You probably want to share your yummy food with your pup, after all, who can say “No” to those puppy eyes. There are various human foods that you can share with your pooch such as fruits and vegetables that are packed with vitamins & minerals. However, there are few foods that you should keep out of your dog’s reach; no matter how many times your dog shows you the puppy eyes.
Alcohol
Alcohol has the same effect on a dog’s liver and brain that it has on yours, but it can do big damage to a dog in much smaller quantities. Even a small amount of alcohol can cause vomiting, diarrhea, central nervous system depression, problems with coordination, difficulty breathing, comas, and even death. The smaller the dog, the greater the effect.
Fat Trimmings and bones
Both cooked and uncooked fat trimmings can cause pancreatitis in dogs. In addition, bones are choking hazards and can also splinter and puncture a dog’s throat or digestive tract.
Chocolate
There is a chemical found in chocolates called “theobromine” which makes chocolate toxic for dogs. It causes abnormal heartbeats, tremors, seizures, and death. All chocolate is dangerous for dogs, but dark and unsweetened baking varieties are the strongest sources of theobromine and are therefore the deadliest.
Fruit pits and seeds
There are certain compounds within the pits and seeds themselves that can be dangerous for your dog, for example, seeds of peach, plum, apricots, and apple contains a compound called amygdale which breaks down into hydrogen cyanide when ingested. Cyanide is considered poisonous for dogs — and humans. Not all fruits should be feared, though: once you remove the pits and seeds, certain fruits can be the perfect healthy snack for your pup.
Xylitol
Xylitol is an artificial sweetener that can be found in candy, gum, toothpaste, and certain diet foods. It is also sometimes added to peanut butter by companies, so be cautious and read the label before feeding it to your dog. Xylitol causes a sudden increase in insulin circulation that can result in a severe drop in blood sugar and even liver failure. Early symptoms include repeated vomiting, lethargy, and loss of coordination that can evolve into seizures.
Grapes and raisins
While some fruits can be great healthy snack choices for your dog, grapes and raisins cannot be included in the group. These sweet snacks can cause vomiting, lethargy, and ultimately kidney failure in dogs. Scientists have yet to discover what substance present in grapes causes toxicity in canines, but the effects can be severe.
Macadamia nuts
Whether raw or roasted, macadamia nuts are poisonous to dogs in any form. Just like raisins, the toxic compound in them is unknown. Toxicosis depends on the size of the dog, but consumption of as little as 2.4 g/kg of macadamia nuts can cause clinical signs of poisoning, including muscle tremors, weakness, paralysis of the hindquarters, vomiting, fever, and rapid heartbeat.
Onions
Onion contains a substance that can damage and/or destroy a dog’s red blood cells, potentially leading to anemia. Symptoms of anemia include weakness, pale gums, loss of appetite, dullness, and breathlessness. This risk is present in all forms of onion—raw, powdered, cooked, or dehydrated.
Caffeine
Caffeine can cause irreparable damage and even poisoning if consumed in large enough quantities. Caffeine is found in tea, coffee, energy drinks soda, cocoa, and even some painkillers. Symptoms of caffeine poisoning include restlessness, rapid breathing, heart palpitations, and muscle tremors.
Dough
Before it’s baked, bread dough needs to rise. And, that’s exactly what it would do in your dog’s stomach if they ate it. If your dog ingests it when it’s still raw, it will rise inside the stomach and cause swelling and severe pain.
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