Foods To Avoid Feeding Your Dog

Many people feed their dogs with human foods, either from table scraps or as a treat. Others mistakenly believe that feeding your dog with food that humans love is also a way to show how much you love them. Your loving gestures could actually be harming your dog.

Unfortunately many of the foods we would see as treats may cause injury and damage internal organs. Spoiling your dog with a little treat could even be jeopardizing your dog's life.

Dogs are also notorious for getting into garbage and eating whatever they can find. Try to dispose of any garbage securely to minimize the risk of your dog eating something that could be potentially harmful.

The following is an alphabetical, but by no means exhaustive list of food that you should neither feed to your dog, or let it eat. The side effects are also listed:

Alcohol: Alcohol can cause altered breathing, diarrhea, vomiting, abnormal blood acidity, coma and even death.

Avocado: Avocado contains "persin," which is known to cause diarrhea and vomiting.

Bones: Feeding a dog any type of bones, whether cooked or raw, can cause obstructions within the digestive system. The sharp shards of bone passing through the intestines or bowel may also cause lacerations. Look for larger marrowbones that are much less likely to splinter or cause internal damage.

Corn on the Cob: Feeding a dog a corn cob can cause painful intestinal blockages that will need to be removed surgically. Non-removal can cause death.

Chocolate: Chocolate can be toxic to a dog's heart and central nervous system, leading to seizures, convulsions and even heart attack. It can also cause vomiting and diarrhea.

Coffee: Coffee contains caffeine which can damage the nervous system and cause the heart rate to increase, which could result in heart attack.

Citrus: Citrus oil can cause vomiting in many dogs.

Fat Trimmings: Offering your dog the fat trimmings from any meat you're preparing can be one of the causes of pancreatitis. This is a very painful inflammation of the pancreas that could lead to death.

Fish: too much raw fish, canned fish or cooked fish can cause a thiamine deficiency in some dogs. Thiamine is a B vitamin, and a deficiency in this can cause loss of appetite and seizures. In very severe cases, it can cause death.

Garlic: Garlic can damage red blood cells in dogs, causing anemia.

Grapes: Grapes, currants and raisins contain a substance that is toxic to dogs that can damage kidneys, leading to renal failure.

Hops: Giving a dog beer made from hops can increase the heart rate, and cause high temperatures, fever and seizures.

Macadamia Nuts: Macadamia nuts contain a substance that is toxic to dogs that affects the nervous system and the digestive system. Symptoms could include muscle spasms, lack of coordination or collapse.

Milk: Excessive amounts of dairy products can cause diarrhea in some dogs.

Mushrooms: Mushrooms contain toxins that can seriously affect the nervous system and digestive system in dogs. Mushrooms may also cause a dog to go into shock, which can result in death.

Onions: Onions contain disulfides and sulfoxides that cause damage to red blood cells that could result in anemia.

Raw Eggs: There used to be a belief that feeding a dog raw egg would make their coats shine. This isn't true. Raw eggs contain an enzyme known as avidin which actively decreases the dog's ability to absorb vitamin B. Raw eggs may also contain salmonella.

Raw Meat: Uncooked meat can contain bacteria that can cause diarrhea and vomiting.

Rhubarb Leaves: Rhubarb leaves are toxic to dogs, causing damage to the nervous system, the digestive system and the kidneys.

Rotten food: Never feed a dog rotten or spoiled food, as it may contain bacteria and other toxins that can affect the digestive system, and cause vomiting and diarrhea.

Tobacco: Nicotine can have seriously damaging effects on the digestive and nervous systems that can cause rapid heart-beat and may result in collapse, coma and even death.

Yeast: Yeast dough can expand within a dog's stomach, which could lead to a rupture within the stomach or intestines.

Note.
Some of the above may appear to be a bit obscure, but the recorded facts are that dogs do have access to, and consume these foods. However, with the appropriate knowledge and a little care this problem can be avoided.