Thursday 27 August 2009

Foods that are dangerous for dogs

Healthy Dog Food - VioVet
Although it is tempting to give your dog scraps off the table or leftovers from your own supper, there are a few foods that really are very hazardous for your dog and should not be offered under any circumstances. Some food that is suitable for humans will cause havoc with a dog, in mild cases causing indigestion, in severe cases causing illness and even death.

Here is a list of some of the foodstuffs that should never be given to dogs.
Alcoholic drinks - can cause intoxication, coma and death
Baby food - often contains onion powder that is toxic to dogs
Bones from chicken or fish - obstruction or laceration of the digestive system
Cat food - too high in protein and fats generally
Chocolate and Caffeine - very toxic, especially for small dogs. Can cause heart problems
Citrus - can cause vomiting
Fat trimmings - can cause pancreatitis
Grapes and raisins - has shown to cause damage to the kidneys
Vitamin supplements containing iron - these are likely to hurt the lining of the digestive system and be toxic to the other organs too
Liver - can be eaten in small quantities, but can cause vitamin A toxicity which affects the muscles and bones
Marijuana - causes vomiting and changes in the heart rate
Milk and dairy products - can cause diarrhoea due to insufficient amounts of the enzyme lactase which is needed to break down the lactose in milk
Onion and garlic - raw, cooked, in a powder, it is all dangerous for dogs, especially onions. They contain sulfoxides and disulfides which damage red blood cells and cause anaemia.
Mushrooms - contain a variety of toxins that in large quantities can result in shock and death
Mouldy food - very likely to cause vomiting and diarrhoea
Raw eggs - these decrease the absorption of vitamin b in the body which is needed for a healthy coat and skin
Raw fish - if this is fed regularly to a dog, they have a high chance of developing seizures, or even death
Salt - electrolyte imbalances are common when salt is given in large doses
Sugary goods - obesity, dental problems and diabetes can occur (just the same as with humans in this case!)
Yeast dough - expansion in the stomach or intestines can cause pain and even rupture

This is not a completely exhaustive list of foods to not give your dog, however it is reasonably complete. If you have fed any of these to your dog in the past but haven’t noticed any problems then the chances are they are fine. If you are worried, take your pet to the vet for some advice.

Have any of you experienced any problems with a particular type of food? Send in your comments below.

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