Harmful Foods for Dogs: Think Before You Treat!

It’s so tempting to reward our furry friends with edible treats!

It’s okay to mindfully do so, however if you’re unaware of what is good versus bad for your dog, you should think twice and reward your pup with praise instead. Think before you treat! Below are 5 harmful foods you shouldn’t feed your pup or allow them to eat. If you think your pet has ingested something bad, your first call should always be your veterinarian!

Grapes/Raisins

They’re a healthy snack for humans, but for dogs, it’s one of the top harmful foods. They are extremely toxic to dogs. Grapes and raisins can cause severe kidney failure. In addition to kidney failure, dogs can develop diarrhea and vomiting and become in a lethargic state. Typically dehydration and a decrease in their appetite will occur. Death from kidney failure may occur within 3 to 4 days.

Chocolate

This is one of most commonly known harmful foods for dogs, but it’s worth mentioning again for reiteration. Chocolate contains caffeine. If your dog consumes chocolate, it will cause severe symptoms including: vomiting, dehydration, abdominal pains, muscle tremors, a spike in body temperature, seizures, elevated heart rate, and death.

Onions

This is really worth noting, because it’s not discussed enough. If your dog consumes onions, especially in large quantities, it can cause serious damage to their red blood cells, which would cause your pup to be sluggish and lethargic.

Avocados

Man oh man! The world has really embraced the avocado. It’s gained popularity over the last 10 years making its presence in many homes. Avocados are delicious and nutritious for humans, but for dogs it falls in the harmful foods category. They contain a toxin called persin. It has a variety of effects on dogs including breathing difficulties, fluid buildup in their lungs, and digestion problems. The most concerning consumption consequence is swallowing the pit. The pit is large and not digestible and can get caught in the passage of the dog. Please be sure to discard or blend the pit of your avocados.

Bacon

They say it makes everything taste better and we aren’t here to argue that! Bacon, however, is a harmful food for your dog. Sometimes you’ll be tempted to just toss a little piece to your pup as a treat. Don’t. Bacon contains gobs of fat that affect the pancreas of your pup. It causes digestive problems for your dog and affects his future nutrient absorption. If you’re giving your dog bacon, let it be a dog friendly bacon-like treat!