Ingredients You Should Avoid
There is the notion that dogs can eat anything, but this isn’t true. Many foods are, and should be avoided, dangerous to dogs. Avoid using any of these foods when preparing your dog food:
• raisins and grapes are toxic to dogs as they contain toxins that can cause severe liver and kidney damage;
• chocolate, which can wreak havoc on your dog’s metabolic system, causing him to vomit and/or have diarrhea, after ingesting even a small amount, while a large amount can lead to heart failure and possibly death;
• macadamia nuts and walnuts, which are poisonous for dogs (macadamia nuts, especially) and can affect the nervous system.
• garlic, onions, leeks and chives are toxic for dogs, and can cause anemia, making them very weak and quite possibly collapse (there is a lot of controversy surrounding garlic and whether or not it should be included as an ingredient in dog food, while raw garlic is clearly discouraged);
• coffee has the same effect on your dog as does chocolate;
• avocados, which contain a substance causing dogs to have diarrhea, vomit, and suffer from heart congestion; and
• yeast, on its own or in dough can cause flatulence and discomfort, and too much gas can cause their stomachs to rupture.
In addition to the aforementioned foods that should be avoided, don’t use spoiled ingredients for your dog food. One rule that can help to guide you with respect to what you should not feed your dog is that anything you consider dangerous for you to eat may also be dangerous for your dog.
Ingredients to Use in Moderation
Many products do not damage dogs but should be used in moderation:
• Milky foods, because some dogs find it difficult to digest them;
• cooking oils, such as canola oil;
• salt, which increases water retention, which may lead to heart disease and failure; and
• Maize, because it’s also difficult for some dogs to digest
All mammals have different metabolisms, responsible for breaking food down and turning it into energy. That is why certain foods are toxic for dogs but not for humans. It is important to let the whole family know what your dog can and cannot eat. This will prevent someone from sneaking him a treat that could cause serious health damage.
Above is only a sampling of foods that dogs cannot eat. If you are in doubt about a food item not on the list, be sure to check with your veterinarian before feeding it to your dog.