What You Should Never Feed Your Dog

If you’ve ever had a dog or lived in a house with one, then you’ll know to be careful about what and how you eat around them. While these situations are typically the source of those “puppy eyes” which melt even the coldest of hearts, dogs should only ever eat their own food. This is due to a number of reasons, mainly boiling down to what they can actually digest and process.

Almost everybody now knows that chocolate is bad for dogs, but that isn’t the only thing. Many dog owners will feel very comfortable about sharing their meals with their pups, claiming that most of their diet is made up of holistic natural dog food which supposedly counteracts any bad food they feed them. This can cause an array of problems in your dog’s digestive system, and significantly lower their quality of life.

Here is an overview of what you shouldn’t feed your dog.

Sweets and Treats

As modern humans, we love treating ourselves to a variety of different sweets ranging from healthy to absolutely decadent. Most dog owners are guilty of sharing their sweet treats with their doggy friends, and while there may not be any immediate negative effects, some of these treats can pose serious threats to your dog’s health.

Chocolate

As previously mentioned, most people already know that chocolate isn’t good for dogs, although not many people can tell you why. Chocolate contains a stimulant called theobromine which is toxic to dogs as they don’t have the ability to metabolize it as fast as us. Over time this theobromine can build up in your dog’s body, eventually leading to chocolate toxicity.

Artificial Sweetener (Xylitol)

Recent years have seen a huge increase in sugar-free alternatives to all of our favorite sweet snacks, and while it’s great for us, these can pose a threat to your dog’s health. Xylitol, one of the more common artificial sweeteners, causes an insulin release in our bodies which is fine for us. However, if your dog eats something which contains Xylitol they can go into hypoglycemia, which is linked to liver failure and blood clotting disorders.

Be sure to check any peanut butter you share with your dog for Xylitol, otherwise find a peanut butter made by one of the many holistic natural dog food brands.

Healthy Treats

Many dog owners are trying to find healthy snacks for their pups, beyond simply feeding them holistic natural dog food. There are many recipes online for healthy treats you can make at home, although not everyone has the time to prepare treats for their dog each week. Finding snack foods that are already in your house that your dog likes is great, although be sure to avoid the following:

●     Almonds, macadamia nuts, pecans, pistachios, and walnuts are all bad for dogs

●     Grapes and raisins contain a toxin that can cause severe liver damage and kidney failure

●     Fruit with a high sugar content can be problematic for their teeth and guts

Ingredients to Avoid

Whether you intentionally buy the best healthy dog food or make your own, there are several common ingredients that can be harmful to your dog. Even those brands which claim to be the best healthy dog food around don’t necessarily use the highest quality ingredients, and can often be riddled with preservatives, additives, and fillers. A common problem with many supermarket dog food brands is the sodium content, so be sure to look for that too.

The Onion Family

Chives, garlic, and onion whether dry, raw, or cooked can all cause serious gastrointestinal problems for dogs. This is due to the fact they contain N-propyl disulfide, which can also damage red blood cells. Symptoms from consumption of any of the onion family may be delayed in dogs, so if you have any concerns that your dog may have eaten some, be sure to go to your vet immediately.

Avocado

A trendy treat for us, but another food that can cause specific problems for our doggy’s digestive system. All parts of the avocado leaf, fruit, and seed contain a substance called Persin which is toxic to dogs and can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

Corn on the Cob

While the corn itself may be digestible to our furry friends, the cob is not. Unlike us dogs cannot discern which parts of our food are and aren’t edible, so avoid giving them the chance to eat cob entirely, as it can block up their intestinal tract.

Cooked Bones

Unlike us, dogs don’t innately prefer cooked food, although they can be adjusted to it over time. A common mistake many dog owners make is giving their leftover cooked bones to their dogs. Thanks to the cooking process, these bones become much more brittle and can splinter and cause constipation, and in some cases perforation of the gut which can be fatal.

Instead make sure to feed them the best healthy dog food available in your area, which in many cases may well be raw pet food.