What Human Foods Should My Dog Avoid?

We all love our dogs and here in the corpus family we treat them like family but that can often blur the lines as they aren’t actually our human children (although they’re probably a better option) this means that their diets differ from ours and there are certain things they cannot eat. We all like to sneak some of our snacks or leftover dinner to our furry friends and I know personally that we put our pets’ eating above our own! But here’s our guide to make sure your well-meant treat isn’t harmful to their health.

Tea & Coffee

I’m sure we’ve all been tempted from time to time to let our dogs lick up the last sip of our cappuccino, as caffeine is a stimulant its effects can be amplified on dogs as they are more sensitive to it. Dogs that can consume caffeine can have an increased heart rate, it’s hard to measure what is too much caffeine for dogs so it’s best to avoid it altogether as the risk is simply too high.

Onions

This is one that people often don’t know as onion is a flavorful base for a lot of human meals but for dogs it can be very dangerous in all forms, it can create serious issues for your dogs’ blood. The N-propyl attacks the haemoglobin in a dog’s blood. So avoid feeding them onions!

Garlic

Similar to onions, garlic can be poisonous to dogs, as well as cats. Large quantities of garlic can cause damage to the dog’s red blood cells, leading to anaemia.

Chocolate

Chocolate is well-known for being poisonous to dogs but few know exactly why, it is due to theobromine which is present in chocolate. It is fine for humans but toxic to dogs, they are much slower at digesting it so in small amounts chocolate will cause stomach upset, vomiting and diarrhoea. However large amounts can cause muscle seizures, internal bleeding and even a heart attack.

Xylitol

This is a sweetener that is present in many sweet treats like biscuits, cakes and low-calorie supplements. It can also be found in toothpaste and syrups. Xylitol is a great sugar alternative for humans, however, dog’s bodies don’t recognise it as such and it is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream once in the bloodstream it causes a large amount of insulin-making the dog’s blood sugar to fall through the floor which can lead to dizziness or even loss of consciousness. For small dogs, just one sweet or a piece of chewing gum can cause serious issues.

Grapes

Although grapes are a healthy treat for humans they aren’t safe for dogs in any amount. If your pup accidentally eats a grape or raisin, they may have decreased appetite, seem lethargic, and suffer sickness and diarrhoea.

Macadamia Nuts

This might not be something you buy directly but they often feature in baked goods like cakes, cookies, and pastries. They are highly toxic to dogs so even a tiny amount can lead to sickness, weakness in the legs and hyperthermia.

Avocado

Avocado has become very trendy in recent years but unfortunately, it is poisonous to dogs if eaten it contains persin, which can cause diarrhoea and vomiting in dogs, plus the avocado pit is a major choking hazard for smaller dogs especially so next time you make some avocado toast for your Instagram post make sure it’s out of your pups reach.

What do I do if my dog eats poisonous food?

If your dog eats any poisonous foods ensure you act fast and contact a vet to make sure pet is in good health or to get them the help they need.