This guide is the key to understanding how your dogs should be fed. Read it carefully. The central message is that if you feed your dog the worst things you can feed a dog, then it is going to suffer. You will see this suffering in the form of dry, dull and lackluster coat, severe itching, irregular bowel movements, loose or watery stools and lethargy, and so on. So today we will discuss top 10 dog poisons that you should never feed your pet.
1. Cooked bones
Raw bones are the best things to feed a dog but cooked bones are a different matter. They are brittle, splintery and can injure your pet internally. Never ever feed cooked bones to your pet. If you wish, you can feed raw bones to your dog. Make sure to purchase them from a butcher you trust. Preferably go in for organic, farm raised poultry. Make sure the bones come from healthy livestock. Raw bones are a rich source of calcium, proteins, omega fatty acids, iron, and other minerals.
2. Avocado
This fruit may be high in omega 3 essential fatty acids but in large amounts it can be dangerous for dogs. The persin in avocados is one of the top 10 dog poisons to avoid. So never feed guacamole to your pet.
3. Alcoholic beverages
Alcohol is not good for humans and the same can be said for dogs as well. In canines, even a tiny amount of alcohol can inflict severe damage on the brain, liver and central nervous system. Alcohol is even known to cause death is smaller dogs.
4. Xylitol
Xylitol is a sugar found in candy and gum which causes an insulin spike in canines. This reduces blood sugar levels to an extent that it could cause liver failure. The initial symptoms of xylitol poisoning are vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy.
5. Chocolate
Chocolate is one of the worst dog foods to arrive- consider it among the top 10 dog poisons to avoid. Even licking your bowl of chocolate ice cream could cause severe vomiting, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms in dogs.
6. Caffeine
Excess caffeine in canines can cause restlessness, palpitations, tremors and convulsions. This is one of the top 10 dog food poisons and it has no antidote.
7. Grapes and raisins
Never let your dog eat grapes or raisins. These foods are extremely toxic and even in very small doses can cause vomiting or diarrhea in your furry friend. In large quantities, these worst foods for dogs can even cause kidney failure.
8. Milk and dairy products
Apart from yogurt and cottage cheese, milk and other dairy products are very problematic for dogs. Majority of dog breeds are lactose intolerant and they have trouble digesting milk. For this reason, you must never allow your dog to even lick your ice cream bowl. ‘What happens when dog eats Cheese?’ Cheese is rather a gray area as far as canines are concerned. Some dogs can handle cheese well but others are known to experience severe gastric disturbances if they eat certain varieties of cheese in large quantities. The only way to find out if your dog is allergic to cheese is to feed it in small quantities at first.
9. Tomatoes, onion and garlic
Green tomatoes are one of the worst dog foods to avoid. The tomatine alkaloid leads to excessive drooling, irregular heartbeats, muscle weakness and breathing problems. If you notice these side effects of dog eating tomatoes, call your vet immediately. Like tomatoes, garlic and onions are also toxic to dogs when consumed in large amounts.
10. Raw eggs, raw meat and raw fish
Salmonella, e.coli and other bacterial infections pose a major threat to canines; so avoid feeding raw poultry to your pet. Fish disease or salmon poisoning disease is known to cause swollen lymph nodes and vomiting. Can my dog eat cooked fish? Absolutely. Cooking kills all the germs and reduces the toxins in salmon.
Breads, rice and the truth about feeding simple carbohydrates to your dog
- Can I feed my dog rice every day?
- Is dog eating popcorn safe?
- Can my dog eat bread?
These are some common questions asked by dog owners. Feeding white rice and white bread has the same reaction as that of feeding pure sugar to dogs. While rice is easy to digest, it is nearly 70% starch with very little fiber. The same is true with white bread. Multi grain bread is better option and so is brown rice or wild rice. So the answer is: avoid feeding white bread and white rice in large quantities to your dog every day. As far as popcorn goes: Plain unsalted, unbuttered popcorn in small quantities is okay to feed dog.
What to feed your dog when you run out of dog food? Can I feed human food instead of dog food?
There are many homemade dog food recipes you can feed your canine. We have discussed some of the best and easy ones here. You can also feed your pet brown rice with chicken. Boil the chicken along with some vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes etc. Mash these with the rice and chicken stock. Add the fleshy chicken bits. This is a complete meal for your pet. You can also feed oats (plain without sugar). Cook the oats with a bit of salt and chicken, vegetables etc. Millet, sorghum, amaranth are some good grains for your pet. Lean meat, bananas, plain baked potato, green beans, cucumber, zucchini etc are some good foods to feed your dog. As always, it is best to consult your pet about the right diet for your pet.