6 Harmful Foods to Never Feed Your Dog

We all love that little bit of chocolate from time to time, but just because it’s delicious to us doesn’t mean that it’s good for your puppy to consume.  It’s very important that before you give your dog any type of food, you understand what effect it may have on their little bodies and make sure that you are not accidentally giving them harmful foods or potentially poisonous substances.

According to Canine Journal, dogs, as well as other animals, have a different metabolism to us humans and so the way their bodies break down food can be very different.  Although chocolate might be one of the more known poisonous substances for dogs, there are a lot of other items that could be harmful to your pup.  We’ve listed the main foods to avoid feeding your dog, but if something is not on the list, this doesn’t necessarily mean it’s safe for your pet to eat.  When in doubt of whether a certain food is good for your dog, contact your vet before feeding them that particular item.

1. Cat Food

Not all animals are created equally.  In fact, the make-up of dogs and cats can be very different and so can their food.  Cats need more protein and fats than dogs do, and so the different types of pet food will reflect this.  Feeding your dog with cat food can lead to your dog being very sick and/or overweight. So avoid doing so at all costs.

2. Alcohol

Just like you wouldn’t give your child beer or vodka, you shouldn’t give your dog alcohol either. Just like humans, dogs can get intoxicated with alcohol and experience all the related symptoms.  However, alcohol may even cause death when given to dogs, so it’s never worth the laugh of seeing your pup tipsy.

3. Grapes

Grapes can cause nephrological issues in dogs, such as kidney failure, and make them very sick.  Even a small amount of grapes, as well as raisins, can be detrimental to your pup’s health, so make sure never to feed this to your dog.

4. Avocado

Avocados can make your dog very sick causing vomiting and diarrhoea.  This also goes for the avocado pit which additionally may cause your dog to choke.

5. Onion and Garlic

Whilst they are cooking staples in human cuisine, for dogs they are hazardous substances.  As with the above toxic foods, dogs may experience sickness, vomiting and weakness as these foods contain chemical compounds that are harmful to your dog’s red blood cells.

6. Coffee

Although you may not be able to live without it, your dog certainly cannot live with it. Coffee, as well as other substances containing caffeine, such as tea, can cause your dog to go into hypertension which may ultimately result in death.

These are only some of the foods that are harmful to dogs, so do make sure to do your research on any food before feeding it to your fluffy friends. If you have any questions regarding the health of your pup, please contact your vet.

Make sure you protect your pups as you would do yourself. Take out pet insurance on your dog and protect him and your pocket from expensive veterinary fees or accidents. Visit Laferla to get a quote or contact us for more information.