10 People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Dog

Today, on Redhead Mom, I’m sharing a partnered guest post about 10 People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Dog.

If you’re part of the 53% of U.S households that own a dog, it’s natural that you’ll see your pooch as part of the family. When it comes to eating tasty grub, you may want to share your food with your canine companion. However, what you feed them can have a positive or dangerous impact on their health and wellbeing. 

No one wants to see their best friend in distress. To avoid your dog developing all kinds of health problems, it’s important that you don’t give in to temptation and feed them foods that could be damaging. Whether you’ve recently brought a pup into the home, or you have a senior pet you want to keep hold of, here are ten people foods that you should avoid feeding your dog.

Chocolate

Even if you’ve never owned a dog previously, you may be aware of how dangerous chocolate can be for dogs. While humans love nothing more than to gorge on chocolate, your dog can become seriously ill from consuming it. This is because chocolate contains theobromine, which is toxic for dogs. Regardless of the kind of chocolate, theobromine is present and can cause your dog to have diarrhea, vomiting, and even lead to tremors, seizures, abnormal heart rhythms, and death. If you’re a chocolate lover, it’s best to hide your sweet treats out of sight, otherwise your dog’s life could be in jeopardy. 

Salty Foods

If you’re a dog lover and owner, you may have heard that pretzels and popcorn are dangerous for dogs. However, this is usually only the case if such foods are salted. Salty foods can result in conditions like sodium ion poisoning that can cause your dog’s temperature to rise, vomit, and diarrhea. What’s more, dogs can have seizures from eating salty foods. When you next eat a bag of chips or pretzels, make sure you avoid giving your canine friend any. 

Raw Meat

While many veterinarians are noticing the health benefits of a raw meat diet for dogs, it’s advised to cook raw food first to get rid of parasites and bacteria that can be dangerous for dogs. Even though there are potential health benefits linked with a raw meat diet like a healthier coat and skin, easier digestion, and cleaner teeth, you will find that most vets discourage dog owners from giving their canine raw meat. Understandably, if your dog was left to their own devices, they would eat anything on the kitchen counter, but the next time they lick their lips at a piece of raw meat, it’s recommended to cook it first so you can be confident they won’t fall ill. 

Candy

The United States is known for having some of the best candy around. Whether you’re a lover of Gummi Bears, or Butterfingers are more to your liking, you mustn’t give your dogs any sweet confectionery. Lots of candies include an ingredient called xylitol which causes a surge of insulin through your pooch’s body. This can lead to serious damage including liver failure. Should you feed your dog candy, they may start vomiting, become lethargic, or have seizures. 

Plums

While plums are a great nutritious fruit that humans can eat as part of a healthy lifestyle, it’s a whole other story for your dog. Although it may be tempting to give your pooch the pips, stones, and seeds from a plum, they can be very harmful to your dog and potentially lead to death. If you’re wondering if dogs can eat plums, Native Pet has the answer. Native Pet is a collective of passionate pet owners who sell organic supplements that your dog can benefit from. They have more information on dogs and plums which can teach you something new and ensure your hound’s health is put first. 

Grapes

The nutrients in grapes are said to protect against cardiovascular disease, eye problems, and even cancer. If grapes are part of your diet, you must make sure your dog isn’t consuming any. Grapes are notorious for causing renal failure in canines, so while the odd one may not do any harm, over time, your dog’s kidneys could begin shutting down, leading to serious health complications and death. Although more research needs to be conducted on the health risks between grapes and dogs, it’s wise to avoid feeding them to your dog.

Avocado

In recent years, the avocado has surged in popularity amongst Americans. Not only are they incredibly nutritious, but avocados are packed with fiber and can even lower cholesterol levels. While dogs won’t have any problems eating the avocado flesh, there are other parts of the fruit that are potentially toxic to your dog. This is because avocados contain persin which is a fungicidal toxic that can lead to serious health conditions and death. If you have any concerns about the fruit, it’s advised to speak to your local veterinarian. 

Milk and Dairy

Millions of us eat dairy products on a day-to-day basis. Whether you’re a cheese fanatic, or love milk in your cup of joe, milk and dairy can wreak havoc on your dog’s health. Canines have difficulty processing cow milk products. This is because they lack the enzyme which breaks down milk sugar. Although some breeds are better at handling dairy than others, it’s encouraged to keep milk and dairy products away from your dog. If your pooch consumes milk and dairy, you may be faced with vomiting and diarrhea. What’s more, the high fat content found in such products can cause pancreatitis. 

Nuts

According to the CDC, approximately 40% of adults in the U.S consume nuts on a daily basis, meaning you’re likely to have a stash in your kitchen. If you have walnuts, pecans, or almonds lurking about, they could fall into the wrong mouths (your dogs) and cause vomiting and diarrhea. This is because nuts contain large amounts of oils and fats. As well as milk and dairy products, nuts can lead to pancreatitis which can have devastating effects on your dog’s body. Nuts can easily fall onto the floor and be scooped up by your dog, so make sure you seal them in containers.

Onions

Onions are full of nutrients, packed with antioxidants and are a staple in many home-cooked meals. If you’re a lover of onions, you must avoid giving your dog any. Onions are actually considered one of the most dangerous human foods around for your canine friend. Even if you cook the vegetable, onions are still poisonous. Should your dog eat onion, this can destroy their red blood cells and cause anemia. If your dog presents symptoms like vomiting, weakness, and breathlessness after eating onion, you must contact your vet immediately. You don’t need to give up the vegetable yourself, but make sure you store onions in a spot your dog cannot reach. 

Your dog’s diet should always be at the forefront of your mind. Although it can be hard to resist their puppy-dog eyes pleading for treats, it’s best to avoid giving your pooch any of the foods listed above. Our dogs are only here for a short time on this planet, so to help them live an active and fulfilling life, being aware of toxic and dangerous foods will reduce the risk of your dog falling ill. However, if your dog fell ill and is having a difficult time, then dog euthanasia may be considered. And if you wish to communicate with your pets who have crossed the rainbow bridge one last time, then you may consider getting help from an Animal Psychic Communicator. 

Our fur friends deserve to have the healthiest diet possible. The best way to achieve that is by educating ourselves on the ingredients and food products that are safe for them to consume. The ones listed above are just some of the common foodstuffs that you shouldn’t be feeding your furry pal.

If you own a breed that’s more prone to having digestive issues, do a bit more research. There are tons of reliable websites that offer up-to-date information. You can also buy over the counter appetite stimulant for dogs if your pooch doesn’t want to eat.

It’s great if you can whip up your canine friend’s meals from scratch. But on hectic days, you can always rely on pre-made fresh human-grade dog food to give your pet a quick yet deliciously nutritious meal.