You sit down at the dinner table and there’s your dog looking at you with sad eyes anticipating getting some of your meal. There are foods on your plate a dog should never eat. These foods can be very harmful and some can be fatal to your dog.
Dogs have a different metabolism than humans. Some of the everyday food we eat is toxic to a dog’s digestive system. They have different nutritional needs then us, which is why you want to feed him dog food that is formulated for those needs.
A list of Foods Your Dog Should Never Eat
Alcoholic Beverages is an absolute no no. You would think this is common sense. There are people that think it is okay to give their dogs beer, especially larger dogs. Size does not matter, it is still harmful. Dogs can become intoxicated causing injury to themselves; they can go into a coma or die. There is hops in beer which is another ingredient a dog should not ingest.
Onions or Garlic can cause anemia. Garlic is not as toxic as onions. There seems to be a lot of controversy when it comes to giving dogs garlic. Some people use it to get rid of fleas and swear by it. Some will use it to flavor their organic dog food. Some dogs may be able to tolerate it, but I don’t think it is worth taking the chance.
Chicken or Fish Bones can cause lacerations in your dog’s digestive system which can cause internal bleeding.
Cat Food is very high in protein specifically made for a cat’s needs. Though, cat food would not probably kill your dog, but if fed for long periods could cause digestive problems.
Chocolate can be very toxic to your dog. It can cause heart and nervous system problems and can be fatal. I was lucky, my lab, ingested a half box of chocolate candy, rappers and all. When I discovered what she had done, it was already in her system and the vet told me to keep an eye on her. It didn’t phase her. She was just fine. The vet thinks I might have made a mistake on the amount she ingested or she was just one lucky dog. It could have killed her.
Fat can cause pancreatitis. When you trim fat from meat, even if it’s cooked, do not give it to your dog. You could also end up with an overweight dog.
Grapes and Raisins have a toxin that can damage your dog’s kidneys. It only takes a small serving.
Hops can be very dangerous to your dog’s health. It can cause excessive panting, an elevated temperature and heart rate. This can cause your dog to have seizures and possibly die.
Macadamia Nuts can affect a dog’s digestive and nervous system. Walnuts can also be harmful to your dog. Before giving your dog any kind of nuts, check with your vet.
These are just some of the foods a dog should never eat. There are others, but also remember there are many different types of plants that can be toxic to dogs. Always check with your vet if you are not sure about a specific food or a plant you have in your house.
Useful resources
- This author lists 9 common foods that are bad for dogs
- This site provides a long list of foods that are poisonous or toxic to dogs
