If you’re the proud best friend of a furry canine, then you understand the importance of taking care of them properly. While that definitely means giving them plenty of attention and making sure that their medical needs are met, it also means being vigilant when it comes to what you allow your pup to eat or play with. Unfortunately, there are things out there that could mean certain death for dogs, and what makes matters worse, is that most people aren’t aware of the hidden dangers out there.It’s important to understand what your dog is allowed to eat, or you could risk something happening to your favorite companion. So, before you do anything else today, keep reading to make sure that you’re not giving things to your pup that could potentially be very dangerous!
If you’ve been feeding your dog macadamia nuts then you need to stop right now! You probably didn’t know it, but macadamia nuts are even worse for dogs than chocolate. Your dog might love them, bit macadamia nuts can induce vomit, cause lethargy, and even cause problems with the nervous system.
We all like to share our favorite foods with our dogs, but there are some things you should avoid at all costs. Luckily, eggs aren’t one of those things, as long as they’re cooked. Raw eggs are never okay for them to eat, but they would definitely appreciate the protein that they could get from a delicious omelet.
Most dogs love to eat bread, but the extra carbs are definitely not the best treat for your dog. But uncooked bread dough is a totally off limits! It’s extremely dangerous for dogs. So if your pooch gets into some rising dough, unbaked cinnamon buns, or pizza dough, it’s time to rush to the vet. Yeast poses a huge problem for a dog’s digestive system. The activated yeast will mix in the dog’s stomach and cause it to expand and bloat. The expansion can cause a rupture in the stomach lining and damage to the diaphragm.
Just like humans, dogs are drawn to the sweet taste of chocolate. But unfortunately for them, chocolate can be quite deadly for dogs. And here’s how: When dogs are poisoned from chocolate, they’re actually being poisoned by the xanthine alkaloid theobromine. Dogs become extremely ill when eating chocolate because their bodies aren’t able to metabolize theobromine. So, if you think your dog may have ingested chocolate, it’s important to bring them to the vet immediately!
There’s no denying that dogs love to eat meat, but there’s a bit of controversy over whether or not they’re allowed to have it. Luckily for them, dogs are most definitely allowed to eat turkey! Just make sure that there isn’t any seasoning on it, and always make sure to double-check that there aren’t any small bones in it that they could swallow.
If you’re like us, then you understand the importance of using seasonings in your cooking. Unfortunately, if you plan on sharing your meals with your dog, you really need to pay attention to what you’re using. The allium family of foods, which includes garlic, leeks, onions, and chives, can cause drooling, anemia, elevated heart rate and respiratory rate, abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea in dogs. So before you feed them anything from the dinner table, make sure that you haven’t used any garlic or onions because you could risk making your dog very sick.
When it comes to feeding your dog avocados, there are very important key facts for you to remember. Avocados are a superfood, chocked full of vitamins A, E, B6, and C. They also have plenty of folate, niacin, potassium, and very important fatty acids that are great for your dog’s skin and coat. While they are SUPER good for your dog, you have to keep in mind that they’re extremely fatty, which could be harmful to your dog in large doses. Also, the main concern when it comes to dogs eating avocados is the choking risk involved with eating the pit. Even if the dog is able to crush the pit up into pieces, it could still have a difficult time being digested, which could cause an obstruction in your dog’s intestines. Unless you’re going to limit their intake and remove the pit, your best bet is to avoid giving your dog avocados. Period.
As you’ve probably experienced before, dogs absolutely LOVE peanut butter. Luckily, this delicious snack is great for dogs to have, especially when you think about all of the vitamins, fats, and proteins that there are in peanut butter. But just one word of caution: Do NOT give your pup peanut butter that has xylitol in it because that could be quite deadly for your dog.
There’s nothing worse than sitting down to watch a movie, only to have your jealous dog stare at you for bites of your popcorn the entire time. If that sounds like your home, listen up: Dogs are definitely allowed to share your popcorn with you, but not if you enjoy your popcorn salted and buttered. As long as it’s plain popcorn, though, they can have all of the bites that you’re willing to give them.
While you typically want your dog to stay away from most spices, cinnamon is one spice that they’re actually able to have. Cinnamon may be delicious, but it also has many medicinal properties. For example, it can treat nausea and diarrhea, regulate blood sugar, and it’s also great for reviving energy and increasing cognitive function. Also, if your dog is struggling with arthritis or joint pain, mix a spoon of cinnamon in their food because it has incredible anti-inflammatory properties.
One of the most dangerous things for you to avoid giving to your dog is xylitol! Xylitol is an artificial sweetener that can be found in sugar-free gum, baked goods, and toothpaste. Unfortunately, it causes xylitol poisoning in pets, so it’s extremely important that you keep it away from your dog at all times. If you’re not sure what food products have xylitol in them, just look at the ingredients list before you give something to your dog…just to make sure.
Some people may think it’s funny to give their animal alcohol, and some dogs just really like the taste of beer, but it’s actually extremely dangerous. Dogs aren’t able to metabolize alcohol properly, so you could actually give your dog alcohol poisoning with just a small amount.
Have you been avoiding feeding your dog meat because you weren’t sure if they were able to eat it? Well, we have some good news for you then! Dogs are definitely able to eat meat, like pork, just as long as it’s not seasoned. Also, keep in mind that you shouldn’t give your dog anything that has been cooked in oil.
In case you didn’t already know, fish is a great source of protein for dogs, as long as you give your dog the right kind of fish, of course. Commonly, ocean whitefish, salmon, herring, walleye, and flounder are found in different dog foods, but you can make your dog a fish dinner at home, as well. Remember to keep it as simple as possible by avoiding seasonings, and make sure that it’s boneless fish, as well. Tuna is a great source of protein, but it’s also a great source of sodium and mercury, so you should definitely limit the amount of tuna your dog is getting, or avoid it altogether.
Like so many of us, there is a special place for cheese in a dog’s heart. Luckily, this is one of the things that dogs are actually allowed to have. Although, it can be a bit addicting for them (if we’re being honest, it’s addictive to most of us) so make sure that you give it to them in moderation or you might have an obese dog on your hand.
Even though the reason why is unclear, it’s painfully obvious that dogs should never be given grapes or raisins. Even if your best friend is begging you for one of your delicious snacks, you must tell them no because grapes actually cause kidney failure in dogs. There are plenty of other snacks that you can give your dog, so stay away from grapes at all costs.
There’s no denying that you can count on your dog to run into the room any time you open a bag of snacks, especially when it comes to potato chips. But as much as you enjoy sharing your favorite salty snack with your dog, the truth of the matter is that chips are really bad for your pooch. Too much sodium can cause vomiting, dehydration, nausea, and diarrhea.
We all know how much dogs love their bones, but should they be eating them? If you’ve been feeding your dog bones, don’t worry, dogs are definitely allowed to have them, but there are just a few things that you should keep in mind. First off, no matter what your dog tells you, they should never have small bones. And while dogs are allowed to have bone marrow -in fact, they absolutely love it – too much marrow could make your dog really sick. So just use common sense when it comes to size, and don’t give your dog too much marrow, and they’ll be just fine!
We’ve already talked about making sure that your dog doesn’t eat salty snacks, but there’s another danger lurking within your bag of chips. And, unfortunately, it’s something that most dog owners never even think of. The bags that hold your favorite snacks, like pretzels and chips, are actually a dangerous hazard for your dog. Dogs, who are just trying to get a taste of the salty goodness at the bottom of the bag, get their head stuck in the bag, causing them to suffocate. The best way to avoid this is by throwing away all of the bags when you’re finished with them as well as making sure that the chips are put up at all times.
According to the American Kennel Club, ripe red tomatoes aren’t dangerous for your pooch. Tomatoes contain some chemicals that can be harmful to some animals. One substance called solanine is found in the leaves and stem of the tomato. Fortunately, dogs are able to eat a red tomato occasionally since solanine is mostly found in the green tomatoes. Solanine can cause lethargy, muscle weakness, distress, gastrointestinal (GI) upset, cardiac effects, tremors, and seizures.
