Five Foods You Should Never Give Your Dog
You might want to give your dog a varied diet, perhaps even let them enjoy the foods you eat from time to time, but did you know that by doing that, you could actually be causing them harm?
There are certain foods which are toxic to dogs in particular, and some which whilst not toxic per se could cause severe harm or many unpleasant side effects. The list of foods is quite long, but let’s focus on some of the most common foods you might think your dog can snack on, but in reality, they need to avoid.
Chocolate
You might think that giving your furry friend a square of chocolate whilst you’re enjoying it yourself is a kind thing to do, but chocolate is a big no-no for all kinds of dogs. The reason is that it contains something called theobromine, which is actually highly poisonous when consumed by dogs. Different types of chocolate have various amounts of theobromine, but because it’s impossible to tell, it’s best to steer clear of chocolate for your pooch.
This is one of the most severe types of poisoning for a dog connected to food, and theobromine will affect the heart, kidneys, nervous system and the stomach within as little as 4 hours in some cases.
Onions
Alongside garlic and chives, your dog should never munch on onions. These can irritate their stomach and cause severe problems, potentially leading to anemia and damage to the blood cells too. It’s best to avoid giving your dog any food containing onions, whether dried, fresh, raw, or cooked, and to check the ingredients of anything you give them, to ensure there aren’t traces of onion inside.
You will notice the toxic effects after a few days and can lead to severe health problems which could be long-term.
Grapes
We will include raisins in this particular category, as these are foods you should never give to your dog. There is a substance contained within both raisins and grapes which is unknown yet causes extreme discomfort and health issues for a dog, including kidney failure.
You should also be very wary of foods which contain these foods, especially raisins which are often found in fruit loaves, mince pies, buns, etc.
Macadamia Nuts
If your dog eats macadamia nuts they are an extreme risk of developing rather upsetting symptoms which can last anything up to 48 hours. These include vomiting, fever, tremors, weakness, and depression. The symptoms tend to appear within 12 hours of eating the macadamia nut.
Again, be wary of any foods which contain small amounts of macadamia nuts.
Corn on the Cob
This so-called healthy snack could cause your dog serious issues, especially because it isn’t digested that well by a dog’s intestines. The shape and the size of the corn can also easily become lodged within the throat, stomach, or any of the intestinal symptom, causing a blockage.
If your dog accidentally eats corn on the cob, seek help from your vet and be on the lookout for changes in appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, or stomach discomfort.
Whilst there are countless more foods you need to be wary of, these are five of the most serious to avoid.
