Most of us enjoy spoiling our dogs by sharing some of our food with them. And in most cases, this is not a big problem, as long as it is not excessive. However, there are some foods that you need to avoid feeding your dog because they can be dangerous.
Avoid Feeding Your Dog Chocolate
Many dogs like the taste of chocolate. However, chocolate contains a chemical known as theobromine. Theobromine can be an extremely potent toxin for your dog. The severity of the toxicity will vary depending on how much chocolate is eaten and what type of chocolate is eaten. Under the right circumstances, chocolate can become fatal for your dog. As a result, it is best to avoid feeding your dog chocolate.
Avoid Feeding Raisins and Grapes to Your Dog
Grapes and raisins are another potentially life-threatening food that you should avoid feeding your dog. Grapes and raisins can affect the kidneys and cause kidney failure for your dog. The toxic dose can be difficult to determine and can vary from one situation to another. It is best not to feed grapes and raisins to avoid any potentially dangerous toxicities.
Onions and Garlic Can be Dangerous for Your Dog
Onions and garlic can also be dangerous to feed your dog. Both onions and garlic can affect your dog’s blood, causing anemia. While this effect is dose-related and very small quantities may not be dangerous, it is difficult to accurately determine the exact quantity that does become dangerous. Therefore, it is best to avoid feeding these items to your dog. Please note that the quantity of garlic that is added to some dog foods for flavoring is probably safe. However, it is not wise to add additional quantities of garlic to the diet.
Macadamia Nuts: Another Food to Avoid Feeding Your Dog
Macadamia nuts are another food that can be dangerous for your dog and should be avoided. The exact toxin in macadamia nuts that can cause problems for your dog is unknown. However, it is known that macadamia nuts are toxic and can be dangerous to feed.
Xylitol: An Ingredient in Foods and Candy that Can Be Dangerous for Your Dog
Xylitol is a sugar substitute that is found in some foods, candies, and gum. Xylitol is quite dangerous for your dog and small quantities of food containing xylitol can be fatal. Keep all gums, candy and other foods containing xylitol out of your dog’s reach.
There are several oral care products made for dogs that contain very small quantities of xylitol. These products, to the best of our knowledge, are safe for your dog as long as label directions are followed carefully. However, consumption of large quantities of these products could potentially be problematic. It is advisable to keep these and other medications out of your dog’s reach when you are not administering them.
There are many foods that can cause gastrointestinal upset for your dog if they are fed. Too many treats can also cause nutritional imbalances. However, there are a few foods that can be especially dangerous to feed your dog and these foods should be avoided.
I knew about grapes and raisins but I had no idea about xylitol or some of the other things mentioned. Great article that can save pet’s lives!