Foods Dogs Should Not Eat
Dogs and puppies are naturally curious, allowing their noses to lead them to anything that may spark their interest. Shoes, paper, toys, and foods are all interesting to dogs, but can pose serious health threats. While it goes without saying that medication and cleaning supplies should always be kept out of reach of pets, there are many human foods that dogs cannot eat. While some of the foods dogs should not eat may cause nothing more than an upset stomach, many of them can cause serious health problems, including death.
Fruits and Vegetables Dogs Cannot Eat
Avocado: Avocado is delicious but the seeds, peel, leaves, and bark, as well as the fruit, all contain a substance called persin. Persin is highly toxic to dogs and other pets. Even the smallest ingestion of persin can cause dogs to vomit or have diarrhea.
Onions: Onions are a commonly known food dogs should not eat. Onions should be avoided in all forms, including onion powder, dehydrated onions, raw onions, or cooked. According to WebMd.com, when a dog ingests onions, it destroys their red blood cells and can lead to anemia. Shortness of breath, dehydration, and vomiting can also occur.
Grapes and Raisins: Their small size would have pet owners believe they make good treats for dogs, but grapes and raisins can cause health problems within just a day of the tiniest bit of consumption. One of the most notable reasons that dogs should not eat grapes and raisins is that it can lead to kidney failure.
Persimmons, Peaches, and Plums: Fruits with pits, such as peaches and plums, should never be given to dogs. The pits of peaches and plums contain cyanide, which is poisonous to both humans and dogs alike. However, humans know not to eat the pits, whereas dogs do not. Further, eating the pit from stone fruits can cause serious intestinal blockage.
Beverages and Liquids Dogs Should Not Eat
Alcohol: Just as alcohol can cause impairment in humans, the consumption of alcohol can also cause impairment, among other health problems, in dogs. Not only can alcohol cause liver damage in dogs, it can also cause problems with motor skills and coordination, difficulty breathing, coma, and in some cases, death. Dogs should not ever be allowed to taste alcohol, especially as it takes far less alcohol to hurt a dog than it does a human.
Coffee, Tea, and Caffeinated Beverages: When consumed in large enough quantities, caffeine can be fatal for dogs. Unfortunately, there is no known antidote for the caffeine in dogs, either. Caffeine poisoning symptoms include rapid breathing, muscle spasms or tremors, or bleeding. Beyond tea and coffee, the beans and leaves that make such drinks can also be toxic to dogs. Other caffeinated beverages, such as Red Bull, can also lead to caffeine poisoning in dogs.
Dairy-based Drinks: Dairy products, including milk, can cause diarrhea and stomach upset in canines. Further, it can lead to the manifestation of allergies, which can manifest as itching or skin disorders.
Sweet Treats and Sugary Foods Dogs Should Not Eat
Candy and Gum: High amounts of sugar are never healthy for dogs. Consumption can lead to tooth decay, diabetes, and other major health disorders. Sugar-free versions of these foods are also harmful to dogs. Xylitol, an artificial sweetener, is highly toxic in pets. It can increase insulin, resulting in an unstable blood sugar level, eventually leading to liver failure. Xylitol consumption can also cause dogs to vomit, behave lethargically, or have seizures.
Chocolate: Most pet owners know that chocolate should never be given to dogs, regardless of what kind it is or what form it takes. The toxic ingredient in chocolate is theobromine. Even the smallest amount of chocolate can cause a dog to vomit, become excessively thirsty, have tremors and spasms, or seizures. Chocolate consumption can also be fatal for dogs.
Other Foods Dogs Should Not Eat
Salt: Just like humans, salt consumption can have adverse health effects on dogs. Sodium ion poisoning can occur, as well as excessive thirst and urination, which can lead to kidney and urinary tract problems.
Macadamia Nuts: Macadamia and other nuts should always be avoided in a dog’s diet. Like humans, dogs can have severe allergic reactions to nuts, even if they had previously not been present. Even as few as six macadamia nuts can make a dog ill, according to WebMD.com.
Raw Eggs: Raw eggs are also on the list of foods that dogs should not eat, for two important reasons. First, there is a risk for food poisoning from bacteria like E.Coli or Salmonella. But raw eggs also interfere with a dog’s ability to absorb vitamin B.
Raw Meat and Fish: Similar to raw eggs, raw meat and fish can also lead to bacteria poisoning in dogs. Further, raw fish such as salmon and trout, can contain a parasite that can cause “fish disease.” This disease presents symptoms including vomiting, fever, and swollen lymph nodes. This disease can be fatal if medical attention is not sought immediately. Thoroughly cooking the fish will prevent this parasite from harming the health of the dog.
Baking Soda, Baking Powder, and Spices: Common staples in the household pantry including baking soda, baking powder, and many spices are highly toxic to dogs. Veterinary attention to should be sought as soon as possible, and pet owners should store these pantry items out of a dog’s reach.
While there are many foods that dogs should not eat, the best resource for more information is the family veterinarian. If a pet owner is concerned that his or her dog has eaten something that could provoke unwanted health problems, medical attention should be administered as soon as possible. Always having the name and number of the emergency veterinary clinic can help when the regular caregiver is not available.
Resources About Foods Dogs Should Not Eat
Dangerous Foods for Dogs at WebMD.com
More Information About Feeding Dogs from the University of Missouri
The ASPCA Guide to People Foods to Avoid Feeding a Pet
Annalise Kaylor is a freelance writer, editor, and consultant specializing in search engine optimized content for the web. As a writer, her work has appeared across the United States in print ads for Whirlpool, Maytag, Home Depot, and Lowe's, among others. As a consultant, she has worked primarily in the education sector, helping universities increase their web visibility and construct and implement social media strategy. Annalise is an avid reader, knitter, organic gardener and baker, as well as the author of the popular baking blog, Knead To Be Loaved. Annalise enjoys fly fishing, camping, and hiking.
Related Research For Teachers, Students, and Kids
The human taste for sweetness is something all people are born with, even if to varying degrees. Su...
While much progress has been made toward understanding how humans store and recall information in t...
Found in fermented beverages, the substance commonly referred to as alcohol, is really ethanol. Eth...
Corporate Headquarters www.pepsico.com PepsiCo, Inc. 700 Anderson Hill Road Purchase, NY 10577 (914...
What is Capsaicin Capsaicin is a chemical that is found in common places around the house, such as ...
Follow and Socialize The Free Resource
