7 Foods You Should Never Feed Your Dog

Most people know chocolate is a no go for dogs, but did you know about these other harmful foods?

We love our dogs – and they love us! They also love food (all of it, really) so it’s important to be educated on what bits of your meals you can slip to your furry friend as some foods are better than others, some are fine in moderation, and some you should never, ever, give your pet.

Here’s a list of 7 foods you should never feed your pup.

1. Avocado

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Some animals – like horses, birds, and rabbits – have very bad reactions to ingesting avocado. This is because the fruit contains persin, a chemical and fungicidal toxin that leaks out from the pit into the pulp of the avocado.

What does this mean for your pup? Well, they won’t get as violently ill as the animals listed above, but it will give them an upset stomach and result in vomiting and diarrhea. Also, because dogs are known to be such enthusiastic eaters, they may eat enough to make them seriously sick, and can also risk ingesting the pit, which can obstruct their digestive tract, causing serious problems, and no doubt ending in a visit to the vet.

2. Onions/Garlic

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Onions (along with garlic, scallions and shallots) are a food that you should never, ever give your pup. If enough of these vegetables are eaten, they can do serious damage to your dog’s red blood cells.

Worse than any of these veggies is garlic – only a small amount of strong garlic can cause significant damage, whereas your pup would have to eat a decent amount of onions to hurt themselves.

So next time you’re cooking with any of these ingredients, keep an eye on your pup – this also includes things like onion powder and soup mixes – which can also be harmful, even more harmful in some cases.

3. Nuts

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Nuts, including walnuts, pecans, and almonds, can be highly harmful to your dog. This is because they contain high amounts of fat and oils, which can lead to vomiting and diarrhea, and even pancreatitis. Of course, a nut or two won’t do much damage, but dog’s digestive systems have serious trouble handling them in larger amounts, so why risk it?

Macadamia nuts are the most harmful to your pup and can cause hyperthermia, tremors, weakness, and depression, appearing within 12 hours of ingestion.

If you suspect your dog has gotten themselves sick from nuts, take them to the vet, stat.

4. Grapes

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The risk of feeding your pup grapes is actually a pretty recent discovery, but very important. According to ASPCA, researchers haven’t actually nailed down why, but the fruit can cause kidney failure in some canines.

This may come as a surprise to some pet owners, as some dogs can eat grapes with no side effects, but many can suffer from toxicocis, resulting in vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue. You should drop everything and take your pup to the vet immediately should this happen, as they could be on their way to developing a life-threatening illness.

5. Pomegranate

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Arils, the seeds of pomegranates, are almost impossible for dogs to digest, and can cause serious problems if eaten in large amounts. Most commonly, if your pup gets ahold of some of this fruit, they will vomit, and be fine, but if you are worried, definitely take them to the vet for a visit.

6. Gum

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In addition to being extremely difficult to digest, most sugar-free gum is sweetened with xylitol, an chemicalĀ that can be lethal to dogs.

Many of you may have heard the recent news of peanut butter containing xylitol making many dogs very sick, and chewing gum is no exception. The calorie-free sweetener can cause intense blood sugar crashes, liver failure, and even seizures, within an hour of them ingesting.

If you suspect your pup has gotten their paws on some gum, take them to the vet immediately.

7. Chocolate

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This is the food that most people know is not okay to feed their dogs.

Caffeine, along with theobromine, are two chemicals that can make your dog very ill. Dark chocolate can also be even more toxic to pups, as it contains higher caffeine amounts, but any food containing chocolate, such as cookies, brownies, and candy, should all be avoided.

For more informationĀ on which foods are a-okay for your dog, which foods should only be consumed in moderation, and an extensive list of what foods you should never give your pup, check out our article Can My Dog Eat That?

Sources: ASPCA

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