder foods, but macadamia nuts are one that they should never get a hold of. The oils and substances within them can lead to weakness, depression, vomiting, tremors, and hypothermia. This is painful for the dog to endure and can last for up to two days after ingestion.
6. Salty Snacks
Excess consumption of salt can cause similar issues in dogs as it does in humans. Of course dogs are smaller than us so their tolerance of salty snacks is far less than ours, so some foods are completely unsuitable. Overconsumption can cause excessive urination and thirst and potentially poisoning of sodium ion. This means salted chips, popcorns, and other foods with high salt content should be solely left to humans to eat.
7. Xylitol (artificial sweetener)
With the aim of reducing natural sugar content, Xylitol is used to add sweetness to a wide range of products such as chewing gum, cakes, candy, and toothpaste. The chemical causes a release of insulin in most species, which leads to hypoglycemia. If this happens, symptoms that include vomiting, lethargy, and a loss of coordination will follow.
Dogs are our best friends, and valued members of our families. All you ever want is for them to enjoy their lives, and with the way their faces light up in the face of human foods it can seem mean to not share with them. Sadly, the truth is that this can be the worst thing you could do for them because their digestive systems work very differently from ours.
It is important that you feed them the well-balanced diet they get from dog food appropriate for their breed and age, and, if you still want to treat them, be certain about what’s safe to feed them. There are lots of human foods you can feed to pets, but with anything new it’s always worth quickly checking first. If you have any questions, please use the comments box below.
