It can be hard to know if something is bad for your dog, even if it looks safe for humans. Unfortunately, what’s delicious and healthy for us can be dangerous for our furry friends. To protect your pup from accidental poisoning, it’s important to know which foods you should never, ever give them. Here are 25 dangerous foods that can poison your dog.
1. Beware: 25 Foods That Can Poison Your Dog
As a pet parent, you love the companionship and loyalty of your furry family member, and you want to keep him or her safe. Unfortunately, there are many everyday foods that can be toxic to your pup and cause serious — or even fatal — health effects. Here are 25 foods that can poison your pup so you can keep them out of reach:
- Grapes and raisins: These common snacks can cause serious kidney damage.
- Onions and garlic: Even small amounts can cause digestive tract issues and be fatal.
- Macadamia nuts: Ingestion can cause weakness, vomiting, incoordination, and tremors.
- Chocolate: Can cause vomiting, diarrhea, abnormal heart rhythm, seizures, and even death.
- Yeast dough: Raw dough can cause intestinal blockage and, when fermented, can release alcohol.
- Caffeine: Can cause hyperactivity, seizures, and even death in dogs.
In addition, dog owners should also be wary of alcohol, xylitol, rhubarb leaves, avocados, mushrooms, asphalt pavement, sugarless gum, tobacco, and nutmeg. Although some of these items may not seem like food, they can still be dangerous and detrimental to your pup’s health. So, take a look at what your dog has access to and keep these foods away in order to ensure their safety.
2. The Dangers Lurking in Your Pantry
Most of us have a pantry in our home, stocked full of canned foods, cereals, and all sorts of other delicious pantry staples. While these ingredients can provide delicious, easy meals in a pinch, there are potential dangers lurking in your pantry beyond simple ingredients.
Rodents and Insects – The wellbeing of your pantry can depend on proper food storage and routinely cleaning shelves. Busy households can be at risk of rodents and insects getting into food stores, leaving behind bacteria, contamination, and potentially infectious diseases.
Expiration Dates – While not a living danger, expiration dates are important to follow. Avoid consuming ingredients past their sell-by date and toss out anything obviously moldy or expired, no matter how tempting it may seem! For more sensitive items such as grains and cereals, they should be used within 3-6 months of the package date for optimal quality.
- Check for rodent/insect activity regularly, and take action if necessary
- Toss out expired foods as soon as possible
- Check the expiration date for sensitive items like grains
- Don’t let anything get overstocked
With a little more attention paid to the condition of our pantry, you can keep your kitchen safe from all kinds of unwanted visitors and expired goodies. The key is to stay aware and be diligent in regularly checking on the condition of the pantry contents.
3. Know What Not to Feed Your Furry Friend
As much as your furry friend is cute, they can be especially finicky when it comes to eating. Most of them love to eat, but you wouldn’t want to feed them something that may cause them great harm. Knowing what to feed and what not to feed your pet is essential to establish a long and happy relationship with them.
To keep your pet safe and healthy, it is important to know what not to feed them. Here is a list of some of the foods you should avoid feeding them:
- Chocolate – Chocolate may be a delicious treat for us, but it contains a substance called theobromine which is poisonous to pets.
- Bones from fish or poultry – Bones can splinter and get stuck in your pet’s throat, esophagus, and stomach.
- Grapes and raisins – Grapes and raisins, even in small amounts, can cause kidney failure in dogs.
- Caffeine – Consuming caffeine can cause seizures and death.
- Unwashed fruit and vegetables – Fruits and vegetables contain harmful pesticides and fertilizers that can make your pet sick.
Additionally, certain human medications, especially painkillers and cold medicines, are toxic to pets. Keep human medication securely out of your pet’s reach. Artificial sweeteners like xylitol, which is used in candy, gum, toothpaste, and other body care products are highly toxic to pets and cause vomiting and seizures. Monitor your pet’s habits and any changes in their behaviour in order to assess if they are suffering from any health issues.
4. Take Note of These Potentially Toxic Foods
It is important to note that some foods can be extremely harmful to your health, even when consumed in very small quantities. It is essential to educate yourself about such foods and to take precautions against consuming or coming in contact with them.
Here are some common foods and plants that may be toxic:
- Raw cashews: Unroasted cashews contain a chemical compound known as anacardic acid, which can cause swelling and skin irritation in certain individuals.
- Caffeine: Excessive caffeine intake can lead to headaches, insomnia, and restlessness.
- Avocado pits: Avocado pits contain a compound called persin which has been known to cause vomiting and diarrhea in large doses. Additionally, the pits can be a choking hazard.
- Almonds: Almonds contain a toxin called hydrogen cyanide which can cause respiratory failure and paralysis if consumed in high amounts.
- Rhubarb leaves: Rhubarb leaves contain oxalic acid which can be deadly if consumed in large enough quantities.
- Elderberries: Elderberry leaves, stems, and unripe berries contain alkaloid compounds which can lead to nausea and vomiting.
It is important to take the necessary precautions to avoid foods with a potential to harm your health. Always be sure to purchase food from a reputable source and to prepare it in a safe manner.
If your pet consumes any of these foods, it is important to seek veterinary attention immediately. Taking quick action will help keep your pup safe and healthy for years to come. Remember that knowledge is power, and that a little research can go a long way in preventing any would-be canine emergencies.