10 Dec Human Food for Dogs: the good, the bad, and the deadly
We all like to give our furry family members “people food” treats from time to time. Leftovers often find their way into dog dishes, and those begging puppy eyes are often hard to resist. However, you should be aware of how some seemingly innocuous foods can affect your dog’s health, especially since more mischievous dogs sometimes help themselves to food in pantries, on counter-tops, or left unattended on coffee tables. Some foods, if ingested, required immediate veterinary intervention.
Below is a list of foods that are known to be harmful to your dog, as well as some that are beneficial and safe. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list, so make sure to do some research before feeding questionable foods to your pet. And it is important to note that not every dog will react the same to every food. Even some of the foods on our “good” list might cause adverse reactions in your dog, so pay close attention whenever you introduce a new food to your dog’s diet.
DEADLY FOR DOGS
- Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine, which are toxic to dogs and can cause nausea and vomiting. In addition, other caffeinated beverages or foods are also harmful to dogs, so it’s best to keep them out of their reach. Coffee and black or green tea contain caffeine, for example. A few laps won’t hurt your pup, but don’t give them coffee or tea intentionally.
- Raw Pacific salmon and trout can be deadly for dogs because of a rickettsial parasite that is transmitted to the salmon from snails (but salmon are immune to). This parasite, when ingested by dogs, is deadly 90% of the time. This is known as Salmon Poisoning Disease, and symptoms include: vomiting, severe diarrhea, lethargy, fever, lack of appetite, and weight loss. Once symptoms appear, there is no cure. If your dog has eaten raw salmon or trout, go to the vet immediately for anti-rickettsial medication before symptoms appear.
- Sugar-free gum and other products that contain artificial sweeteners and additives can affect a dog’s liver and blood sugar levels, which can cause a plethora of other health issues. One of the most common sweeteners, Xylitol, is extremely toxic to dogs, and even small amounts can cause vomiting, lack of coordination, seizures and rapid death.
- Grapes contain compounds that can cause kidney failure in dogs. They can also prevent your dog from creating urine, which is a condition known as anuria. Anuria can then cause acute renal failure. Raisins are just dried grapes, and they contain even more concentrated levels of the compounds that are harmful to dogs. Both raisins and grapes can cause acute renal failure.
- Fruits like peaches, plums, apricots, and cherries are very toxic to dogs because the pits contain trace amounts of cyanide. While it may not harm us, it can quickly cause problems in dogs. Not only that, the pits are a choking hazard and contain much higher levels of cyanide that can be fatal to dogs. Ingesting even the smallest amount will result in the breakdown of an enzyme responsible for oxygenating your dog’s cells.
- Like pits, apple cores also contain small amounts of cyanide, which can negatively impact a dog’s digestive system and metabolism. Symptoms may include hyperventilation, seizures, respiratory problems, and dizziness.
- Avocados contain persin, which is a dangerous toxin to dogs. It can cause an upset stomach and can even cause the dog’s lungs to fill up with fluid, which leads to breathing difficulties. Because the symptoms come on rapidly, they are one of the worst foods for a dog to eat. (This is difficult to verify 100%, and some popular commercial dog foods include avocado. However, avocado is toxic to some other animals like chickens, horses, and guinea pigs, and is also high in fat and difficult to digest even when not toxic. So, to be on the safe side, do not give avocado to your dog.)
- Even just one clove of garlic can wreak havoc on a dog’s body because dogs can’t digest garlic. Therefore, if they eat garlic, they may suffer with digestive issues and food poisoning. As little as five grams of garlic per kilogram of body weight can cause toxicosis in dogs.
- Both baking power and baking soda are extremely toxic to dogs. These are typically kept in the pantry or fridge. Be sure to never allow your dog to enter your pantry as they could get into something that could kill them.
- While dogs can get sick just like people, you should never give them the same medicine you would take if you were sick. Always consult with a certified veterinarian on the right type of medicine to give your dog. Certain pain relievers such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen, which are found in many cold medicines, can be deadly to dogs.
- Alcoholic beverages and food products containing alcohol can cause vomiting, diarrhea, decreased coordination, central nervous system depression, difficulty breathing, tremors, abnormal blood acidity, coma and even death. Under no circumstances should your pet be given any alcohol.
BAD (AND VERY BAD) FOR DOGS
- Onions and dishes that have onion in them are harmful because they weaken the dog’s red blood cells over time. If your dog accidentally eats some onion, there’s no need to rush them to the vet, but long-term onion consumption can lead to a lot of problems down the road.
- Bacon is one of the tastiest foods ever created, but the high fat content makes it extremely dangerous for your dog. Feeding your dog high-fat foods, like bacon, can result in digestive problems and even pancreatitis. Bacon and ham also have sodium nitrates in them in high quantities, which are harmful for your dog.
- Nuts, in general, are bad for your dog, but if you feed your dog macadamia nuts, their hind legs will weaken over time.
- Puppies can easily digest milk, but as dogs age, they lose the ability to digest the enzymes in the milk. Therefore, giving a dog milk or any other dairy product will often result in digestive problems.
- Just like milk, cheese also has enzymes that your dog can’t digest, and aged cheese is the most dangerous type of cheese for your dog.
- Bread and other baked foods that contains yeast are dangerous for dogs because their GI tracts can’t digest it, especially in larger quantities.
- Like people, the average dog can’t digest raw or undercooked meat. In addition, undercooked or raw meat often contains a lot of harmful bacteria, like salmonella and E. coli. Raw bones are also dangerous. This is because their bodies have adapted to commercial dog food and aren’t suited to digest the harmful organisms found in raw meats.
- Salty foods are dangerous for dogs because an excess amount of sodium can cause ion poisoning. Symptoms of ion poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, and seizures. Therefore, it’s best to give your dog a low-sodium diet.
- Persimmons are much more common in Asia than in the US, but if you frequently enjoy this delicious fruit, make sure to keep it out of reach of your dog. They contain a compound that can form a glue-like mass in a dog’s intestines that will throw off the dog’s entire digestive tract and may require immediate medical attention.
- Raw eggs have an enzyme that can prevent a dog’s body from absorbing certain vitamins, so feeding dogs raw eggs can cause skin and coat issues. In addition, raw eggs sometimes contain salmonella, so it’s best to steer clear of this dangerous food.
- Coconut water is very high in potassium and essential oils making it a health hazard for dogs. In small quantities coconut is not lethal for dogs but it can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Give a dog enough coconut however and it will prove to be toxic.
- Bones are both a choking and a digestive risk to dogs. Feed your dog bones too often and constipation will occur. If constipation reaches too bad of a degree then your dog may be hurt in such a way that they have to switch to a special diet and never eat bones again. Fat also can cause constipation and bowel blockages in large amounts
- Corn and large chunks of the cob swallowed can cause an intestinal blockage. Corn is not easy a dog’s digestion. If your dog is experiencing vomiting, a loss of appetite or constipation then it is best to see a vet.
- The pulp of citrus fruits will upset the stomach of your dog while the peel, stems, leaves and seeds are all the main source of toxicity. Citric acid will damage your pets central nervous system, brain and spinal cord.
- Giving your dog too much sugar could cause major health problems. Just like humans, dogs can suffer the same health issues from eating too much sugar. These include being overweight, problems with their teeth, and diabetes.
- While almonds aren’t as toxic as macadamia nuts, they shouldn’t be given to your dog as they can block the esophagus or tear the windpipe if your dog doesn’t chew properly. The salt on almonds can also be unhealthy for your dog as it will increase water retention. This increased water retention is deadly for dogs with heart disease.
- Cinnamon isn’t actually toxic for dogs, but you should avoid giving them cinnamon. The cinnamon has oils in it that irritate the inside of your dogs mouth, which makes it very uncomfortable for them when eating and drinking. Cinnamon can also lower your dogs blood sugar, and too much can lead to diarrhea or vomiting.
GOOD FOR DOGS
- The majority of dogs can eat lean portions of meat that have been thoroughly cooked. Be sure to take off any fat you see. This includes the skin on chicken. Of course as always ensure there are no bones left behind. Ham is generally high in sodium, so make sure you stick with unprocessed chicken, beef, turkey or fish.
- Bone-free, cooked fish, is a great source of food for your dog. However, be sure to only feed your dog cooked fish that has been properly de-boned. Tiny fish bones can cause havoc on your dogs esophagus if swallowed, and raw fish can be very dangerous (see above). Cooked fish is also a great source of vitamins and minerals.
- Watermelon, apples and bananas are OK for your dog to eat. Try and take any seeds or stems out before feeding your dog these fresh fruits. No canteloupe though and wash the outside of any melon before cutting into it.
- Carrots, (carrots are high sugar, so not huge quantities of carrots.. they also are gassy) cucumber slices, broccoli, green beans and zucchini slices are OK for your dog to eat. Just be sure not to let your dog eat any raw potatoes.
- So long as you cook it, dogs can safely eat plain white pasta (as long as they are not allergic to wheat) or white rice. This can also help your dog relieve any stomach problems they may be having.
- Popcorn is OK for your dog. Just be sure that it’s un-buttered, unsalted and air popped. Popcorn contains riboflavin and thiamine, both of which promote eye health and digestion. Be sure there are no un-popped kernels as they could pose a choking hazard for your dog.
- Honey contains countless vitamins and minerals that can be super healthy for your dog. Giving your dog small amounts of honey can also help them with allergies as it introduces small amounts of pollen into their system. This helps build an immunity to certain allergens.
- Yes, your dog can eat quinoa. Quinoa is actually one of the ingredients used in many high quality dog foods. Quinoa has very strong nutritional values and is used as an alternative to corn and soy. (Corn and Soy are high allergen triggers, and corn is high sugar content and ferments in the intestine.)
- Parsley is great for clearing up your dogs stinky breath. Add it to your dogs food in moderation and it will help neutralize the odor. It’s also a good source of potassium and calcium.
- If your dog is experiencing stomach issues, squash is a great source of beta carotene, and will help with digestion. Be sure to remove any seeds prior to feeding your dog the squash. (Cooked or canned pumpkin is wonderful for your dog, given twice daily after they eat their meals.)
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