Toxic And Dangerous Foods To Avoid
Some foods should never be fed to dogs because they are considered toxic to them. Toxic foods are not ones they are allergic to, or that could give them an upset stomach or diarrhea. These are foods that can make dogs violently ill, in need of emergency care, and even die after consuming them. Toxic foods include:
- Garlic, onions, chives, and other Allium family members
- Avocados
- Tomatoes ripe tomatoes are OK unripe tomatoes and the plant stems and leaves are toxic
- Macadamia nuts
- Almonds choking hazard and can tear the esophagus
- Mushrooms
- Raw eggs
- Seeds and pits of fruits like apples and peaches
- Chicken bones can tear parts of the digestive system and cause internal bleeding
Be careful when providing other “people foods” that tend to cause gastrointestinal upset, vomiting, gas, and/or diarrhea, although they aren’t likely to cause life-threatening illness. Some of these are:
- Broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and other cabbages cause painful gas
- Raw meat can contain parasites
- Sweet foods food with added sugar or sugar substitutes are unhealthy
- Salty foods like ham, deli meats, salted nuts can cause dogs to retain water
- Cinnamon can irritate dogs’ mouths and digestive systems
Does A Dog Need Fiber
Playing an important role in gut health, fiber is a carbohydrate that comes in both insoluble and soluble forms. Each of which has a place in your dogs bodys ecosystem. When we refer to digestible fibers, we mean any fiber that can be broken down into many simple molecules and can be eaten by the bacteria that is found in your dogs gut. And indigestible fiber is a carbohydrate that offers very little nutritional value however, it will massage your dogs gut to lessen inflammation as well as clean out mucous membranes.
Fiber basically helps a dog maintain a healthy balance in his gut by regulating his bowels and keeping his colon healthy as well. Fiber can also aid with both constipation and diarrhea. Any dog that suffers from chronic diarrhea will respond well to fiber.
Can Dogs Eat Marijuana
Marijuana contains THC, a psychoactive chemical that causes a high in people. Just a small amount of marijuana can be toxic to dogs. Here are the common symptoms of marijuana toxicity in dogs: slow response times, dribbling urine, heart rate change, neurological stimulation, hyperactivity, coma, and even death. Read more about dogs and marijuana.
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Is Corn On The Cob Safe For Dogs
While small amounts of corn are safe for a dog to ingest, giving your dog an ear of corn can be dangerous. If your dog is determined enough , they will eat the cob and all. The cob can be a choking hazard and can cause intestinal blockage. This could be fatal to your dog. Learn more in our can dogs eat corn article.
How Much Fruit And Veg Should I Feed My Dog Every Day
As long as youre feeding your dog a complete and balanced diet appropriate for their age then they dont actually need extra fruit and veg every day. Complete dog foods contain all the nutrients your dog needs to keep them happy and healthy. We wouldnt recommend feeding fruit and veg as part of your dogs daily diet.
Some fruit and veg, on the other hand, make great treats! Just like our favourite snacks, commercial treats from the pet shop or supermarket can sometimes be quite fattening and contain a lot of additives. If youre looking for a tasty treat for your dog, safe fruit and vegetables can be a great, healthy option.
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If Your Dog Eats What They Shouldnt
No matter how careful you are, your dog might find and swallow something they shouldn’t. Keep the number of your local vet, the closest emergency clinic, and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center — 426-4435 — where you know you can find it. And, if you think your dog has eaten something toxic, call for emergency help right away.
Basic Dog Feeding Guide
The following information is general advice, but as each dog is an individual, seek veterinary advice, particularly if your dog has any special dietary needs or has a reaction to a standard diet.
The basis of your dogs diet should be a high quality balanced premium commercial dog food that is appropriate for their life stage and health status. By reading the label, you can check that it complies with the Australian Standard for the Manufacturing and Marketing of Pet Food AS5812:2017 .
The amount of food required will depend on your dogs size, breed, age and level of exercise, but take care not to overfeed or underfeed. Your vet will be able to weigh your dog, assess your dogs body condition score and provide advice.
To avoid bloat, which can be fatal, adult dogs should be fed at least twice a day and should not be exercised immediately before or after eating. This applies particularly to deep-chested dogs such as Boxers and German Shepherds.
Fresh drinking water must be available at all times but do not offer your dog milk as this can cause gastrointestinal upsets.
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Frozen Meals Are A Healthy Option For Dogs
No doubt youve heard about cooked frozen meals, many of which are delivered to your home . But are they worth the price? Yes, especially given how convenient they are, says Dr. Morgan. Freeze-dried or rehydrated meals offer similar benefits as frozen fresh meals. Although they require a small amount of work, usually mixing the food with water, theyre probably healthier than kibble, Dr. Morgan says. These foods are closer to whole-food nutrition, which is always better for dogs.
Can Dogs Eat Bananas
Bananas can be a yummy and healthy treat for your dog to eat. Just be sure to peel the banana before letting your dog have it. The banana peel isnt toxic to your dog, but it can be challenging to digest and could cause intestinal blockage issues.
And remember to give your dog bananas in moderation. Too much could cause an upset tummy.
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How To Make Homemade Dog Food:
Making homemade dog food is a cinch! Heres a quick rundown of the process:
- Brown the turkey. Heat a large skillet or pot over a medium-high heat. Add in the coconut oil and turkey and sauté until it is browned and cooked through, about 10 minutes.
- Add the veggies. Reduce the heat to medium and stir in the zucchini, spinach, carrots and turmeric. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 5-7 minutes, until the vegetables are tender.
- Mix in the egg. Turn off the heat and and crack in the egg. Let the egg cook in the hot food, mix it around to ensure it mixed through and cooked through.
- Stir in the rice. Add the rice and stir it in with the other ingredients until everything is well combined. Cool and serve!
What Is A Good Amount Of Peanuts For Dogs
You can offer a small portion of unsalted raw peanuts as a reward during training or when giving positive reinforcement. In volume, you can provide about ten peanuts to large dogs, 5 to medium dogs, and 2 to small dogs, along with moderating consumption to about 2 to 3 times a week.
Once training is finished, you can roughly calculate the calories consumed and remove them from the rest of the diet.
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Things To Watch Out For:
Why Are Peanuts Good
Peanuts are increasingly popular as a part of a healthy diet. But does the same apply to dogs? And what about other peanut products like peanut butter?
Peanuts are nuts rich in natural fatty acids and antioxidants. They are the only nuts that grow under the ground and have immense health benefits for humans and dogs alike.
For instance, peanuts help prevent cell damage and heart problems in humans. This removes bad cholesterol like LDL cholesterol plaque in the arteries.
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Lemons And Limes: Cant Eat
Lemons and limes can be toxic to your dog.
This is because the skins of lemons and limes contain a substance called psoralen, which can cause dogs to have gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea .
If very large amounts of psoralen are consumed by dogs, more severe symptoms, such as muscle tremors, difficulty walking, liver failure and death, can result.
Can Dogs Eat Grass
In general, grass isnt particularly harmful to dogs, but the pesticides and herbicides sprayed onto grass can be toxic. Your pup may also ingest parasites like hookworms if they eat grass contaminated by animal feces.
Eating grass is a common behavior among dogs, but theres a lot of debate around why they do it. Some veterinarians believe it could be due to deficiencies in their diet, but even dogs with well-balanced diets occasionally eat grass.
Many pet owners believe their dogs eat grass because they feel sick to their stomach, but theres no hard evidence to support this. Many dogs that eat grass tend to vomit afterward, but the grass could be what causes an upset stomach in the first place.
To prevent your dog from eating grass, try distracting them with treats whenever they lean down to take a bite out of the lawn. If your dog continues to eat grass or seems to do so compulsively, ask for a professional opinion from your vet, as it may be a sign of a deeper problem.
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Can Dogs Eat Cheese
Since dogs are not able to easily digest milk, its recommended to not feed them cheese. Blue cheese is particularly dangerous as it contains roquefortine C, which causes vomiting and diarrhoea. If the case gets worse, your dog may experience tremors, seizures and a high temperature. Visit the vet immediately if you think your dog has eaten blue cheese. Cheese boards are popular at Christmas time so be careful to keep this out of reach from your dog who may be tempted to give it a try.
Can Dogs Eat Raw Meat
If youre considering feeding your dogs fresh meat, always cook it through thoroughly. Dogs should not eat raw meat as, similarly to eggs, raw meat poses a risk to contracting salmonella poisoning and contracting e coli. Dogs can eat meat as long as its handled carefully, and any fat has been removed.
Have you found any dietary surprises within our dog food list? If you would like more information on what dogs can eat, please dont hesitate to get in touch with your nearest Animal Trust clinic. All our consultations are free, so if you are unsure what you should be feeding your dog, you can speak to our experienced team knowing it wont cost you a penny.
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History Of Medicine = Food
Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.
Hippocrates
Food is age old medicine. Modern day, conventional medicine has strayed quite a bit from this in the last century or so, but thankfully its making a comeback.
Historically, in veterinary school, and even for human physicians, we dont get much nutritional training at all. Much of the training vets do get is limited and may also be biased. This is why a lot of veterinarians dont really focus on it.
But that doesnt mean nutrition isnt important
When diet is wrong, medicine is of no use. When diet is correct, medicine is of no need.
Ancient Ayurvedic Proverb
Can Dogs Eat Candy Chewing Gum Toothpaste & Mouthwash
Not only do these items contain sugar, but they often contain xylitol. Xylitol is a sugar alcohol found in gum, candies, baked goods, and other sugar-substituted items. Although xylitol causes no apparent harm to humans, it is highly toxic to dogs. Even small amounts can cause low blood sugar, seizures, liver failure, and even death for your pup. Peanut butter is a common culprit. Always be sure to check the labels for xylitol.
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Human Food Is Not Always Dog
Foods that are perfectly suitable for human consumption may be toxic to your dog, posing a serious threat to their health and well-being. Some foods can cause vomiting, diarrhea, upset stomach, weakened breathing, kidney problems, seizures, and even death.
Why? Because a dogs metabolism is different from our metabolism. Metabolism is the process of breaking down food and turning it into energy. Your dogs body cant process all types of food the way your body can, so foods that are just fine for you can be bad news for your dog.
Please note, although were attempting to add every food we can find that is potentially unsafe for dogs to this article, there are foods that we may miss. Dont consider a food safe to feed to your dog just because its not on this list of foods bad for dogs.
Do your research if you are uncertain about a particular food. If you are worried about something your pet consumed, please call your vet immediately.
Human Foods That Dogs Can Safely Eat
Its one of the simple joys of owning a dog: feeding it the same food that youre currently eating.
However, you have to be careful with what you give your pup, as some human foods can be toxic for dogs.
Thats not what this list is about, though. This list is a celebration of all the foods that you have in your house that you can safely share with your pup.
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Macadamia Nuts: Cant Eat
Dogs should never eat macadamia nuts.
Macadamia nuts contain an unknown toxin that may lead to vomiting, muscle weakness, tremors, hyperthermia and depression when dogs consume them, even in small amounts .
Additionally, macadamia nuts have a high fat content, which may elevate your dogs triglyceride levels and potentially lead to pancreatitis.
Peanuts And Peanut Butter
Sometimes, your furry friend needs extra protein.
This is where peanuts and peanut butter come in handy.
Both are not only loaded with protein, but are also great sources of vitamin B and E
With raw, unsalted peanut butter, your dog can have access to healthy fats and niacin on top of other healthy nutrients.
Feed your furry pal small to moderate portions of peanuts and peanut butter to manage their intake of fat.
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What Human Foods Can Dogs Eat
Its no secret that dogs love food. They sometimes eat strange things , and they will happily scarf down human food. But most dog owners know that there are plenty of human foods dogs cant eatnot just because they can be unhealthy but because they can be toxic. And beyond that, dogs can have adverse reactions to certain foods, even if they are supposedly good for them. Its important to know that dogs can have food intolerances just like people, causing gastrointestinal upset or even an allergic reaction, says Kelly Ryan, DVM, Director of Veterinary Services for the Animal Medical Center of Mid-America. Be sure to monitor your dog and check with your vet if youre questioning whether to introduce a new food. Dr. Ryan also notes that human food that is not a specific part of your dogs daily food regimen should not take up more than 10 percent of his caloric intake thats an important guideline when devising the very best diet for your dog. But if you want to feed your pup human food in a responsible way, youre probably wondering what human foods your dog can eat. Here are the best options.
Human Foods That Are Safe For Dogs To Eat
We love our dogs, and they make great companions that enjoy being with us and taking part in family activities, which usually include joining us at the dinner table. Most of us are familiar with our pets begging for scraps, but you might not know what foods are safe to give your dog if you are a new pet owner and would like to make sure your pet stays healthy.
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Can Baby Foods Make Dogs Sick
Baby foods can make dogs sick at times. For example, baby food can give dogs stomach aches and headaches if they eat too much of it . Also, baby food can make dogs sick when it has gone bad.
If you are giving leftover baby food to your dogs, make sure that it has not been open for a long time. Dont give spoiled baby food to dogs nor other animals.
Taurine And Heart Disease
Taurine, an amino acid thats abundant in meat, was implicated in cases of cat DCM 30 years ago. It turned out commercial cat foods didnt contain sufficient taurine. When taurine was added to the food, DCM in cats basically disappeared.
Taurine immediately became suspect in dog DCM, but relatively few instances of taurine-deficient DCM have been identified in dogs. Certain diets, however, notably those high in lamb, rice bran, or fiber and very lowprotein diets have been associated with canine taurine deficiency.
Fast-forward to 2018. Veterinary cardiologists started noticing higher than usual numbers of dogs with DCM. At Tufts University, Lisa Freeman, DVM, Ph.D., DACVIM, a board-certified veterinary nutritionist with a research emphasis on nutritional effects of heart disease, reported an alarming number of these dogs were eating what she called BEG diets.
Boutique diets are produced by small companies without nutritional testing facilities. Exotic-ingredient diets use unusual sources, such as kangaroo or duck, which have not received extensive testing more common sources such as chicken or beef have. Grain-free diets replace grains such as rice and corn with potatoes or legumes as a carbohydrate source. No study has ever shown grain-free to be superior to grain-inclusive diets.
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