Many foods intended for humans can make dogs sick or lead to life-threatening health conditions in canines.
Onions (including leeks, chives and garlic) can be fatal to dogs due to compounds they contain that harm red blood cells that transport oxygen; this causes illness or even death in pets.
Xylitol, an artificial sweetener commonly found in low-carb baked goods and sugar-free gum and candy, can lead to hypoglycemia and liver failure in dogs. Macademia nuts as well as fruit pits (cherry, peach and apricot) are also highly poisonous for the animal’s wellbeing.
Contents
Bacon
Bacon contains salt and additives that are harmful for dogs, as well as fat that’s difficult to digest. A dog’s digestive system can only handle so much grease before its capacity exceeds, leading to stomachaches, diarrhea or potentially life-threatening conditions like bloat.
Nitrates and nitrites found in bacon can also pose risks to canines. Their presence produces chemicals known as nitrosamines which increase their risk of cancer.
Apart from salt and nitrosamines, eating too much bacon can also cause pancreatitis in dogs, an inflammation of the pancreas that prevents it from properly breaking down and processing food. This condition can result in vomiting, weakness, appetite loss and pain for your pup; in extreme cases this condition could even be fatal if not addressed quickly by veterinarians, emergency animal clinics and poison control centers – so keep these numbers handy on speed dial.
Chocolate
Chocolate can be toxic for dogs in any form or quantity, thanks to an ingredient known as theobromine which stimulates their bodies, leading to tremors, increased heart rate, rapid or shallow breathing and even death in canines. Darker chocolate contains more theobromine; even sugar-free varieties contain deadly ingredients such as xylitol – even sugar-free varieties can contain deadly levels.
Most pet parents know not to give their dog candy, but it is also important for them to be aware of foods that could potentially harm them, such as carrots. While carrots provide essential vitamins, minerals and fiber, they may be difficult for dogs to digest raw. It would be best to serve cooked or steamed carrots when feeding raw carrots to dogs since raw ones pose choking hazards; furthermore fruits with pits, seeds or cores like peaches or apples should also be kept out of reach from consumption by dogs.
Avocados
Avocados contain persin, a fungicidal toxin found in their leaves, pit and skin which can pose serious health concerns to animals. Consuming this toxin may lead to vomiting, diarrhea and heart damage for some animals; additionally the pit doesn’t digest easily and may result in an intestinal or stomach blockage requiring immediate veterinarian attention.
Avocado flesh can be safely fed to dogs in small quantities as long as you remove its skin and pit beforehand. Incorporating it into their diet can provide them with healthy fats, vitamins, and minerals; however, its high fat content should only be eaten occasionally as this could increase pancreatitis risk – making avocado an appropriate treat or condiment!
Bones
Bones provide dogs with essential nutritional benefits such as calcium and phosphorus. Unfortunately, they can also break teeth, cause internal blockages, carry bacteria that make both humans and dogs ill, stimulate saliva flow and remove some plaque/tartar build-up on a dog’s teeth; however, this doesn’t work below the gumline [1].
Cooked bones from table scraps can be particularly hazardous to dogs’ health as they often crack or shatter into sharp pieces that could become lodged in their throat or puncture their bowel. Store-bought products (like those made from pork femurs and chops) also pose danger due to being processed and often contain preservatives harmful for canines.
Whole raw bones such as beef knuckle bones and marrow bones are generally safe for dogs as long as they do not pose a choking hazard, or are too large for their chewing capacity. We advise using chews from Ferplast instead as they promote healthier chewing habits while offering safer options.