11 List of Human Foods Not to Give Dogs – Harmful

Are you at times tempted to give your dog what you eat? You are not alone as this is a common temptation. Sometimes your pooch will give you a mysterious glare that leaves you guilty for not sharing your food with it.

As a human being, therefore, you may find yourself giving human foods to dogs. Vets will, nevertheless, tell you that human food isn’t that good for them. Do you have the courage to ignore it even when its eyes are sympathetically begging for what you are eating?

You should understand one simple truth; human food is not meant for these pets. In fact,  there are some of the kinds you should never give them. They form a large portion of foods not to feed dogs.

Overview

Many of us tend to think that dogs would enjoy what we eat as much as we are doing. This is a misguided notion. When it comes to these pets, it’s all about the nutritional value the food has.  Some foods that we enjoy may not be fit for this creature to feed on.

According to caninejournal.com, best dog food isn’t human food. Moreover, you shouldn’t feed it with any type that you feed on to other animals or pets. It sounds strange to note that most human food is poisonous and toxic to dogs.

Metabolism varies from one animal to the other. In this context, certain foods can be easily broken down in human beings but not your canine friend. Additionally, certain animals will easily break down specific foods but not others.

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, dog food should be strictly meant for these animals. Giving such to them is not loving them.

In this regard, some people foods are extremely poisonous to animals. Below are some 11 foods that you should never give to your dog:

All foods containing yeast - bread, doughnut

There are many that contain yeast such as bread and doughnuts. According to aspca.org, yeast dough continues to rise even after eating. The dog’s digestive system may not handle the rising.

As we all know, nothing makes us more uncomfortable as bloating. What if the same thing happens to your pet? Vets argue that bloating in dogs can even cause death. The digestive system cannot handle or is not meant for yeast products.

One more thing, your dog can become drunk. It is noted that yeast dough becomes raw once it gets into the stomach. In this case, it is likely to produce ethanol. Once this ethanol is absorbed into its body system, it becomes drunk.

Species and herbs - chives, onions, garlic

It would be naïve to assume that pooch might be interested in herbs and spices just like you do. Yes, spices make food tasty, but not healthy for them. Herbs and spices are the leading cause of gastrointestinal irritation in dogs.

On what not to feed these animals, vets-now.com observes that herbs and spices can damage the dog’s red blood cells. Examples of spices and herbs that you should avoid include onions, chives, and garlic among others. In fact, these ones are considered toxic as far as its health is concerned.

Dairy products

Just because a cat may milk doesn’t mean it is good for some of your pets. I am sure you know that even dairy products are also not good for cats. There are people who give their dog milk without knowing the health risks related to milk and dairy products. Did you know that its digestive system lacks lactase?

This enzyme is produced in the small intestine. It is the enzyme responsible for breaking down milk. Milk contains lactose that is broken down by lactase. If it lacks lactase, then it means that they can’t digest milk. This results in diarrhea in dogs.

Most of the nuts

As we all know, nuts form a major component of our daily diet. In fact, they are very beneficial to us in terms nutritional value. In this case, we might be tempted to think that nuts are also good for dogs. This is wrong as nuts form nourishments you should not give these animals.

Some nuts such as walnuts, almonds as well as pecans are not healthy to them. These nuts contain a lot of oil that irritates its digestive system. As a result, your dog may vomit or even diarrhea after eating a diet that contains nuts.

Foods and drinks that contain alcohol

We eat many foods and beverages that contain alcohol. These are the worst enemies as far as dog’s diet is concerned. Webmd.com highlights that those containing alcohol are extremely toxic to dogs.

If you see it vomiting or diarrhea, it could be alcohol. Foods and beverages containing alcohol can also cause stress and depression to dogs. Its coordination is also affected due to alcohol’s effect on the central nervous system. In extreme cases, alcohol may cause coma or even death.

Stimulants containing caffeine and nicotine

Drinks containing caffeine and nicotine are as bad as alcohol. On things you should never feed this pet, goodhousekeeping.com notes that caffeine, chocolate, and coffee are foods that a dog should never eat.

Medically, they contain methylxanthines found in coffee and cocoa seeds. When they eat anything containing methylxanthines, they adversely react with the digestive system causing vomiting and diarrhea.

Other side effects related to consumption of chocolate and coffee include seizures, excessive thirst, shortness of breath, abnormal heartbeats and even death. Vets observe that chocolate can kill this animal faster than milk.

Coconut and its products

On people foods to avoid feeding your pets, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals identifies that coconut contains oils irritate the dog’s digestive system. Therefore, it should never eat coconut or its products.

It is, however, noted that small amounts of coconut may not harm it. Nevertheless, coconut milk is fatty in nature. When they consume them, the end result is stomach upset and severe diarrhea. Moreover, coconut is rich in potassium which is not favorably digested by these pets.

All fruits containing citrus acid

Citric acid is not easily digested by dogs. In addition, citric acid may cause depression and affect the central nervous system. It is also a leading cause of stomach upset. Some of the diarrhea-related cases in dogs are associated with foods containing citric acid.

Therefore, do not give them citrus fruits, leaves, and stems as they contain this acid. Even when taken in small quantities, citric acid will always cause stomach upset.

Most raw foods

On 10 foods that are bad for dogs, dogtime.com identifies that raw foods should never be part of its diet. When cooking for them, make sure that it is thoroughly cooked. Some people have a habit of giving dogs raw meat and bones. This is unhealthy for it.

As we all know, when raw, they can be containing a bacterium known as E. coli. This bacterial is life-threatening, not only to dogs but also to human beings. A number of stomach problems are associated with E. coli.

Although they are known to be able to digest bones, they have a major problem in doing so to raw ones. In fact, many are chocked by raw bones.

Salt and all containing it

Good as it is to all of us, salt doesn’t go well with dogs. Does this mean that all their foods shouldn’t contain salt? Yes, they should eat food that contains little or no salt at all.

When taken in excess, salt may cause sodium ion poisoning, especially in dogs. It may also cause excessive thirst and reduced urine production. In extreme cases, your pet may diarrhea, vomit or get depressed. In other cases, death may occur as a result of salt consumption.

All containing sweeteners

Many products today contain sweeteners. The most common sweetener used in baked products is xylitol. In humans, xylitol is digested and excreted without causing complications. However, this is not the case in dogs.

When they eat foods containing sweeteners, they stand a risk of liver failure. In other cases, they may develop low sugar levels. They may also vomit and lose coordination. Death may also occur in extreme cases.

Citations and References

1. People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets
2. 13 human foods that are dangerous for dogs
3. Foods Your Dog Should Never Eat
4. 13 Things You Should Never Feed Your Dog
5. What Foods Are Toxic to Dogs