Feeding leftovers to dogs is a common practice; however, there are certain food items that could end up being poisonous for your dog. Some of these are extremely common items that you will be shocked to find on the list. The poisonous foods to keep away from your dog are as follows:
Dogs have a unique talent for using their adorable faces and wistful eyes to get pretty much whatever they want from their fellow humans, especially when it comes to treats. Since they’re basically like kids as far as being a part of a family is concerned, it’s very difficult to ignore their requests. Feeding leftovers to dogs is a common practice; however, there are certain food items that could end up being poisonous for your dog. Some of these are extremely common items that you will be shocked to find on the list.
The poisonous foods to keep away from your dog are as follows:
· Chocolate and Caffeine
Both chocolate and caffeine products can be harmful to your dog. A stimulant known as theobromine that’s present in chocolate is extremely poisonous to our beloved four-legged friends. The darker the chocolate, the more harmful it is because darker chocolates contain a higher amount of caffeine and theobromine. Therefore, caffeinated beverages should be kept away from dogs as well. If they end up consuming chocolate or caffeine, it could lead to lethargy, vomiting, irregular heartbeat, increased body temperature, diarrhea, and also seizures.
· Xylitol
An artificial sweetener present in candies, gum, and baked goods, xylitol can cause your dog’s blood sugar level to drop, and can also lead to liver damage. Some of the early symptoms can include vomiting, coordination issues, and lethargy. Seizures may also follow soon after. If these symptoms occur, you must visit a vet immediately.
· Onion and Garlic
Food items that fall under the onion family, be it garlic, chives, shallots, or even chives, are harmful to dogs and should be kept away from them. The compounds present in them can lead to anemia, gastroenteritis, or damage to a dog’s red blood cells. The symptoms of garlic or onion consumption take a while to appear, but the early symptoms can include weakness, lethargy, and orange or red-colored urine. Hence, all the food items and dishes that contain a heavy amount of onion and garlic should not be given to dogs at all.
· Alcohol
While alcohol can have adverse effects on humans if consumed in copious amounts, the effect it has on dogs is worse. The smaller the dog, the more severe the effects. Even if taken in small quantities, alcohol can lead to high body temperature, coordination problems, restlessness, vomiting, excessive panting, seizures, and muscle tremors. If not treated on time, it can also cause organ failure.
· Avocado
Avocados contain something known as persin that can be dangerous to dogs. If too much of it is consumed by a dog, it can cause vomiting or diarrhea. Those who grow avocados at home should keep their dogs away from the plant because the leaves, bark, and seeds contain persin too. The avocado seed could get stuck in the stomach or intestine of your dog, which can indeed be fatal.
· Grapes and Raisins
Grapes and raisins contain certain unknown compounds that can harm your dog. It can lead to kidney failure as well. Having even a small amount of grapes and raisins can lead to constant vomiting. Lethargy and diarrhea can occur as well within 12 hours of consuming raisins and grapes. If the dog isn’t taken to the vet to treat these symptoms, it can then lead to loss of appetite, dehydration, and increased urination followed by decreased urination.
· Milk and Other Dairy Products
Milk, ice cream, blue cheese, and basically all dairy products are dangerous for dogs. Diarrhea and other digestive issues can follow once a dog consumes dairy products. Although it could be tempting to give your dog a bit of your ice cream on a hot summer day, it’s better to give them cold water if you don’t want them to experience any uncomfortable symptoms. It can also lead to itching and food allergies.
· Macadamia Nuts
Whether it’s macadamia nuts or foods with macadamia nuts in them, your dog should not be eating any of them. Even a tiny portion of raw or roasted macadamia nuts can cause sickness in a dog. High temperature, vomiting, and trembling muscles are some of the initial symptoms to look out for. In fact, nuts in general are something you should not be giving to your dog, whether it’s walnuts, almonds, or even pecans.
· Raw Eggs
Many believe that feeding a raw diet to dogs is a good idea, but including raw eggs in that diet is definitely not wise, since many vets believe that it’s not good for a dog. They could also contract food poisoning from the bacteria such as E. coli or salmonella.
· Raw Meat and Fish
Much like raw eggs, raw meat and eggs contain bacteria that could lead to food poisoning as well in dogs. Some fish such as shad, salmon, and trout might contain a parasite that leads to salmon poisoning disease or fish disease. Although it’s treatable, it can cause pain and discomfort to your dog. If you do want to give your dog some fish, make sure it’s fully cooked. The symptoms of eating raw meat and fish are vomiting, big lymph nodes, and fever.
· Yeast Dough
Bread dough rises before it’s baked, and if you give it to your dog, that’s exactly what the dough will do to their stomach. As it starts swelling, it can cause your dog’s abdomen to stretch, causing them a lot of pain. Additionally, when the dough is fermented by the yeast, alcohol is created, which can also lead to alcohol poisoning in a dog.
· Bones
Feeding bones to your dog could seem like a good idea, but they can actually do more damage than good. Bones can cause intestinal obstructions, damage your dog’s teeth, lead your dog to choke on them, and even cause internal injury. If you do want to give your dog bones, it’s best to keep an eye on them while they eat it. Avoid cooked bones as they tend to splinter more easily. Smaller bones can also get stuck in their intestines.
You should also be mindful of the fact that your pet food should not interfere with your family's health. You can head over to the next section to know more.
Don't Let Your Pet's Food Poison Your Family
If you're trying to save money and cut a few corners with the family budget, your pet's food isn't a great place to start. If you start purchasing inexpensive pet foods rather than quality brands like Forza 10 dog food, you may actually be putting your pet and your family at risk. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pet food and treats can be contaminated with salmonella, which can then be transferred to humans and other pets in the house.
How to avoid pet food-related salmonella
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services describes salmonella as a type of bacteria that's most frequently the cause of food poisoning in humans. While for most healthy adults this may only translate to about a week of gastrointestinal distress, diarrhea, and vomiting, it can be much more dangerous for younger children and the elderly. In human food, the bacteria are usually cooked and killed off, but many pet foods, supplements, or treats can develop salmonella and are never cooked to kill it. Once your dog's or cat's food has salmonella or develops it, it can be transferred to whoever handles the food or feeds your pet. That could then be transmitted to others in the household. To prevent you, your pet, and every other member of your family from getting sick, the CDC had a few tips to avoid the bacteria altogether.
- Don't buy damaged food - Dented cans and ripped dry food bags should be red flags to any pet parent. Do not buy these foods, and notify the shop owner that they're on the shelf to help other pet owners avoid trouble. These are often clear signs of contamination, bacteria, or unsanitary conditions.
- Store pet food better - You likely don't think about where you put your dog's food other than "out of the way," but the CDC explained that where and how you store your pet's food can go a long way to protecting your pet and yourself from illness. Keep it somewhere cool, dry, and away from human food. Dispose of the food properly as well.
- Cook your pet's food - If you avoid store-bought food altogether, make sure you cook your pet's food. The CDC explained that raw diets for dogs and cats are an easy way to give an animal food poisoning and have it spread to every member of the family.
- Practice exemplary hygiene - Even if your dog's or cat's food has salmonella or other bacteria, you can avoid passing it to your family by washing your hands thoroughly every time you feed your pet. Additionally, keep your pet's food dishes and utensils separate from the human ones.
- Feed your pet outside the kitchen - Avoid the possibility of cross-contamination by having your dog or cat eat somewhere other than your kitchen.
Better food options
If you keep having issues with salmonella and other health concerns related to your dog's food, maybe it's time to try a different feeding option. For dogs, you may want to consider Forza 10 Dog Food. Forza 10 is made with sea fish, and tons of vitamins and nutrients, replacing the grains and fat of commercial pet food diets with a lean alternative packed with necessary omega fatty acids. For cats, Consider Wellness canned food like Wellness - Beef & Salmon Canned Cat Food, which focuses on using quality ingredients, like beef free from steroids and hormones and lean fish. There are even vegan pet foods, like V-Dog - Dry Vegan Dog Food. These foods avoid many of the causes of salmonella, like eggs and chicken, from the get-go.
These foods and many other healthy, nutritious pet products are available from PetPlus at great savings for members.
