We love our pets to the moon and back, and want the very best for them. Unfortunately, several foods that are delicious and healthful for us are dangerous and even lethal for our dogs.
Swipe through to learn about 7 foods to keep away from your pooch.
Large amounts of onions, garlic or chives can lead to a seriously upset stomach in dogs, and more seriously, these alliums can damage dogs’ red blood cells, leading to anemia. While a pooch might not be interested in eating a bag of onions, he might eat a prepared dish containing powdered garlic or onion, so watch out.
It’s not a good idea to feed any nuts to a dog, but macadamia nuts in particular can be poisonous in significant quantities. They cause vomiting and diarrhea, as well as weakness, muscle tremors and an elevated body temperature. They’re rarely fatal, but will definitely make Fido quite miserable.
Avocados contain a natural fungicide called persin, which can cause gastrointestinal issues as well as heart congestion in dogs. A small bit of avocado flesh probably won’t hurt your pooch, but it’s best to keep avocados away from dogs. In addition to containing persin, the pit is a choking hazard.
One reason you shouldn’t give dogs processed foods is that many of them contain xylitol — a widely used artificial sweetener. Xylitol can cause your dog’s blood sugar to drop to a dangerously low level and can also cause liver damage. Affected pooches may experience seizures, loss of coordination and vomiting.
Keep Rover away from grapes, raisins and currants. These foods can cause kidney failure in dogs. While some dogs can tolerate a grape or two, different dogs respond differently to these foods, so it’s best to enact a zero-grape policy in your home just to be safe.
Dogs are likely to be put off by the strong odor of alcohol, but a fruity drink left within reach might be enticing. Alcohol can cause seizures or severe breathing difficulties in dogs. The yeast in beer is particularly dangerous for dogs, so keep that away from them, too.
As irresistible as chocolate is, humans must absolutely not share this treat with their dogs. Many of the natural chemicals found in cocoa can be toxic to dogs even in small quantities. Seizures, irregular heartbeat and death are all side effects of chocolate ingestion in dogs. Keep dogs away from chocolate candy, as well as baked goods containing chocolate.