You treat your four-legged friend like 1-of the family, and why not? They’re loyal, and they love you unconditionally. Well… as long as you feed them.
Speaking of which, it’s important to know that while you may consider your dog as the extra child you always wanted, you can’t feed them like a human. Certain foods and ingredients can be dangerous to canines, so let’s get barking mad at 14 of them…
1. Xylitol
This isn’t a food unto its own, but it’s hiding in many foods that humans eat. WebMD says you can find this sweetener in products such as candy, gum (it should go without saying, don’t give your dog gum), baked goods, and more (check labels).
The source warns that xylitol can cause your furry friend’s blood sugar to drop, and in more serious cases, can cause liver failure. Symptoms of consuming it include your dog being lethargic, vomiting, and having problems with coordination. “Eventually, your dog may have seizures. Liver failure can happen within just a few days,” it warns.
2. Avocado
While this food may be all the rage these days, your dog probably won’t agree with you. There are a lot of good things about avocado – like, it’s delicious and you can spread it on toast – but it also has a high fat content, “which can wreak havoc on your dog’s tummy,” explains GoodHousekeeping.com.
Perhaps even worse, if your dog gets hold of an avocado that still has the pit intact, swallowing it could lead to an obstruction in your dog’s gastrointestinal tract, adds the source. In that case, surgery might even be required to clear the blockage.
3. Alcohol
While you may want your dog to join the party and have a drink, it’s not a good idea at all, says the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). It says alcoholic beverages and even foods containing alcohol can cause your dog to vomit, have trouble with coordination, experience difficulty breathing, and even have tremors.
In worst-case scenarios, your dog could fall into a coma or die if they consume alcohol, notes the source. “Under no circumstances should your pet be given any alcohol,” it stresses. If you suspect your dog has accidentally got into the liquor supply, you should call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center immediately, it adds.
4. Onions and Garlic
These can do worse to your dog than make their breath intolerable. WebMD says onions and garlic – whether raw, cooked, dehydrated or powdered – can actually destroy your pet’s red blood cells.
Loss of red blood cells can cause anemia, and ingesting garlic or onions can cause symptoms such as weakness, vomiting, and trouble breathing, adds the source. It says “a rare small dose is probably OK,” but that poisoning can occur by eating a larger amount just once. So it’s probably best to err on the side of caution on this one.
5. Caffeine (And Chocolate)
If your dog has a late night assignment to complete and can’t quite keep their eyes open (we’re kidding), don’t give them coffee or tea, says the ASPCA (not kidding about that). The source says coffee and other caffeinated beverages (such as soda) contain substances called methylxanthines, which aren’t so friendly to pets.
The source says when pets ingests methylxanthines, they can experience vomiting and diarrhea, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity, abnormal heartbeat, tremors, seizures, and in worst-case scenarios, death. You probably have already heard about the dangers of feeding chocolate to dogs – that’s because chocolate contains methylxanthines as well, adds the source.
