While you might treat your four-legged friend as a member of the family and sometimes feel as if they are practically human, unfortunately, this doesn’t mean you can feed them as if they are.
There are quite a few foods that can be very toxic for your dog and it’s important to know about them. Obviously, these are just a number of foods that can be toxic for your dog and not an exhaustive list.
Dogs have different metabolism rates than humans, so even if your dog is on the larger side and you think a small amount may not do any obvious harm, with the following foods, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
1. Chocolate
Even though it’s not good for them, dogs love chocolate… and who can blame them? So do we! But chocolate in any form is toxic for dogs because it contains theobromine and theophylline, which causes diarrhoea, panting and vomiting. If it gets into their nervous system, it can potentially damage their heart.
2. Corn on the Cob
Though you might think it’s similar to a bone for your dog to chew on, corn on the cob can get lodged in the small intestine and may have to be surgically removed. The corn isn’t toxic by itself, but too much can upset the digestive tract.
3. Raw Fish
Raw salmon isn’t a great food for dogs, and neither is trout. In fact, it’s best to avoid feeding dogs raw fish at all, as it may contain a bacteria called Neorickettsia Helminthoeca, which can be fatal. Cooked fish is okay, as cooking kills the bacteria.
4. Grapes and Raisins
Many kinds of fruit are fine for dogs, but there are a few that are not. Grapes and their dried counterpart, raisins, contain a toxin that causes kidney failure and severe liver damage. Even a small handful of grapes can be fatal.
5. Onions and Chives
Any foods that belong to the onion family should never be ingested by dogs. This includes leeks, garlic, chives and red or brown onions, and in any form (raw, dried, cooked or powdered like on chips). This is because onions contain something called thiosulphate which damages red blood cells causing anaemia. Other symptoms of eating onions are vomiting, diarrhoea and lethargy.
6. Macadamia Nuts
To be on the safe side, you should avoid feeding your dog any nuts – however, macadamia nuts in particular. These will cause damage to your dog’s muscle systems, resulting in swollen limbs and tremors as well as problems with their digestive and nervous systems.
7. Peaches and Plums
These are a problem for dogs because the pits can cause intestinal obstruction and enteritis. Peach pits when metabolised degrade into hydrogen cyanide – a deadly poison.
If you have any other questions relating to your dog’s health and dietary requirements while staying at Pet Resorts Australia, we have professionals on hand that would be more than happy to help out. Please feel free to contact us.Â
