Most of the dog owners in general, have a misconception that their dogs can safely consume anything and everything that they feed them. So, they readily feed table scraps to their dogs, sometimes out of love and sometimes for the sake of convenience. But the truth is that not all foods are fit for our dogs. Some foods that we consider healthy and safe for our consumption need not be healthy for the dogs. Many fruits, vegetables, alcoholic beverages, chocolates etc are considered as harmful foods for dogs.
Dogs are often associated with a particular liking for bones. But, beware before blindly throwing away bones for your beloved pets. In their excitement, dogs can swallow such hard pieces of bones which in turn can damage their internal organs. Apart from bones, some other harmful foods for dogs include mushrooms, nutmegs, marijuana etc.
Onion and garlic in any form, that is, whether raw, cooked or powdered contain disulphides which damage the red blood cells in the pets and cause Heinz Anemia. Onion is more harmful than garlic. Some dog biscuits contain garlic; therefore, they should not be fed to the dogs in excess. Wild mushrooms are known to cause liver damage, diarrhea, abdominal pain, convulsions, drooling, kidney damage, vomiting, and coma. In extreme cases, it can even result in death.
Fruits like grapes and avocadoes should not be given to dogs. The seeds of fruits like peaches, apples, cherries apricots and plums are not fit for the consumption of humans as well as animals. They contain such compounds that are toxic for dogs and lead to problems like hyperventilation, dilated pupils, shock and even difficulty in breathing. Avocadoes, in particular should be kept away from dogs. Pits from peaches and plums are known to cause obstruction of the digestive tracts in dogs. Citrus oil extracts are known to induce vomiting in animals.
In terms of vegetables, ripe as well as unripe tomatoes are some such foods that are considered dangerous for dogs because they contain atropine which causes irregular heartbeats, dilated pupils and tremors in dogs. Plus, potato peels and green potatoes have the same harmful kind of effects on dogs’ health. Large pieces of potatoes, carrots, lettuce, green beans can also prove dangerous for dogs as they have a tendency to swallow their food as soon as possible without chewing it properly. Though, cooked and mashed potatoes are good for dogs.
In terms of nuts, walnuts, raisins and macadamia are also regarded as harmful foods for dogs. Macadamia nut may even cause temporary paralysis in dogs. Nuts high in phosphorus increase the risk of developing bladder stones. Other foods that are dangerous for dogs include chocolates, excess salt, sugary products and fatty products. Baking chocolate is particularly dangerous in this regard. They contain caffeine and theobromine which have an adverse effect on the nervous system of the dogs and lead to panting, restlessness, excess urination, high blood pressure and other related problems.
Besides, excess consumption of salt may cause kidney problems. It has been observed that drinking a lot of water after consuming foods high in salt can cause bloating in dogs. Fatty foods increase the risk of developing Pancreatitis and are thus considered an inseparable part of foods that are harmful for dogs. Ham and bacon are thus considered harmful for our furry friends. Baking powder and baking soda have similar effects on dogs. On the other hand, excessive consumption of sugary products can increase the risk of obesity, diabetes and dental problems.
Even sugar-free commercial foods are also an important part of the harmful foods for dogs because they contain xylitol which causes low blood sugar, weakness and seizures. Caffeinated and alcoholic beverages such as tea, coffee, wine, beer and other similar beverages are not fit for dogs. The ethanol present in alcohol is toxic for them. Tobacco products can cause hyperactivity, increased heartbeat, collapse, coma and even cardiac arrest in these adorable animals.
Dairy products though not too harmful should also be consumed sparingly by dogs as our beloved pets do not have sufficient enzymes that are required to digest the fats and lactose present in milk. This indigestion may lead to diarrhea and vomiting. Yeast dough is one of the foods that are dangerous for dogs’ intestines. The dough tends to expand and cause gas and pain in dogs. Spoiled foods are one of the most dangerous foods for dogs as they can damage the digestive system further leading to food poisoning.
Apart from these, there are still some other foods that are dangerous for dogs. They are: raw eggs, raw fish, raw liver, raw meat, turkey skin and so on. Raw eggs and meat contain salmonella which causes salmonella poisoning in humans as well as animal. Excessive consumption of raw liver may lead to vitamin A toxicity which in turn results in deformation of bones, anorexia and weight loss.
Regularly feeding cat food to dogs may cause metabolic imbalances in dogs. Also, vitamin supplements (especially iron supplements) that are meant for humans should not be given to dogs as they can cause kidney or liver damage in dogs. Therefore, the owners should take extreme care while petting by not feeding these harmful foods to dogs or at least avoiding over consumption of such foods by their dogs.
