As a dog owner, we all want the best for our dog. With the latest reports on the right diet for your dog, they should have carbs, veggies, etc., more and more dog owners are giving their dogs table scraps without realizing that there are certain foods a dog should never to eat. Before putting leftovers in your dog’s bowl, be sure to read the top ten foods they shouldn’t eat.
1. Chocolate – For dogs, chocolate acts as a stimulant, causing your dog’s heartbeat to race or beat irregularly, causing seizures and even cardiac arrest. To further complicate matters, it also acts as a severe diuretic, causing frequent urination, vomiting, and / or diarrhea. If you suspect that your dog has consumed chocolate, immediately take him to an animal hospital.
2. Grapes and Raisins – Grapes and raisins wreak havoc on your dog’s kidneys and digestive system. What’s worse is that the amount of grapes needed to cause problems can vary greatly from dog to dog. Symptoms include frequent urination, vomiting, and diarrhea.
3. Onions: Onions cause a dog’s red blood cells to break down, depriving his cells of much-needed oxygen. If you are in the habit of feeding table scraps to your dog, make sure the dish is not prepared with onions, as the effects can be cumulative over a period of time. Symptoms can vary widely, from vomiting and diarrhea to loss of appetite, fever, or exhaustion.
4. Macadamia nuts: Although the exact chemical compound is still unknown, even a small amount of macadamia nuts can cause fever, irregular heartbeat, seizures, or mild paralysis.
5. Alcoholic beverages: the physiology of dogs is not equipped to handle the consumption of alcohol. They are extremely susceptible to alcohol poisoning and even small amounts can lead to digestive problems or even death.
6. Bread dough: Because it is soft, dogs often swallow the dough without chewing it. When the dough hits your dog’s stomach, the heat from his body will cause the dough to rise inside his stomach. This upward action can cause bloating or vomiting. To further complicate matters, the upward action creates alcohol as a by-product, and your dog may experience the symptoms listed in the previous paragraph.
7. Caffeinated Drinks: Similar to the effects of chocolate, caffeine is a stimulant and can negatively affect your dog’s heart rate, causing seizures or heart attacks.
8. Avocados: Avocados are toxic to many animals. The offending chemical damages the heart, lungs, and other essential tissues. Keep in mind that since the main ingredient in guacamole is avocado, you should keep these sauces out of your dog’s reach.
9. Pitted fruits (peaches, pears, cherries and apricots) The seeds of these fruits contain small doses of cyanide, which can be fatal to smaller dogs. Also, if the fossa is swallowed whole, it can become lodged in the intestinal tract, where the obstruction will have to be surgically removed.
10. Raw fish: raw fish, especially salmon, can contain parasites, usually trematode larvae. The dog consumes the fish and the larvae hatch in your dog’s digestive tract, attaching themselves to his intestinal walls. Symptoms can take up to a week to manifest and often mimic other canine diseases, such as distemper or parvovirus. The danger here is a misdiagnosis by the vet, leading to improper or ineffective treatment. If you choose to feed your dog fish, be sure to cook it well to kill any bad critters that may be hiding inside.
This is vital information for the care of your dog. If you want your dog to be on the proper diet, take a small amount of what you are making before adding the extra onions and spices and make your own dish and add it with your dog food.
Remember that a good dog is a happy, healthy dog.