As loving pet owners, we often want to share our favorite treats with our furry companions. However, many foods that humans eat can be extremely dangerous for dogs. Remember, dogs metabolize food differently than humans, and their digestive systems can’t handle certain compounds that we consume without issue. Today, we’re bringing 10 common human foods you should never give your dog.
10. High-Fat Foods
Many owners are guilty about feeding high-fat foods to their dogs. This includes bacon, ham, turkey skin, and fatty cuts of meat. Why? They can trigger pancreatitis in dogs. This painful condition involves inflammation of the pancreas and can be life-threatening. Note that dogs with pancreatitis require immediate veterinary care.
9. Raw Yeast Dough
Watch out, your dough from the bread you’ve been trying to make might delight your dog. Unbaked bread dough containing yeast can expand in your dog’s warm stomach. It can cause bloating and potentially life-threatening gastric dilatation. Additionally, as the yeast ferments the dough, it produces alcohol, which is toxic to dogs. Always keep rising dough away from pets to avoid this scenario.
8. Caffeine
Anything that contains caffeine must be kept away from dogs. Yes, we’re talking about coffee, tea, energy drinks, and caffeine pills. They contain methylxanthines, which are similar to the toxic compounds in chocolate. Caffeine can cause restlessness, rapid breathing, heart palpitations, muscle tremors, and bleeding in dogs.
7. Cooked Bones
Cooked bones come in handy when you’re cooking a soup. But it could also be toxic for your dogs. While some raw bones are appropriate for dogs under supervision, cooked bones are a different story. They become brittle and can cause dog splinters, which can cause intestinal blockage. Chicken bones are particularly hazardous when cooked, so just buy them a doggy bone treat instead.
6. Cherries
Cherries may be a cute, circular treat, but they’re highly toxic for dogs. While the flesh of the cherry isn’t toxic, the risk of your dog accidentally ingesting the pit makes it safer to avoid cherries altogether. Also, the pits can pose a choking hazard or cause intestinal blockage. Instead, get them treats or veggies that are good for them.
5. Xylitol (Artificial Sweetener)
Look out for scattered xylitol packs in your home, as your dog might catch them. But they are not limited to just sugar, as this substitute can be found in sugar-free gum, mints, toothpaste, baked goods, and diet foods. Xylitol causes a rapid release of insulin in dogs, leading to severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) that can be life-threatening within minutes to hours of consumption.
4. Avocado
Avocado toasts up (on the top that your dog can reach) as they’re found to be highly toxic for dogs. Avocados contain persin, a compound that can cause digestive upset in dogs. While the flesh is less toxic than other parts of the fruit, the pit poses a choking hazard and can cause intestinal blockage. The high fat content can also trigger pancreatitis in sensitive dogs.
3. Allium (Onions and Garlic)
Well, better yet to keep your dog out of the kitchen as this is another food that everyone probably has in their homes. All members of the allium family, including onions, garlic, leeks, and chives, are highly toxic. Why? Well, they contain compounds that can damage your dog’s red blood cells, eventually leading to anemia. Garlic is particularly potent and can be dangerous even in small amounts.
2. Grapes and Raisins
Watch out, grapes and raisins are particularly unsafe for dogs, even in small quantities. Their exact toxic compound is unknown, but they’re known to cause sudden kidney failure. However, you may notice that some dogs may eat grapes without immediate symptoms. Meanwhile, others can develop kidney failure from just a few grapes.
1. Chocolate
Yup, we’re here to remind you (again) that this is a highly toxic food. But do you ever know what makes them toxic? It contains theobromine and caffeine, both of which are toxic to dogs. Dark chocolate and baking chocolate are particularly dangerous due to higher concentrations of these compounds. Even small amounts can cause vomiting, diarrhea, increased heart rate, seizures, and, in severe cases, death. Note that the darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more dangerous it is.