We all love our dogs and want to give them a tasty morsel from our “people food” plates every now and then. While most food is perfectly safe for dogs, avoid giving your dog these 10 foods that can make your dog sick and lead to long-term health complications
Candy and Sweets
- Chocolate is dangerous for dogs because it contains theobromine. This substance is toxic to dogs in even small amounts. Symptoms are excessive thirst, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, and possibly death.
- Artificial sweetener is found in a variety of candy, gum, and baked goods. It causes insulin to flood the body, resulting in a sharp drop in blood sugar, lethargy, vomiting, and coordination problems. Seizures and liver damage are possible.
- Ice Cream.Dogs love ice cream, but their stomachs don’t appreciate it as they are lactose intolerant. Dairy products cause diarrhea and can lead to allergic reactions, such as itchy skin.
Fruits and Vegetables
- Avocados contain persin, a chemical compound toxic to dogs. Protect your dog from the seeds and skin as well as the fruit. May cause diarrhea, vomiting and heart congestion.
- Garlic and Onions.These foods can wreak havoc with a dog’s red blood cells, causing anemia. From raw, to powdered, dehydrated or cooked, they can cause vomiting, disinterest in food, weakness, and breathing problems.
- Grapes, Raisins, and grapevines.Once considered a healthy snack, grapes and raisins can cause kidney damage or failure. Although the reason is unknown, just a few of these sweet fruits can cause vomiting, lethargy, liver damage, diarrhea, and depression.
- Peaches and Plums. The pits are what make these fruits unsafe. People avoid them, but a dog isn’t that discriminating. The pits can cause intestinal obstruction. They also contain cyanide, a lethal poison to both dogs and humans.
Other Toxic Foods
- Macadamia Nuts.This tasty treat can be fatal to dogs. As few as six nuts can lead to tremors, paralysis, vomiting, fever, and rapid heartbeat. Mixing them with chocolate can worsen the symptoms.
- Raw Yeast Dough.Yeast must rise before baking, and it will rise in your dog’s stomach. This leads to abdominal swelling and severe pain. Alcohol poisoning is also a possibility as the yeast ferments in the dog’s digestive tract.
- Bones and Fat.It’s tempting to give your dog a juicy, meaty bone, but bones can splinter in your dog’s stomach, leading to a pierced stomach or intestines. Excessive intake of fat can cause pancreatitis.
For information about other foods that are harmful to your dog, please consult your vet or the Animal Poison Control Center.