Food You Should Never Feed Your Dog

What you feed your pet determines its longevity and health. That is why it is important to pay heed to what you are feeding to them; a slight mistake in feeding can cause severe health problems and can lead to an upset stomach, diarrhea, serious health issues or even death.

There are some varieties of food that are nutritious for human beings but can be harmful for dogs. Here are some foods that one should not feed their pets.

1. Chocolates, coffee: They contain theobromine and caffeine, which are toxic to dogs if eaten in a large quantity. It can cause vomiting, diarrhea, rapid or irregular heartbeat, restlessness, muscle tremors, seizures or even death

2. Grapes and raisins: They can cause acute kidney failure. Grapes provoke vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy in dogs.

3. Avocadoes: They contain persin. Dishes that are made of avocadoes, like guacamole dips, cause vomiting and diarrhea.

4. Garlic and onions: They can damage the red blood cells; they can rupture or make them lose their capability to carry oxygen effectively, which can lead to life threatening anemia. Don't use garlic for fleas; it is harmful rather than helpful.

5. Macadamia nuts: Although they are an excellent source of vitamin E for humans, they are fatal for canines. Just a few macadamia nuts can cause vomiting, tremors, weakness and joint pain.

6. Xylitol: It is an artificial sweetener; found in candies, sweets and mint. It is hazardous
for dogs.

7. Bones from fish, poultry or other meat sources: They can cause obstruction or laceration of the digestive system.

8. Citrus oil extract: It can cause vomiting

9. Fat trimmings: They can cause pancreatitis.

10. Fish (raw, canned or cooked): If fed in a high amount it can cause vitamin B deficiency; leading to loss of appetite, seizures and in severe cases even death

11. Human supplements containing iron: They can damage the lining of the digestive system and be toxic to the other organs including the liver and kidneys.

12. Mushrooms: They affect multiple systems in the body; can cause shock and result in death.

13. Pits from peaches and plums: They can cause obstruction of the digestive tract.

14. Raw eggs: They contain enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin. This can lead to skin and hair coat problems.

15. Raw meat: It may contain bacteria such as salmonella and E.coli, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

16. Salt: Eating too much of salt can cause excessive thirst and urination and lead to sodium ion poisoning. Symptoms of high intake of salt include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, elevated body temperature and seizures. It may even cause death.

17. Sugary food and drinks: It causes obesity, dental problems such as tooth decay, joint problems diabetes; it is noted that obese dogs are at higher risk of diabetes. Excessive sweet food retards calcium metabolism and initiates skeletal problems including bone loss and arthritis.

18. Yeast dough: It can stretch dog's abdomen and cause severe pain.

19. Milk and milk products: They can cause diarrhea or other digestive upsets. Pets do not possess significant amount of lactase; the enzyme that breaks down lactose into milk.