Foods to Never Feed Your Dog

Whether you’ve just adopted a little puppy, brought home an adult-aged dog from your local shelter, or you’ve been lucky enough to have owned a dog for years, every pet owner is ultimately responsible for the food their dog eats. Part of the responsibility that a pet owner accepts when raising a dog is to provide a safe and healthy life for their furry pals.

Sometimes table scraps and human food create a problem for pet owners. When our cute and loving dogs hit us with their hungry eyes as we reach the end of our plates, it’s tempting to not drop a piece or two down to the floor. They love to eat our flavor-rich foods, but many of the foods that our bodies digest lickity-split, cause havoc in a dog’s digestive system.

This post will list out foods that are particularly dangerous to dogs.

Sweets (Xylitol)

Of course, you never want to feed you dog human food. But if you do give them a sliver of your table scraps, a rule of thumb for yourself is if the food is sweet, never feed it to Rufus. Sugary foods feature sweeteners that are bad news for your dog. Xylitol is one of the more common ones. It is found in candy, gums, toothpaste, baked goods, and some other products. Sweets are very hard for you dog to process, and can causes them to experience a number of digestive issues.

Avocado

Avocado toast is a breakfast item that is raging in popularity throughout the country. While it’s a yummy treat for humans, it’s a problem for dogs. Avocado features the toxin Persin. Most humans can digest Persin without complications, as our bodies have developed the ability to digest it over time. Dogs haven’t. The toxin can be very poisonous for dogs and leave your pet feeling quite sick.

Alcohol

This one may seem like a no brainer, but is still important to note. Alcohol has a harsh effect on the organs of a dog, and exposure to it can cause a list of issues including death. Never let your dog have alcohol.

Onions and Garlic

Onions and garlic are common items to keep around the kitchen as they are crucial ingredients in a number of delicious recipes — and of course garlic will keep Vampire away from you and your dog! But, if your pup gets a taste of onions or garlic their bodies don’t react well. Each of these items can wreak havoc on your dog’s red blood cells, which causes anemia.

Grapes

Most vets will tell you that fruits and veggies are among the human foods that dogs can handle. However, they will also tell you that grapes are an exception. Grapes, and their cousin the raisins, can cause kidney failure in dogs. And just a small amount can make a dog sick. Vomiting over and over is an early sign that your dog might have snagged a taste of a few grapes.

Dairy Products

When you’re cooling off on a hot day with a cone of delicious ice cream, you’ll be tempted to let your pup have a lick as well. Don’t do it. Milk and milk-based products can cause diarrhea and other digestive problems for your dog. They can also trigger food allergies, which can cause her to itch. If you want to give your dog a treat to cool down, ice cubes are a great option.

Macadamia Nuts

Sorry, Fido. Grandma’s famous Macadamia Nut cookies aren’t for you. Keep your dog away from macadamia nuts and foods that have macadamia nuts in them. Just six raw or roasted macadamia nuts can make a dog sick. Look for symptoms like muscle shakes, vomiting, high temperature, and weakness in his back legs.

Chocolate

We mentioned earlier that pet owners should avoid giving their pet sweets. But chocolate is such a bad idea for dogs that it deserves its own section. How could something so good be so bad? The problem in chocolate is theobromine, which is an active ingredient in all kinds of chocolate — even white chocolate. The most dangerous types are dark chocolate and unsweetened baking chocolate. Chocolate can cause a dog to vomit and have diarrhea, and in cases where lots of chocolate is ingested, heart problems and seizures can be fatal. Keep chocolate away from your dog at all times.

Bones

To be clear, we’re talking about bones that come from human foods. The oversized bones you buy for your dog at the pet store are just fine. Unfortunately, some pet owners think that a steak bone or chicken bone they have left after their dinner is safe to let their dog chew on. Bones pose a threat for dogs as they can easily choke on the bone fragments that come loose. Also, the bones can splinter and cut up your puppy’s gums.

Learn More About Your Dog’s Health at PetPlace

As tempting as it is, it’s best to avoid feeding your dog table scraps. Especially the items that are featured on this list. Your dog may love these human treats in the moment, but won’t love them when it causes them to be sick.

Learn more about your dog’s health at PetPlace. We have thousands of vet-approved articles that will provide you with a plateful of dog facts that are safe for consumption.