A lot of dogs (starting with my own) have a begging problem, they can’t see you eating because they immediately look at you with those big puppy eyes as if they hadn’t eaten in 4 days when the truth is that you are a responsible owner and you feed them daily, balanced, and good quality food. My point is, dogs beg but should you give a piece of your food just because they beg? No. Why? putting aside the dog obesity problem, there are foods that humans eat that can be toxic for dogs and we have no idea, so you think you are just throwing Fido a piece of your snack to make him happy but you are actually causing more damage than anything else.
So, I’ve put together a list of the 10 more common foods that your dog should not eat. Print this list and stick it on your fridge, or do screenshots and have it in your phone’s gallery to check when you feel like you want to share your food with your pup.
1.Cooked Bones
We’ve heard this for years but in case you didn’t know not only when a bone is cooked all its nutrients are removed, but once a dog eats a cooked bone it breaks and splinters, which can easily damage your dog’s mouth and throat, get caught in their throat which will cause your dog to choke or even worse, it can puncture the gastrointestinal tract. All of those are extremely painful for your dog and some of them can even lead to death, so is it worth it to give your pup that cooked chicken leg?
2.Xylitol
This is a sugar-free sweetener added to a lot of foods such as gum, candy, baked sweets, yogurt, etc. It is almost as sweet as sugar but with fewer calories. It can cause insulin release in dogs which can lead to liver failure, and trust me you don’t want to deal with liver failure. If you like using yogurt to make treats, make sure you are checking the ingredients and always choose plain, fat-free, and xylitol-free yogurt.
3.Milk
Milk and milk-based products are the only items on this list that are not 100% bad for dogs. Milk in small quantities and occasionally is not big deal, as long as your dog is not allergic, but large amounts of milk can trigger allergies, cause diarrhea, vomit and other digestive upset. A lot of people thinks milk is 100% safe because puppies drink their mother’s milk, but an interesting fact about dogs is that when they are puppies they have lactase enzyme in abundance as it is used to breakdown their mother’s milk while nursing. While puppies thrive on their mother’s milk, they may not tolerate the cow’s or goat’s milk that you find in your fridge later on in their lives.
4.Alcoholic Beverages
Under no circumstances your dog should be given any kind of products containing alcohol since they have ingredients that are poisonous for canines, for example ethanol and hops. Alcohol can cause vomiting, diarrhea, decreased coordination, central nervous system depression, difficulty breathing, tremors, abnormal blood acidity, coma and even death.
5.Avocado
A couple of weeks ago playing “true or false” I asked people on Instagram (@chicawoofdogwalking) if avocados were yummy and safe for dogs, and A LOT of people answer “true” I hope they are reading this. The bigger risk to dogs and cats is a foreign body obstruction in the esophagus, stomach, or intestinal tract if part or all of a large avocado seed is swallowed. Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) is also possible due to the high fat content in avocados. So, keep your guacamole out of your dog’s way.
6.Chocolate
Yummy for humans but a big NO for pups! Theobromine is the predominant toxin in chocolate, and dogs cannot metabolize it as well as people can. For many dogs, the most common clinical signs are vomiting and diarrhea, increased thirst, panting or restlessness, excessive urination, and a racing heart rate. In severe cases, muscle tremors, seizures, and heart failure can be seen. In older pets that eat a large amount of high quality dark or baking chocolate, sudden death from cardiac arrest may occur, especially in dogs with preexisting heart disease. Complications (such as developing aspiration pneumonia from vomiting) can make the prognosis for chocolate poisoning worse.
7.Coffee
Coffee contains caffeine which acts in our body as a stimulant, that’s why we feel energized, and sometimes even in a better mood after a cup of coffee but caffeine contains substances called methylxanthines, which are also found in cacao seeds. Those methylxanthines can cause serious health issues for your pup, vomiting, diarrhea, panting, abnormal heart rhythm, seizures, hyperactivity, and tremors are only some of the consequences of sharing your morning ritual with your furry friend.
8.Citrus
The stems, leaves, peels, fruit and seeds of citrus plants contain varying amounts of citric acid, essential oils that can cause irritation and possibly even central nervous system depression if ingested in significant amounts. Small doses, such as eating the fruit, are not likely to present problems beyond minor stomach upset.
9.Grapes and raisins
Although the toxic substance within grapes and raisins is unknown, it is proven these fruits can cause kidney failure. Until more information is known about the toxic substance, it is best to avoid feeding grapes and raisins to dogs.
10.Onion and garlic
Onion and garlic can cause gastrointestinal irritation and could lead to red blood cell damage and anemia. Although cats are more susceptible, dogs are also at risk if a large enough amount is consumed.
