What not to feed your dog

The top foods that are bad for your dog.

Sometimes it's just too tempting to share a piece of your food with your dog. Afterall, many owners have such a strong bond with their dog that many are an inseparable part of the family and are treated that way. At the end of the day though, dogs have a different metabolism to humans and what we might think of as a tasty snack can, in fact, be deadly to dogs. To set your mind at rest we have compiled a list of foods and ingredients that you shouldn't be feeding your dog.

The top foods that can harm, or even kill your dog.

Chocolate

Yep, the stories about chocolate are true, it's really not good for your dog. The culprit is something called theobromine which appears in most chocolate and especially in darker high cocoa-content chocolate. Around 1 ounce of chocolate per pound of your dog's weight is enough to be dangerous, so keep the sweet stuff out of reach. If you suspect your dog has eaten chocolate you need to get to your vet as soon as possible and induce vomiting.Surprisingly, cats are even more affected by chocolate but they generally have no taste for sweet stuff and will rarely try it.White chocolate has only trace elements of theobromine, but it's still not advisable to feed it your dog due to the large amounts of sugar.

Grapes and raisins

There is a reasonable chance your dog has eaten grapes or raisins in the past and suffered no ill effects. But the fact remains that even a handful can cause serious liver problems and even renal failure. Watch out for signs vomiting and lethargy. A visit to the vet is in order if you suspect your dog has been ingesting grapes or raisins.

Raw meat, eggs and fish

Both raw eggs and raw meat may contain bacteria such as salmonella and e. coli, which can lead to food poisoning. There are also certain enzymes in raw eggs that can stimulate allergic reactions. Uncooked fish also contains parasites that can be harmful to puppies. Everything considered we would not recommend a raw diet unless you have researched it thoroughly. Most vets we have spoken to have not been inclined to recommend it as an appropriate diet.

Sugary foods

Sugar is just as bad for dogs as it is for humans. It can lead to the exact same issues for your dog, such as obesity, diabetes and tooth decay. So do your dog a big favour and keep the sweet stuff away.

Dairy including milk, cheese and yoghourt

Cheese, milk and other dairy products from cows should be avoided. Dogs simply don't have the enzymes needed to break down the milk sugar and many dogs are also lactose intolerant. Excess dairy can lead to intestinal problems, diarrhoea and, with such a high-fat content, it can even lead to pancreatitis. So keep the ice-cream to yourself.
 

Whilst avocados may be the superfood de jour for humans, their effect on dogs is less super. They contain their own homemade fungicide known as persin, which causes allergies in some dogs. It's also present in the stone, skin, leaves and bark of the tree. So when you're having that healthy avocado-on-toast breakfast, just remember to keep the green stuff in the fridge.

Chives, onions and garlic

Blimey, another staple of a healthy human diet is a no-no for dogs. These three ingredients are not great news for your dog with regular small doses can irritate the digestive system, whilst larger doses can lead to anaemia as they can break down the red blood cells. Anybody could be forgiven for thinking that dogs might just be related to vampires. We'd advise keeping that garlic breath to yourself.

Xylitol

You're thinking 'I'm not going to be feeding my dog any chemical crap like that'. yet xylitol is found in a host of sweetened foods including candies, chewing gum and many baked goods. It causes an insulin rush that lowers the normal blood sugar level potentially leading to liver problems, lethargy, vomiting and seizures.

What should you feed your dog?

Many people prepare food for their dog, just as they would for their family, from fresh ingredients and no processed foods. But if you haven't got the luxury of time, we would always advise to stick to a high quality dog food where you know for sure what's in it.

Fortunately, Nutrix sell a range of high-quality grain free dog food that offer a complete nutritional solution for any dog's dietary requirements.

Photo by Lenin Estrada