10 Foods You Should Never Give To Your Dog

10 Foods You Should Never Give Your Dog

Surely a treat from your plate is harmless to your dog, right? The answer to that is based on what’s in your food. Actually, the majority of food people eat should never be given to a dog. A majority of food eaten by humans can be fatal for man’s best friend.

There are several food types that should never be fed to a dog under any circumstances. While some breeds are more tolerant of certain foods, this list of restricted foods is applicable to all dogs:

1.  Raisins And Grapes

Avoid feeding raisins and grapes to dogs as a treat. A toxin found in grapes may result in kidney failure and severe liver damage. Even a little bit can cause illness for a dog. Consistent regurgitation is an early symptom. Within 24 hours, your pet will become depressed and lethargic. Prevent your dog from consuming raisins and grapes by keeping them off tables, counters, and other easily accessible places.

2.  Garlic And Onions

Garlic and onions come in many forms – raw, powdered, dehydrated or cooked. They can damage the red blood cells of a dog, causing anemia. This can happen even if they taste baby food containing onion powder. A sporadic taste should be harmless, but a large amount ingested on a regular basis will poison the animal. Anemia symptoms include vomiting, weakness, lack of appetite, breathlessness and dullness.

3.  Avocado

Never give guacamole or anything made from avocado to your pet. Avocados contain an ingredient called persin, and a significant amount can be toxic to your dog. If there are avocados in your garden, ensure that your dog can’t access those plants. Be mindful that persin can be found in seeds, leaves, and even bark.

4.  Alcohol

Liquor, beer, wine, and foods containing alcohol are very bad for dogs. Alcohol can be destructive to a dog’s brain and liver. Even the slightest amount can induce diarrhea, vomiting, coordination problems, central nervous system depression, comatose states, breathing difficulties, and even death. The smaller the dog, the more disastrous the outcome.

5.  Dairy Products

On a summer day, giving your dog a lick of ice cream might seem like a treat, but unfortunately, milk-based products can result in digestive upsets and allergic reactions. Dogs are lactose intolerant, and their bodies lack enough lactase enzymes to digest dairy foods properly. If your dog must have ice cream, ensure it’s made from lactose-free ingredients.

6.  Candy And Gum

Gum, candy, baked goods and even toothpaste are sweetened with xylitol, which can cause dogs to release an abundance of insulin. This can result in a sudden drop in blood sugar, and may cause liver failure. Primary symptoms include lethargy, vomiting, and loss of coordination. At some point, the animal may suffer from seizures.

7.  Chocolate

It’s common knowledge that chocolate is unhealthy for dogs. Caffeine, theophylline and theobromine are ingredients that can be found in all types of chocolate, including dark and white. In fact, dark chocolate, unsweetened baking chocolate and chocolate mulch are the most deadly kinds of chocolate to a dog. Even the slightest lick of a bowl of icing can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration. Consumption of chocolate may lead to tremors, abnormal heart rhythms, seizures, and death.

8.  Bones And Fat Trimmings

Though it might seem right to give a dog a bone, your pet might actually choke on it. Chewed-on bones can splinter, obstructing or lacerating their digestive systems. Additionally, meat fat lingering on bones are hazardous to dogs. Fat trimmings on meat, either uncooked or cooked, can result in pancreatitis.

9.  Peaches, Persimmons and Plums

Seeds found in persimmons can induce inflammation of a dog’s intestines. If a dog eats the pit from a plum or peach, it may obstruct their intestines. Additionally, cyanide can be found in plum and peach pits, which is poisonous to both dogs and humans.

10.  Salt

Never share pretzels, chips, or any other salty foods with your dog. Too much consumption of salt can lead to dehydration, frequent urination, and ultimately, sodium ion poisoning. Excessive salt ingestion consequences involve diarrhea, vomiting, depression, elevated body temperature, tremors, seizures, or worse, death.

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Why Dogs Love Belly Rubs

Most dogs love a good belly rub and some dogs love them so much they actually demand them. Dogs will generally roll over on their backs for a nice belly rub from people they trust most. It is, at it’s core, a submissive behavior.

Rolling over on their back and offering their belly is a sign that your dog really trusts you, and not just a sign of submission. Tummy rubs feel good and they don’t mind showing you this vulnerability for a nice old fashioned belly rub. The fact that the behavior is submissive does not mean that the dog is enjoying the petting any less. Seems like a pretty fair trade off right?

To Rub or Not to Rub
Dr. Gruen says that generally, when a dog rolls over for a belly rub, there's no reason not to give one. But it is important to note that rolling a dog onto his back in order to give him a belly rub (if the dog did not roll there himself) is not advised, as “it can make the dog anxious and upset.” Dr. Gruen says there are situations where tummy rubs may not be desired. “Watch your dog for cues that he would like a belly rub — dogs may not wish to expose their bellies in all circumstances, such as when outside or in unfamiliar surroundings.”

You don't need to be concerned if your dog doesn't like having his belly rubbed, notes Dr. Gruen, because just like people, he may have different ideas about what feels good. “However, a dog owner may need to be concerned if a belly rub, or any gentle handling, is associated with aggression,” she adds. For instance, if your dog growls during a belly rub, Dr. Gruen advises you just get up and walk away. She also suggests that you contact your veterinarian, because “pain, illness and behavioral disorders can contribute to aggression, and should be addressed with a professional.”

"A dog can express more with his tail in seconds than his owner can express with his tongue in hours." – Unknown Author

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