No one can resist those big brown eyes that beg for food each time we sit at the table. Our dogs may seem like they want to eat what we have more than anything. However, you should be careful. Your dogs must not eat all the food that we eat. This is because our digestive systems are different from theirs and their some human foods your dog should avoid no matter what.
If you have a dog, it is highly important to recognize the types of food they have to eat, and most importantly what they must not eat in order not to unconsciously poison your dog.
In this article, you will find a handy list of the top human foods your dog should avoid, to stay healthy and happy:
1. Onion and Garlic
Both onion and garlic are part of the allium family. While they are essential ingredients in human foods, they are all toxic to dogs. Generally, dogs will not eat raw onion or garlic, but when cooked with meat, for example, they will eat it.
If your dogs consume more than 5% of their body weight, they can experience hematologic changes. In detail, the allium family thiosulphate. The latter is toxic and damages the oxygen-carrying substance found in red blood cells called hemoglobin.
Onion, garlic, and any plant within the allium family can cause gastrointestinal irritation and hemolysis leading to anemia, organ damage or failure, and even death.
Knowing the severity of them, you must avoid feeding your dogs fresh, cooked, dried, and powdered forms of onion, garlic, and other types of the allium family.
2. Chocolate
Most people love eating chocolate and enjoy its delicious taste. The majority like to share what they love with their dog. Therefore, they give their dogs chocolate. Yet, chocolate is toxic to dogs and can cause many fatalities.
Chocolate consists of a toxic compound named theobromine. Unlike humans, who can easily metabolize, dogs process it slowly. Thus, a toxic level is built into their system.
If you provide your dog with a large amount of chocolate, it can go through vomiting, diarrhea, irregular heartbeat, internal bleeding or heart attack, and hyperactivity.
Various kinds of chocolate have different theobromine levels. For instance, dark chocolate is more toxic to dogs than white chocolate. But it is better to avoid chocolate completely and preserve your dog’s life.
3. Human Foods Your Dog Should Avoid: Grapes and Raisins
Although they are healthy for humans but can cause severe reactions in dogs. The toxic substance in grapes and raisins is still unknown. Because it is better to save your pets from the unknown, you should not feed them grapes and raising. Once your dogs consume one or more grapes and raisins, they can show the following symptoms: increased thirst, lethargy, loss of appetite, dehydration, and others.
It is important to take your dog to the vet if they have ingested grapes or raisins. If left untreated, the condition may develop into kidney failure.
4. Alcohol
Any responsible pet parent will never give his or her dog alcohol. The latter has strong effects on dogs and can cause several symptoms even if ingested in small amounts.
Once consumed, alcohol will quickly be absorbed into the bloodstream resulting in serious drops in blood sugar, blood pressure, and body temperature. Moreover, it can cause gastrointestinal distress such as vomiting and diarrhea.
Recognizing its seriousness and danger, you should keep alcoholic drinks away from your dogs’ views and reach
5. Nuts
Dogs can have some types of nuts but others should be avoided. Nuts that are safe for dogs to eat are peanuts, almonds, coconuts, and cashews. But you should feed them appropriately, as they contain fat content that may cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs.
On the other hand, there are some nuts that you should completely avoid. This includes macadamia nuts, black walnuts, and pecans.
Macadamia nuts, for example, are toxic for your dogs and can put a risk to their health. If your dogs eat macadamia nuts, they will suffer from short-term neurological problems such as dizziness, weakness, vomiting, stomach pain, and high fever. You usually will notice the sign of poisoning within 12 hours to 48 hours.
It is highly essential to mention that all nuts can be risky depending on each dog. For instance, if a dog is suffering from a sensitive stomach, it will experience promotion as well. It would be better to ask your vet before adding nuts to your dog’s diet.
6. Human Foods Your Dog Should Avoid: Xylitol
Xylitol is a kind of artificial sweeter that has low calories. It can be found in candy, gum, baked goods, toothpaste, and ice cream. Consuming xylitol can result in dropping blood sugar, and liver failure. Vomiting, stumbling, and lethargy are some of the early symptoms.
7. Dairy Products
Dairy products can hurt your dogs’ healthy for two reasons: their high-fat content, and the difficulty in digesting the milk enzyme, lactose.
Dogs lack the enzyme needed to digest lactose, which makes it difficult for them to digest dairy products. This can cause some gastrointestinal problems like gas and diarrhea.
Although it is possible to give your dogs small amounts of dairy products or is better to avoid them at once. Consider giving your dogs lactose-free milk, they are wildly available and put no risk to your dogs’ health.
8. Spices
Some spices are entirely safe for your dogs to consume like turmeric. On the other side, certain spices are extremely dangerous for your dogs such as nutmeg. The latter can lead to severe consequences like a severe stomach. When your dogs consume it, they maybe become overly excited and then increasingly exhausted. It can even cause death.
Other kitchen store cupboards that may be toxic to your dogs are baking powder and baking soda. This can result in vomiting, lethargy, depression, tremors, and others
9. Human Foods Your Dog Should Avoid: Avocado
You may think that avocado is healthy and should be consumed daily or weekly. Well, this is true but not for dogs. Avocado contains a toxic component named persin. It is harmful to most animals and can be found in all parts of an avocado including leaves, fruit, bark, and seeds.
If consumed in large quantities, avocados can cause vomiting, diarrhea, myocardial damage, and choking.
10. Caffeine
Caffeine also includes methylxanthine and can be fatal for your dogs. So you should not give your dog coffee, black tea, or any drink that includes caffeine in it. Dogs that consume caffeine may have an increased heart rate and become hyperactive.
11. Raw Meat
The raw food diet is becoming a new trend for dogs day by day. However, before deciding to switch to a raw food diet for your dog, you should ask your vet.
Raw meat may expose some bacteria like Salmonella and E. Colin. Once they got these bacteria, your dogs will suffer from severe gastrointestinal disturbances such as vomiting and dehydration.
12. Human Foods Your Dog Should Avoid: Rhubarb
Rhubarb consists of oxalic acid. When consumed in high quantities, it becomes lethal to dogs. If you grow this plant in your garden, make sure that your dog cannot reach them. The leaves and the roots are all dangerous for your dogs.
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Last words
Respecting this list of human foods your dog should avoid will help maintain your dog’s health. The best solution ever is to buy your dogs their own food is the perfect way to protect them. If you suspect that your dogs may have eaten the above-listed food, you need to take them to the vet immediately.
