Dogs might be humankind’s best friends, but we seem to be that friend who makes them make bad decisions. Dogs live with us, sleep with us, and take us for walks, but they’re also always around when we eat.
In theory, no one poisons their dog on purpose. Sadly, you’d be surprised to see the number of cases of food poisoning in pooches because we forget their bodies work differently than ours. Here are 12 foods that could kill your dog; some of them will surprise you. Monitor that puppy; it doesn’t care if something tasty is no good!
Dairy
Like many people, dogs are generally lactose intolerant, yet many owners think a warm bowl of milk is a good idea. If your dog drinks milk, it might experience vomiting and diarrhea, but things might get worse rapidly because of dehydration. Avoid feeding your dog milk, cheese, yogurt and milk-based treats.
Avocados
Avocados are super healthy for humans, they’re packed with mono-unsaturated plant-based fats that can lower our bad cholesterol levels, but for dogs, that’s still too much fat and will upset their stomachs. A compound in avocado’s pulp, leaves and pit, called persin, is toxic to dogs, so be careful. Then there’s the slippery pit — every year, vets report many cases of asphyxia because of avocado pits.
Cooked Bones
Although every dog enjoys a good bone, and it’s quite healthy for their teeth and overall mood, feeding your dog with cooked bones can be risky. They’re increasingly fragile and can easily snap at the jaws of your hound. Broken teeth, constipation, and even perforation of the intestinal tract are reasons to be mindful.
Raw bones are OK as long as they’re big enough to avoid the dog from swallowing them whole.
Chocolate and Coffee
Coffee, chocolate, and even tea are sources of caffeine. The energetic and mood-lifting chemical reacts in the same way in dogs than in people, but the effects are much more intense. Caffeine in dogs can cause rapid heart-beat, dehydration, muscle tremors, seizures, and even death. Keep an eye on your cup of Joe and your secret stash of chocolate when your Max, Luna or Cooper are around.
Alcohol
Giving alcohol to your dog is no joke. Dogs react violently to the substance and can lead to lung failure, seizures and death within hours. In paper, dogs have the same enzymes as humans to break down alcohol, but they’re more sensitive to the substance and can’t digest it fast enough. Guess you’ve got yourself a designated driver.
Macadamia Nuts
For unknown reasons, macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs. Even small amounts of the tasty nuts can cause muscle paralysis, weakness and death. If you notice nausea and diarrhea, take your best friend to the vet. Keep in mind that lots of nut bars, candy and granola can contain macadamia nuts, so keep those products out of reach.
Salty Snacks
For humans, salt is essential and enhances the flavor in our foods, but dogs are susceptible to the mineral. Vets call it salt poisoning, and it causes dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, depression and can lead to something worst. Don’t feed your dog with chips, pretzels, popcorn, or salted nuts, they might be our favorite snacks, but they’re basically poison for them.
Bread and Cookie Dough
Bread dough is alive in a way, it has yeast, which converts sugar into alcohol. If consumed, the dough will continue to ferment in your dog’s stomach and can cause alcoholic intoxication. Even worse, bread dough might expand inside our pet’s body, causing constipation, bloating and pain.
Garlic and Onions
Interestingly enough, allium family members, including garlic, onions and leek, are toxic for dogs. Allicin, the bioactive compound in the aromatic root vegetables, can cause anemia, reducing the level of red blood cells in the dog’s bloodstream. Raw or cooked, avoid these, and consider we add these to almost all our foods, so please don’t share your dinner with Fido.
Grapes and Raisins
Grapes, raisins, currants are cranberries, some of the healthiest berries for humans and great sources for antioxidants, are toxic for dogs. They can rapidly cause digestive maladies and eventually kidney failure. Just a few berries can cause severe damage and keep in mind cereals and energy bars often have some raisins or cranberries.
Bacon
Although it might seem counterintuitive, bacon is not healthy for dogs. Bacon is basically pure fat, too much for both humans and dogs. Overeating saturated fat can cause pancreatitis in dogs, which could be fatal if not treated. Yes, dogs love bacon, but please don’t indulge them, it’s for their own well-being.
Pitted fruit
Pitted fruit, including peaches, plums and cherries, can be dangerous for dogs. First, because they’ll try to eat the fruit whole, pit and all, which can cause digestive problems. The pits also have cyanide, which is poison, and dogs can easily break down the pits with their powerful jaws, intoxicating themselves.
He Takes Care Of You, Now Do The Same For Him
Dogs are part of our lives, they’re part of the family. But they need a special diet, so don’t feed them human food, even if they beg. Someone has to be the responsible adult here.
