If you’re like me (and I know that you are,) you consider your dog a member of your family. You love them so much, and it’s often hard to resist their sweet little faces – especially when they are begging from you while you are eating. I bet you cave in sometimes, too; I know that I sure do!
While it may be fine to treat your dog with some scraps from the table (in moderation, of course; you don’t want to overdo those scraps, because your pup could quickly back on some extra pounds, which is totally not good,) you want to make sure that the human foods you are treating him or her with are actually safe.
Believe it or not, there are some foods that may be perfectly fine for humans to consume, but that are toxic and potentially lethal to dogs. Here’s a look at five human foods that are toxic to dogs. Never, under any circumstances, feed any of the following foods to your dog.
Chocolate
Chocolate is probably the most well-known human food that is bad for dogs. Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine, two ingredients that cause toxicosis in dogs. The darker the chocolate, the worse it is for a dog; however, all types of chocolate – even white – are a no-no for pups.
Grapes
Grapes aren’t bad for all dogs, but they have been found to cause kidney failure in many dogs. While your dog may be fine eating grapes, it just isn’t worth the risk to find out, so keep them out of your dogs diet. Raisins should be completely avoided, too.
Onions
Onions and anything in the onion family are completely off-limits. This includes garlic, shallots, chives and scallions. These foods contain compounds that can lead to gastroenteritis, anemia, and extensive damage to the red blood cells. Not all dogs are sensitive to the onion family of foods; however, just like with grapes, it’s not worth the risk to find out if your dog can tolerate them.
Alcohol
Dogs cannot, under any circumstances, consume any type of alcohol. This can include even the smallest amount of alcohol found in thinks like syrups and even raw bread dough. Exposing your dog to alcohol or any products that contain alcohol, can cause intoxication, which can be lethal to a dog.
Macadamia Nuts
Recently, it has been found that macadamia nuts can be harmful to dogs. In fact, consuming just six macadamia nuts can make a dog violently ill and can be potentially lethal. While it is not yet known what elements in macadamia nuts cause dogs to be sensitive to them, it is far better to avoid feeding them to your pup and finding out what will happen.
I know you love your pups, and I know that you want to spoil them; however, save the spoiling with treats that are healthy for them, like carrots, cucumber, broccoli, blueberries, watermelon and cantaloupe. Sammy and Daisy get so excited when they see the blueberries coming out that they start drooling! I think it’s adorable! (Of course, I always let each of them have a small bowl!)