What Not to Feed Your Dog

 

     When thinking about what not to feed, you would not want to feed anything that has theobromine, which is toxic to dogs, in it. All chocolate, including white chocolate, contains that toxic compound, theobromine, in it. Even though recent studies can show that chocolate is quite beneficial to humans, it is the exact opposite for animals. To add on, other species are affected by chocolate too. Unlike dogs, humans have the capability to break down and excrete theobromine more efficiently. The most dangerous types of chocolate are dark chocolate, unsweetened baking chocolate and chocolate mulch. Chocolate can cause your dog to have diarrhea, vomit, and have abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, and seizures, be excessively thirsty and possibly death.

     Avocado contains a substance called persin, which is also toxic to your dog. It would not do any harm to humans who are does not have allergic reactions to it, but large amounts can be toxic to dogs. Persin can be found in seeds, leaves, fruits and bark. Seeds, stems and leaves are best to keep away from. Never let your dog be open to those, because when consuming it, a serious problem can occur. Persimmons, peaches and plums are some fruits toxic to dogs. They all have seeds or pits and seeds from persimmons can lead to inflammation of the small intestine in dogs, which can cause intestinal obstruction. Peaches and plums pits contain cyanide, which is poisonous to both humans and dogs, except humans know that they are not suppose to consume it.

     Gum, candy, toothpaste, diet foods and baked goods are all sweetened with xylitol, which can cause an increase in the insulin circulating through your dog’s body. Your dog’s sugar can drop and it can also give your dog liver failure. Liver failure can occur within days and sooner or later, your dog may have seizures.

     Onions and garlic all can destroy a dog’s red blood cells, which leads to anemia that can cause vomiting, weakness, dullness and breathlessness. Your dog may even show little interest towards food. Baby food contains onion powder; so never let your dog consume baby food. Small doses are acceptable at times, but large quantities can cause poisoning.

     Grapes and raisons can cause kidney failure in dogs. Within a day, your dog may start vomiting, become lethargic and depressed. Macadamia nuts are another snack that is not acceptable to feed your dog. Symptoms of poisoning are weakness, paralysis of the hindquarters, vomiting, elevated body temperature, muscle tremors and rapid heart rate.

     Raw foods such as eggs, meat and fish, should not be consumed by your dog. Raw eggs contain the bacteria Salmonella or E. coli, which is food poisoning. Enzymes in raw eggs can interfere with the absorption of a particular B vitamin. Skin problems or problems in your dog’s coat can occur.  Raw meat and fish also contains bacteria that are toxic to dogs. Fish like salmon, shad, trout, or sturgeon contains a parasite that can give your dog a “fish disease”. This disease can be fatal if your dog is not treated with medication within two weeks. Cooking the fish will kill the parasites making it suitable for your dog to consume. If not your dog will start vomiting, receive a fever and receive big lymph nodes.

     Salty foods are not an ideal share of snack that should be given to your dog. Too much salt can lead to an elevated body temperature, excessive thirst, seizures, tremors, vomiting, and diarrhea or even death. Too much sugar can do the same to dogs that it does to humans, but in smaller amounts. It leads to dental problems, obesity and diabetes.

    
      If your dog consumed yeast dough, it will start to swell inside your dog’s stomach. The dough may stretch your dog’s abdomen and cause severe pain. The yeast ferments the dough to make it rise and this produces alcohol, which can lead to alcohol poisoning.

     Another thing to watch out are drinks. Milk can lead to digestive upset in your dog’s stomach or diarrhea and caffeine in coffee tea or energy drinks are fatal for dogs, also having no antidote. Symptoms of caffeine poisoning are rapid breathing, heart palpitations, muscle tremors, fits, bleeding and restlessness. Caffeine can be found in cocoa, chocolate, colas, stimulant drinks, some cold medicines and painkillers. Alcohol gives the same effect on your dog’s liver and brain as it does to humans, except for the fact that it takes less to do the damage. Vomiting, diarrhea, central nervous system depression, problems with coordination, coma, difficulty in breathing all can result from consumption of alcohol and also can result in death. Ingredients such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen are common in pain relievers or cold medicines. These two ingredients can be deadly to dogs. Also, you would not want your dog to get to it, because they can might consume too much, leading to an over dosage.

     Huge bones like knuckle and marrowbones are acceptable for your dog to chew on, but giving your dog a small bone can be harmful, causing your dog to choke. If your dog starts to swallow the bone, it is best to take it away before any chocking occurs. Bones can cause splinters, obstruction or lacerations in your dog’s digestive system. Fat trimmed meats are also dangerous to dogs as cooked or uncooked; it can cause pancreatitis in dogs.

    
     Some dog food contains byproducts or meat meal. This appears to be the primary ingredient and the protein source. It contains little meat if any and is euphemisms for the parts of animals that are not considered meat by a smart consumer. Byproducts or meat meal are the parts of an animal’s left over’s when the meat has been stripped away from the bone. For example, head, feet, kidneys, brain, stomach, bones, blood, intestines, liver, lungs and spleen are all chicken by-products that some companies’ use in replaces to their dog food’s protein source.