Do you know that there are foods you should NOT feed a dog? These foods can cause major health problems (for any breed). Please don't feed or let anyone else give your dog these foods:
Animal Fat - Alcohol - Avocado
Chives - Chocolate - Caffeine - Candy - Coffee Grounds
Cooked Bones - Corn Syrup
Garlic - Grapes
Macadamia Nuts - Mushrooms - Mustard Seeds
Nutmeg - Onions (any kind)
Persimmons - Potato plants
Raisins - Raw Eggs - Rhubarb
Seeds or pits of: Apple, Cherry or Peach
Salt - Tea - Tobacco - Tomatoes
Yeast dough
Animal fat and fried foods: Excessive fat can cause pancreatitis.
Avocados: The fruit, pit and plant are all toxic. They can cause difficulty breathing and fluid accumulation in the chest, abdomen and heart.
Bones: Cooked bones can splinter and damage a dog’s internal organs. Raw Bone should always be supervised as a piece can always break off and cause problems. Try frozen oxtails or frozen knuckle bones then take the bone away before the dog can swallow a final small piece whole. It's a good natural way to clean teeth too.
Chocolate: Chocolate can cause seizures, coma and death. Baker’s chocolate is the most dangerous. A dog can consume milk chocolate and appear to be fine because it is not as concentrated, but it is still dangerous. The darker the chocolate, the more cocoa in the mix, the more lethal.
Coffee, Coffee grounds, tea and tea bags: Drinks/foods containing caffeine cause many of the same symptoms chocolate causes.
Grapes and Raisins: can cause kidney failure in dogs. As little as a single serving of raisins can kill a dog! The grapes are treated with a pesticide lethal to dogs.
Macadamia Nuts and Walnuts: Macadamia nuts can cause weakness, muscle tremor and paralysis. Limit all other nuts as they are not good for dogs in general, their high phosphorous content is said to possibly lead to bladder stones. Exception to this rule seems to be Peanut Butter. However: always use Salt/Sugar free ORGANIC Peanut butter (sugar encourages cancer growth). Regular peanut butter has lots of toxins and is full of pesticides.
Mushrooms: Can be deadly, never let your pets chew on mushrooms found in your yard. Only safe "food" mushrooms are shitaki, maitake and reishi.
Nutmeg: can cause tremors, seizures and death.
Onions: Onions destroy red blood cells and can cause anemia.
Raw eggs: Raw eggs can cause salmonella poisoning in dogs. Dogs have a shorter digestive tract than humans and are not as likely to suffer from food poisoning, but it is still possible. Best to use organic eggs if you do raw. Scrambled lightly is best.
Salt: Excessive salt intake can cause kidney problems.
Seeds or Pits of: Apples, Cherries, Peaches (and similar fruit). The seeds of these fruits contain cyanide, which is poisonous to dogs as well as humans. Unlike humans, dogs do not know to stop eating at the core/pit and easily ingest them. It can also become lodged in the intestines and kill the dog in 24 hours with no warning.
Sugar and Corn Syrups. EVEN ORGANIC IS BAD! This does not include Honey or Molasses, though they should only be in small amounts and never to dogs with cancer.
Tomatoes: Tomatoes can cause tremors and heart arrhythmias. Tomato plants are the most toxic, but tomatoes themselves are also unsafe.
Xylitol sugar substitute: even a small amount can cause liver failure and death. This is found in many foods, including chewing gum! There have been reported events of dogs getting into womens' purses and eating the sugar free gum. This drops the dogs blood sugar levels by interferring with their insulin production and within minutes can be FATAL. If you suspect your dog has gotten into anything contain xylitol, rush them to the nearest emergency vet. Many regular vets are not aware of this reaction and the time lost can be fatal. They can check with the ASPCA for emergency treatment instructions.
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*"Greenies" - are the latest popular treat to become deadly. It is found that they can be slippery and if a piece slides down the throat the dog can die. Also some animals are having problems digesting them. For now, you will want to avoid them till further changes are made.
If your dog has ingested any of these foods, get veterinary help immediately. If your vet doesn't feel it's a worry and says: "JUST WATCH THEM", you might want to invest the money and call the ASPCA Poison Hotline: (888) 426-4435. (A $55 consultation fee may be charged.) We have heard many horror stories of people who waited on the advice of their vet, and by morning their dog was dead.
This information is not meant to scare the life out of you! It is meant purely as an informational tool. Always use your best judgement and seek professional advice if there is any doubt or worry. Being the caretakers of our pets, we need to be informed to protect them.
