7 Foods To Avoid Feeding Your Dog

When it comes to feeding your dog, you want to do it the right way. But what constitutes the ‘right way’? And more importantly, what shouldn’t be fed? Dogs are carnivorous by nature, and as such, they should be fed a high protein diet. The best way to go is to feed your dog a high-quality, complete diet. This way, it will always be at its best. However, this doesn’t mean that they should be fed any old type of food—just like in human diets, some foods are preferable to others (and vice versa). The following list details 7 types of food that you should avoid feeding your dog:

Garlic

Garlic is an herb that belongs to the Allium genus. While garlic is known to have medicinal properties, it is also used to flavour various foods in human diets. Garlic is generally safe for dogs to eat in small amounts as part of their diets, but it should not be used as their only source of food because it can be toxic to dogs in large doses. However, a safe level can vary depending on their breed and size. So some dogs may be able to tolerate it, while others may not, causing vomiting and diarrhoea.

Chocolate

Chocolate is a complex carbohydrate that is easily converted into toxic compounds, especially theobromine, when digested. Although chocolate is not particularly dangerous for humans, it can be toxic for dogs because they cannot metabolise the toxic ingredients. And as such, chocolate should never be given as a main food source. At high doses, chocolate can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, seizures and hyperactivity. 

Grapes and Raisins

Like grapes? For humans, grapes and raisins are great sources of vitamin C and antioxidants. But you might want to rethink giving your dog even one grape or raisin. They are known to be toxic to dogs, which can result in acute kidney failure. There hasn’t been much research on the specific fruit compounds that trigger this fatal reaction, but both of them should be avoided at all costs.  

Milk

Milk is a rich source of protein, calcium, and potassium—nutrients that are essential for dogs’ health. 

However, it should only be given in small quantities because the majority of milk produced for human consumption is not suitable for dogs to consume. As a result, milk should be avoided as a primary food source for your pet dog, as it can cause extremely unpleasant reactions such as vomiting and diarrhoea.   

Artificial sweeteners

Artificial sweeteners are calorie-free sugar substitutes that provide a sweet taste, such as Xylitol, which is commonly found in sugar-free sweets, baked goods, chewing gum, and other edible products. While humans can normally process artificial sweeteners, they are harmful to dogs, particularly in large quantities. When dogs consume artificial sweeteners, they can develop life-threatening health problems such as low blood sugar and kidney failure. 

Cooked meat with bones

Feeding your dog a lot of cooked meat with bones can result in a fatal intestinal blockage. Dogs are carnivores, and as such, they have a natural tendency to chew bones to aid in digestion. However, cooked meat with bones can easily splinter and cause intestinal blockages if they aren’t removed before feeding them. If your dog is fed a diet that contains cooked meat with bones, he or she should be closely monitored for any symptoms of blockage, including blood in the stool, lethargy, or even shock.

Alcohol

Alcohol is toxic and very dangerous to dogs. Our furry friends can’t metabolise alcohol the same way we do, so even a small amount can have severe consequences. Ingesting alcohol can cause serious short-term and long-term health problems, including vomiting, disorientation, decreased coordination, difficulty breathing, organ damage, and even coma. Therefore, it is best to keep alcohol away from pets, as it can cause serious and even fatal health problems.

To sum it up

The majority of the foods listed above should be avoided at all costs, though some, such as garlic and milk, are safe in small quantities. As long as you follow these tips, there is no reason why your dog should suffer from eating foods that are bad for them. However, sometimes accidents happen. Therefore, it is always a good idea to get dog insurance in case your pet consumes things that they are not supposed to eat, which happens more often than you think. This way, you can protect yourself and provide your pet with the best possible medical care and quality of life.