Dogs and puppies are funny. They’ll turn up their nose at their dish of dog food, but then chew up a magazine. It is obvious that they aren’t the best judge of their nutritional needs! To make matters worse, sometimes out of love, dog owners or their kids will slip their pup a bit of food off their plates at dinner, considering it a treat for the dog. But that may not be a good idea! Every dog owner needs to educate themselves as to the foods their family can and can’t feed their canine buddy.
According to their website, The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) was the first humane society to be established in North America and is, today, one of the largest in the world. The ASPCA website is a great resource for any pet owner. Their pet care section has an online “Virtual Pet Behavorist” available 24 hours a day, ready to help a dog owner solve pet behavior issues. In their Animal Poison Control Center, ASPCA has a full list of people food that puts dogs in danger.
Never Feed a Dog Chocolate!
At the top of the ASPCA’s bad list are foods that contain methylxanthines, a substance found in cacao seeds. This includes Chocolate, Coffee and Caffeine. The darker the chocolate, the more harmful for your dog, with baking chocolate having the highest levels of toxicity and white chocolate the least. Ingestion can cause diarrhea, vomiting, excessive thirst, tremors, seizures and even death. Be sure children understand these risks during holidays.
Drink with Your Buddies, not Your Dog!
Alcohol should never be given to dogs or puppies. In addition to the usual effects alcohol can have on humans, alcohol can cause dogs central nervous system damage, difficulty in breathing, coma and possible death.
No Guacamole For the Pups!
Avocados are a huge doggie no-no, due to the fact this fruit contain Persin. Drugsandpoisons.com explains that Persin fights fungi and insects that attack an avocado plant, and can even kill breast cancer cells! But, when it comes to many mammals, the plant, leaves and fruit can be extremely toxic, causing congestion and fluid accumulation around the heart and can even be fatal.
Macadamia Nuts are for Cookies not Dogs!
Macadamia nuts can cause problems for your dog that will last from 12 to 48 hours. A good indication that your dog has gotten one of your gourmet macadamia cookies, will be weakness, vomiting, tremors and hyperthermia.
Grapes and Raisins Can Cause Kidney Failure in Dogs
The ASPCA is not certain of the reason that this fruit does the damage it does to a dog’s kidneys, but a pet is at possible risk if grapes or raisins are eaten.
No Onions, Garlic or Chives for Fido!
While small amounts might be tolerated, the ASPCA says, “These vegetables and herbs can cause gastrointestinal irritation and could lead to red blood cell damage. No matter how much they beg, no onion rings!
Other Bad Food for Dogs
By now, it must be obvious why feeding a dog the leftovers from dinner or snacks in front of the TV is not a good idea. A few other warnings about “people” food and dogs:
-Bones are dangerous for a dog as they can splinter and lodge in the dog’s throat or digestive system.
-Feeding a dog yeast dough, uncooked eggs and meats, or foods sweetened with Xylitol (a reduced calorie sweetener) can cause serious health issues.
-Since dogs do not have the enzyme that breaks down lactose in milk, milk based products will give your canine friend an upset tummy.
-Salty foods can cause excessive thirst and urination, vomiting, diarrhea, fever and possibly worse.
Also, why upset a dog’s healthy diet with lots of sweets that might cause cavities and obesity? Likewise, greasy, fatty or spicy foods will most likely cause stomach upset.
What “People Food” Can Dogs Eat?
The Petco website’s article, “Is it OK to Feed My Pet Table Scraps?” considers the following foods as “good” treats for a dog, provided human food never exceeds 10% of their diet:
-Lean Meats (steak, chicken, turkey, hamburger or even hot dog)
-Carrots
-Broccoli
-Cooked Squash or Zucchini
-Potatoes
-Peeled and seeded apples
-Melon
-Berries
-Rice and Pasta
-Plain yogurt
Think before letting your dog chow down on human food, and if there is any uncertainty about the ingredients in a tasty morsel, don’t feed it to your furry friend! Finally, If you suspect that your dog may have been poisoned, immediately call a 24-hour helpline such as the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center’s hotline at (888) 426-4435 or Pet Poison Helpline at 800-213-6680.
Related Reading:
What Can’t Dogs Eat? Plants and Foods That Can Hurt Your Pup
Resources:
ASPCA Website
Petco Website
