10 Dangerous Dog Food Items

All loving dog parents have a fairly good idea of what and how much their pet should eat, drink, and exercise. But what do you know about what your pet shouldn’t eat? Knowing the dangerous dog food items is equally, if not more, important than knowing the constituents of a healthy pet diet.

This is because you may not realize it, but your pantry might be full of foods that are potentially lethal for your pet. Or they can at least lead to major health issues if your pooch were to eat them regularly or even once or twice for that matter.

No matter how carefully you have thought out your fur friend’s meal plans, let’s be honest – we all have a habit of feeding Fido tables scrapes or tossing them a piece or two of our own snacks. But remember that human safe does not mean dog mean at all.

Here, we have compiled a list of foods that are harmful for your dog and thus, must be kept out of their reach always:

1. Avocado

Many people attribute the danger of feeding your pet avocado to its excessively large pit that can cause them to choke. So, technically it would be safe to give this fruit to your dog with the seed removed. But that’s not true.

The pit is a secondary threat. Avocados are harmful for dogs because they naturally contain a compound called persin. Persin is safe for humans but is known to cause respiratory issues in animals as it builds up fluid in their lungs.

2. Caffeinated Products

Dogs are highly energetic animals so it should be obvious why the kick from caffeine can make matters worse.

From tea and coffee to soft drinks, cocoa products and more, caffeine must not be a part of your pet’s diet in any form. It stimulates their nervous system, causing rapid heartbeat and breathlessness.

Moreover, consuming caffeine can lead to loss of bladder control, indigestion, vomiting, and an overall hyperactive behavior in dogs.

3. Alcohol

The effect of alcohol on your pooch’s brain and liver is quite similar to that on human health. However, it takes a lot less to harm your dog. Make sure not to leave beer or wine glasses within your pet’s easy reach. And be quick to wipe spills before your dog gets a chance to lick it.

4.  Onion and Garlic

Be it cooked, raw, powdered, and so on, keep onions and garlic in any form away from your dog. The chemical composition of these root vegetables can trigger a chain reaction that gradually kills their red blood cells. This can lead to general weakness, breathing problems, and in extreme cases, anemia.

5. Grapes and Raisins

Grapes and raisins are one of the most dangerous dog food items out there. Survey results show that ingesting just a handful of grapes or raisins can prove fatal to dogs.

Although research hasn’t been able to determine the exact compounds responsible for toxicity, what’s known for sure is that these food items cause tremendous kidney damage at an alarmingly fast rate.

So, if your dog has accidentally swallowed a few of these, take them to a vet right away.

6. Dairy Products

The next time you are tempted to let your fur friend lick your ice-cream on a hot summer day, stop and think twice. Consuming even small quantities of dairy products often leads to diarrhea and other digestive issues in many animals, including dogs. It can also trigger food allergies that can make their skin itch.

7. Raw Fish

Homemade meals are becoming increasingly popular among pet owners. If you have jumped on the bandwagon, try not to include raw fish in the diet.

Raw fish or any other uncooked meat for that matter, can be contaminated with bacteria. This can cause food poisoning (symptoms include fever, vomiting, and diarrhea) in addition to enlarged lymph nodes which can be a sign of a more severe infection.

Note that meat itself is healthy for your pet, but it should only be given boiled or cooked as high temperature during the process will kill off the parasites present in it.

8. Chocolate

Chocolate probably tops the list for most dangerous foods for dogs since it’s found in virtually every home. Whether it’s milk chocolate, white chocolate, dark chocolate, fruit flavored chocolate and so on, do NOT feed it to your dog at any cost.

Even a small amount of chocolate such as that in chocolate chip cookies can make your pooch ill. They may experience excessive thirst, gastrointestinal distress, or even nausea and headache.

The undesirable effects are caused by theobromine, the most common compound in chocolate. If consumed in a considerably large amount, chocolate can also cause tremors, seizure, and in severe cases, death.

So, save this treat for yourself.

9. Peanut Butter and Sugary Treats

Peanut butter and sugary delights like candies are loaded with a substance called xylitol. Xylitol disrupts your pet’s insulin level, leading to a sudden drop in their blood glucose level which can, in turn, lead to liver failure.

Baked items like cookies and cakes might be safe for your pet as long as they are free of xylitol and given only occasionally.

10. Bacon

Of course, your canine companion would love to eat bacon. But don’t give in to those large puppy dog eyes that beg for sharing as you prepare your breakfast every morning.

Bacon and other similar processed food items such as sausages and ham are rich in fats that can make your dog obese. Since they typically have high salt content, these foods can also lead to abnormal cardiac rhythm, breathing difficulties, and hyperactivity.

Regular consumption of bacon can cause pancreatitis too.

Watch out for these dangerous dog food items so that you can keep your canine companion safe and healthy at all times.  We watch for Dog Food Recalls from the FDA.  You can find them here:  www.puccicafe.com/dog-food-recalls

by Bobby J Davidson || You can’t buy love, but you can rescue it™ . 

Facts About Animal Homelessness:

1. Only 1 out of every 10 dogs born will find a permanent home.
2. The main reasons animals are in shelters: owners give them up, or animal control finds them on the street.
3. Each year, approximately 2.7 million dogs and cats are killed every year because shelters are too full and there aren’t enough adoptive homes. Act as a publicist for your local shelter so pets can find homes. Sign up for Shelter Pet PR.
4. Approximately 7.6 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.9 million are dogs and 3.4 million are cats.
5. According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP), less than 2% of cats and only 15 to 20% of dogs are returned to their owners.
6. 25% of dogs that enter local shelters are purebred.
7. About twice as many animals enter shelters as strays compared to the number that are relinquished by their owners.
8. It’s impossible to determine how many stray dogs and cats live in the United States. Estimates for cats alone range up to 70 million.
9. Only 10% of the animals received by shelters have been spayed or neutered. Overpopulation, due to owners letting their pets accidentally or intentionally reproduce, sees millions of these “excess” animals killed annually.
10. Many strays are lost pets that were not kept properly indoors or provided with identification.
11. According to The Humane Society, there are about 3,500 brick-and-mortar animal shelters in the US and 10,000 rescue groups and animal sanctuaries in North America.

Here are a some adoptions for consideration:  puccicafe.com/adoptions

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