🍇 Not for Canine Consumption 🍺

Whilst it's sometimes tempting to share our favourite foods with our dogs - especially when those longing brown eyes stare deep into ours - it's crucial to remember that dogs dietary tolerances can be significantly different from our own. Whilst some foods may just cause an upset stomach, others can be harmful or even fatal, to dogs. Here we’ll examine some of the foods that you should avoid sharing with your dog, in order to keep them happy and healthy. 

What Foods Shouldn't Dogs Eat?

From commonly known foods, to ingredients that might surprise you, here is a list of things to avoid feeding your dog.

Chocolate

Chocolate is widely known to be toxic to dogs. Theobromine and caffeine are the chemicals present in chocolate that can cause a number of dangerous symptoms. The clinical effects vary depending on the amount and type of chocolate eaten, but range from mild vomiting and diarrhoea through to rapid breathing and heart rate, seizures, and even death in extreme cases. The toxic compounds are generally more concentrated in dark chocolate, so be especially careful of products with higher levels of cocoa solids.

Grapes & Raisins

Whilst the reason for its toxicity is not fully understood, they are particularly dangerous for dogs as they can cause kidney failure. Sensitivity to both can vary between different dogs, but even in small amounts grapes and raisins can cause symptoms like vomiting, lethargy, loss of appetite, and abdominal pain. In some cases, kidney failure can occur within a day or two after ingestion, making swift action essential.

Onions & Garlic

Onions and garlic are very common ingredients that can be easily overlooked if sharing human food with your dog. Along with other members of the Allium family (including leeks and chives), onions and garlic contain compounds that can damage the red blood cells of your dog, potentially leading to weakness, lethargy, pale gums, and even collapse as a result of anaemia. The effects can be cumulative even in small amounts.

Xylitol

A commonly used sweetening agent used in sugar-free gum, candies, baked goods, and even some types of peanut butter, xylitol can be particularly dangerous for your pup. Although it is harmless to humans, xylitol can cause a rapid release of insulin in dogs, which can lead to a dangerous drop in blood sugar levels. Even a small amount of xylitol can have detrimental effects on a dog's health, and lead to symptoms such as vomiting, loss of coordination, seizures, and in severe cases, liver failure, so be sure to avoid feeding your dog any products that may contain xylitol.

Avocado

Toxic to many animals including dogs, avocados contain a compound called persin, which can lead to symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea, and in rare cases, pancreatitis. In addition, the pit poses a choking hazard and can obstruct a dog's digestive tract, so be careful when preparing avocados. Despite the flesh or pulp of the avocado being non-toxic, the pit and skin are highly toxic to dogs, so don’t leave them within reach of your dog.

Macadamia nuts

The toxic component within Macadamia nuts is unknown, but the margin of safety following ingestion is small with just a few nuts leading to intoxication in a small to medium sized dog. Clinical signs of poisoning include vomiting, fever, and lethargy within 3 – 6 hours. The next stage of clinical signs includes a stumbling gait, reluctance to use the rear limbs, inability to stand, joint stiffness, and muscle tremors; these clinical signs occur 6 – 12 hours after ingestion of a toxic amount.

Alcohol

Often overlooked as a potential danger to pets, alcohol can have stronger effects on dogs due to their smaller size and different metabolism. Even small amounts of alcohol can cause significant symptoms to your pup including vomiting, diarrhoea, decreased coordination, central nervous system depression, difficulty breathing, and in severe cases, coma or death. It's vital to keep all alcoholic beverages out of your dog's reach, and to ensure you don’t leave open containers that could be spilled.

We know how crafty dogs can be, especially when they’re hungry. Whilst you may not always be able to control what your dog puts in their mouth, it’s important that you remain vigilant when feeding your dog. As a responsible pet owner, if you are going to introduce your dog to a new food or share something off your plate, be sure you know if it’s safe!

If you’re in doubt about introducing a new food into your dog’s diet, be sure to get in touch with the Evervet team. Our knowledgable staff can ensure peace of mind for you and your beloved pet.