No matter how much humans love to treat their furry friends with tasty morsels, there are certain foods that don’t belong in a dog’s everyday diet. From fatty foods that tax the digestive system to snacks packed with toxins, understanding which ones are unhealthy for your pup can be essential for ensuring their overall well-being. With so many variables and potential risks of feeding the wrong stuff, it’s best to ensure they always have access to only top-of-the-line nutrition tailored especially for them. This article will explore 6 common human foods you should avoid giving your pooch at all costs!
How Certain Foods Can Affect Your Dog
Many pet owners tend to forget that what they feed their dogs is vital to their health. Certain ingredients, such as chocolate and onions, can prove to be toxic for a dog’s system if consumed in large enough quantities. Even vegetables and grains like kale or garbanzo beans can cause gastrointestinal upset when not properly cooked.
In addition to this, high-fat foods are not always the best choice, as they could lead to obesity or pancreatitis over time. It is also critical that treats not make up more than 10% of your dog’s dietary intake. All these points require pet owners to pay special attention when selecting food for their furry friends to keep them healthy and full of energy.
6 Foods You Should Avoid Feeding Your Dog
It’s no secret that a well-balanced diet is key to keeping your pup in top condition. To achieve this, it’s important to be mindful of the foods you feed them and avoid potentially harmful ingredients. Here are six common human foods that should never make their way into a dog’s bowl:
Chocolate
Chocolate is a popular treat among humans, but it can be harmful and even fatal to dogs. Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine, which is toxic to dogs. Keep in mind the amount of theobromine in chocolate varies depending on the type of chocolate. For example, dark chocolate contains the highest amount of theobromine, followed by milk chocolate and white chocolate.
If a dog ingests chocolate, the theobromine can cause symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, hyperactivity, rapid breathing, muscle tremors, seizures, and in severe cases, death. The severity of the symptoms depends on the amount of theobromine ingested and the dog’s size. Smaller dogs are more susceptible to chocolate toxicity because it takes less theobromine to reach toxic levels in their body.
If you suspect that your dog has ingested chocolate, it’s important to seek veterinary care immediately. The veterinarian may induce vomiting or administer activated charcoal to help absorb the theobromine. In severe cases, the dog may need to be hospitalized for supportive care, such as intravenous fluids and medications to control seizures.
