Sharing isn’t caring: dangerous foods for dogs

“But oh, those eyes!”

Yep, we get that when your pooch gives you those adorable puppy dog eyes and cute toothy grin, you just can’t resist throwing them a scrap or two. While this can sometimes be a harmless gesture, it’s important to understand that sharing isn’t always caring. In fact, sharing can sometimes be downright dangerous to your dog’s health.

So, can the occasional morsel here and there really hurt your pup? Well, it depends on what it is, and what it contains. While some everyday foods can be gobbled down harmlessly, others can cause big problems, and vet bills to match. So what should you avoid at all costs? Here’s an overview of the foods that should never leave your plate!

Avocado

They may be hailed as a human superfood, but when it comes to doggy stomachs avocados are awful. They contain persin, which can be poisonous to dogs in high doses. A cube or two is probably OK, but if they raid your avocado stash there could be trouble.

Onions and Garlic

No matter how much you love your Italian cooking, onions and garlic should be kept away from the dog bowl at all costs. Powdered, raw, cooked or dehydrated – they’re all out! Large doses can actively destroy red blood cells, which can trigger anaemia.

Caffeine

You life may depend on a coffee in the morning, but you should never treat your pooch to the same pick-me-up. Caffeine can be fatal, so keep your dog away from not only coffee, but also tea, chocolate, energy drinks, cold medicines and painkillers. Restlessness, rapid breathing and muscle twitches are all tell-tale signs that your dog may have overdosed.

Xylitol

It’s probably written in miniscule writing in the ingredients list, but xylitol lurks in a host of everyday foods. From chewing gum and sweets to baked goods and sugar-free foods, xylitol can wreak havoc on your dog’s blood sugar levels. This can cause side effects like vomiting, lethargy and disorientation, as well as liver failure and seizures in extreme cases.

Alcohol

Just like humans, alcohol effects a dog’s brain and liver, only without the feel-good side effects. As they’re smaller than human adults it takes a lot less to hurt your pup, with even small amounts causing vomiting, diarrhea, respiratory problems, comas and even death.

Ice cream

Poor old Kate and Wills copped global criticism recently when they snapped a shot of Prince George sharing his ice-cream with their family dog, Lupo. The photo was adorable, but sparked bigtime controversy with animal rights groups who slammed the royals for their irresponsible parenting. Dairy can cause both diarrhea and digestive problems for dogs, as well as trigger allergy issues which can cause excessive itching. Instead, whip up some pooch-friendly ice blocks to keep your pup cool on a hot summer’s day.

Grapes and Raisins

They may seem healthy, juicy and harmless, but grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure, or at least make your dog extremely sick. Instead, stick to vet approved treats.

Macadamia Nuts

To us, they’re one of the best find in a trail mix. But to dogs, just a small handful of macadamias can cause muscle shakes, vomiting, high temperatures and sudden weakness in the back legs. Combine this with chocolate, and the results can be fatal. So whatever you do, keep your chocolate coated macadamias well out of reach!

Chocolate

Triggering heart problems, muscle tremors, seizures and even death, it’s no secret that chocolate is bad for dogs. Theobromine is the culprit, with dark and unsweetened baking chocolate the most dangerous varieties.

Fat Trimmings

It can be oh so tempting to throw your dog the trimmings of your Sunday morning bacon fry-up, but did you know that in the long-term the fatty content can cause pancreatitis? If you want to keep your dog healthy and pancreatitis-free, stick to lean meats.

Pit fruits

On a hot day there’s nothing quite as delicious as a sweet, juicy plum. Though your dog may argue otherwise. Yes, they’ll wolf it down. But ultimately the pits in stone fruits can cause major problems in a dog’s small intestine. Plus, some pits also contain cyanide which is a deadly poison for both humans, and their four legged friends.

So what can you feed your pup without? Now we’ve covered what to avoid, keep an eye out for our upcoming article on pet-friendly foods that your dog (and your vet bill) will love.