Top 10 Foods to NOT Feed Your Dog

If you're a dog owner, it's highly likely that at some point you have fed your dog scraps from the dinner table. While this act of giving your furry friend some food may seem like a loving, harmless gesture, there is actually a wide variety of negative health effects certain foods can have on dogs. Some foods may cause only minor discomfort, while others can lead to digestive problems, severe illness, or even death.

Perhaps one of the most widely known hazardous foods for dogs is chocolate. Chocolate, which contains a compound called Theobromine, is a cardiac stimulant and diuretic. Taken in large enough doses, chocolate can cause dogs to have diarrhea and can cause vomiting.

Another well-known food for dogs to avoid is grapes. While the specific toxin in grapes that is harmful to dogs is not known, grapes, raisins and currants can cause damage to your dog's kidneys.

Other harmful foods and beverages include, but are not limited to:

• Onions and garlic. Both contain a toxic ingredient called Thiosulphate and can lead to anemia


• Avocados. Essentially every component of avocados, from the seeds to the leaves, can cause vomiting and diarrhea.


• Coffee and tea. Like chocolate, they can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and is harmful to the heart and nervous systems.


• Milk and other dairy products. These can also casuse diarrhea.


• Mushrooms. They contain multiple toxins that can lead to shock and even death.


• Raw eggs. An enzyme called avidin is found in raw eggs, and decreases the absorption of a B vitamin, which ultimately causes skin and coat problems.


• Raw meat. Salmonella and E.coli can be present in raw meat both of which can cause diarrhea and vomiting


• Yeast dough. Just as dough rises for baking, it can expand in the digestive system, leading to pain and a potential rupture of the intestines or stomach.


• Macadamia nuts. These can affect the digestive and nervous systems

It is important to remember that the dietary needs are of dogs are dramatically different than ours. And keeping an eye out for these and other dangerous foods is one way to ensure that our dogs live longer, healthier, and happier lives.