Last time I talked about five common foods that are bad, if not fatal, to dogs. While some people may already be aware that things like chocolate and alcohol are bad for our furry friends, there were quite a few foods on the list I never thought twice about. After all, who would think that something as innocent as onion, garlic, or grapes could actually hurt your dog? Our pets are important to us and can change our lives in wondrous and happy ways, so we must be careful about what we feed them.
For a full list of foods you should avoid giving to your precious pooch, visit the ASPCA website. Here are five more foods you should avoid giving to your dog and why.
1. Raisins and Grapes – These contain an unknown toxin which can damage the kidneys. Oddly enough, there have been no problems associated with grape seed extract that is often used as an anti-oxidant.
2. Human Vitamins – Although dogs can have many of the same supplements and vitamins we can, it’s best to avoid giving them human vitamins, especially those containing iron. They can damage the lining of the digestive tract and be toxic to the other organs including the liver and kidneys.
3. Raw Fish – If fed to a dog on regular basis, this can result in a thiamine—B vitamin—deficiency leading to loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death.
4. Yeast Dough – When making homemade bread or biscuits, or even ones from the can, don’t give any of the raw dough to your dog. It can expand and produce gas in the digestive system, causing pain and possible rupture of the stomach or intestines.
5. Milk and Dairy Products – Some adult dogs and cats don’t have sufficient amounts of the enzyme lactase to break down the lactose in milk. This can result in diarrhea and stomach cramps. Lactose-free milk products are available for pets, but after a pet is weaned there’s no reason it should drink milk unless suggested by your vet.
These are five more common foods we shouldn’t feed our dogs. Others on the list were marijuana, tobacco, moldy food, and peach pits. I’m not sure that anyone would ever think to give these to their dog anyway, but they could accidentally get into potentially poisonous foods or products. I always keep a tight fitting lid on my trashcan, just to be safe.
Also, overfeeding pets is almost as bad as giving them potentially toxic foods. To be sure that your furry child has a long and healthy life, do all you can to protect them and their diet.