Four Foods That Your Dog Should Never Eat
Posted on: 29 August 2016
You probably already know that your dog shouldn't eat chocolate, but there are lots of other foods that can harm your dog, too. Here are four foods that you may not know that your dog shouldn't eat.
Grapes
Grapes are a healthy snack for people, so you may assume that your dog would enjoy them, too. Not so fast. Grapes are actually toxic to dogs, as are raisins.
After eating grapes, some dogs develop kidney failure, which can be fatal. Researchers don't know why grapes are so dangerous, but they think a mycotoxin may be involved. Mycotoxins are toxins that are made by molds.
Onions
If your human family members are enjoying a delicious meal, you may want to let your dog have a plate, too. This can be dangerous if any of the food contains onions or onion powder.
Onions are dangerous in very small amounts—defined as 15 to 30 grams of onions per kilogram of body weight—and even extremely small amounts can add up over time and slowly poison your dog. Onions damage the red blood cells in a dog's body, which can make them very ill, so make sure your dog doesn't eat them.
Candy
When Halloween rolls around, you may want to give your dog a small piece of tasty candy. This can be dangerous, especially if that candy contains xylitol. Xylitol is a sugar substitute that can be found in sugar-free candies as well as gums or mints.
If a dog eats something that contains xylitol, their pancreas will release a lot of insulin. This makes their blood sugar get dangerously low, and they can have seizures or even die. Xylitol doesn't have this effect on humans. To keep your dog safe, give them treats that are meant for dogs, not trick-or-treaters.
Macadamia Nuts
Macadamia nuts are a delicious snack, so if you've splurged on a package of them, you may want to let your dog have a taste. While many types of nuts can be potentially harmful for dogs due to their high fat content—including pecans, almonds and walnuts—macadamia nuts are the worst because they're also highly toxic.
As with grapes, researchers don't know why macadamia nuts are toxic for dogs. The toxin leads to allergy-like symptoms as well as stomach problems.
To keep your dog safe, avoid feeding them any of these four foods. Stick to foods and snacks that are made for dogs, and ask your vet before you feed your dog any human foods.
For more information, contact Robert Irelan DVM or a similar veterinary professional.
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