You may have seen your furry friend adorably looking at you while you have your meal and may feel tempted to feed them some. But the aftermath caused when you feed your dog table scraps is incredibly dangerous to their health. There is a reason why dog food exists, as it is carefully composed by keeping in mind their bodily requirement and suitability. Since many pet owners tend to ignore this concern, we are here to address why you should never feed your dogs and cats human food. Let’s get started!
Contents
Pancreatitis
Most of the food humans eat are fatty in nature, and this fatty food adversely affects the pancreas of your dog. Pancreatitis is a condition wherein a development of inflammation occurs in the pancreas, and it is more common in dogs than cats. The symptoms include vomiting, hunched back, severe abdominal pain, loss of appetite, weakness in the body, diarrhea, dehydration, fever, etc. In extreme cases, it may also prove fatal. Even a small amount of lean meats, fried foods, or dairy products can cause great damage to your dog’s health. Therefore it would be best if you keep your dog away from food scraps at all times.
Weight Gain
Human food is one of the main causes behind dogs becoming fat or even obese, for that matter. And we all know, an overweight dog is never a healthy dog. Dogs that eat food scraps are more inclined towards becoming obese, which leads to numerous illnesses. These may include a wide array of heart illnesses, pancreatitis, etc. It may even cause your dog to become diabetic in the longer run. So as a responsible owner, you should never feed your dog table scraps.
Allergies
Humans often enrich home cooking with a variety of seasonings, sauces, vinegar, etc. Similarly, the premade and packaged foods made for humans contain a number of preservatives and chemicals. In both cases, certain ingredients may not suit your dog for the obvious reason that it is not safe for them to consume. There is a huge possibility of your dog getting sick due to an allergic reaction caused by consuming table scraps. The allergy developed may again cause further damage to their well-being and can result in serious health issues in the future.
Poor Impulse Control
Dog owners sometimes give into their dog’s charm and feed them a piece of what they are having. They fail to realize that even the occasional small bites of human food make the dog feel that it is safe for them to consume and become more used to table scraps within no time. This causes them to lose their ability to control their food impulses. And we all know that impulse control is one of the most important skills that any pet can learn. Your dog should know what kind of food is suitable for them and what is not. If pets become used to eating table scraps, they will start craving for it more and ultimately become irresistible.
Exposure To Toxins
In addition to all the issues mentioned above, treating your dog with table scraps exposes them to a number of toxins. Even the healthy foods that we eat, including fruits and vegetables like grapes and onions, can prove toxic for cats and dogs. Even other food items such as bread, brownies, raisins, and many others may seem harmless but can potentially toxicate the dog’s organs. For instance, grapes and raisins toxicate the kidneys of pets. Similarly, xylitol, which you can find in gum, candies, and even peanut butter, can incredibly drop their blood sugar level and prove fatal.
Foods You Should Never Feed Your Dog
- Chocolate
- Caffeine
- Garlic
- Onion
- Nuts
- Salty Foods
- Grapes
- Raisins
- Alcohol
- Avocado
What To Do When Your Dog Falls Sick After Eating Human Food?
In case of any allergic reaction, health conditions, choking hazard, or sudden change in appetite, make sure you book a visit to the vet as soon as possible to get the issue diagnosed and treated the right way. Please do not delay the visit as the condition may worsen over time and cause irreversible or non-treatable damages.
Conclusion
After knowing all the mentioned reasons and critically understanding their depth, it is fair to say that your dog’s worst enemy is human food. It would be best to keep them away from table scraps and strictly train them to eat dog food to ensure healthy living today and forever. There are human foods your dog can eat, but make sure to do your research before feeding them anything other than their dog food.
