EAT THIS, NOT THAT…

If you've ever eaten ANYTHING in front of your dog, I'm sure you've fallen victim to those sappy puppy eyes,

but have you ever wondered if your dog should be eating what you have?

Check out 5 of the big no-no's for doggie dining…

As tempting as it may be to share your dinner or snacks with your dog, you may want to think twice before breaking off a piece for your furry friend. Some foods can cause gastrointestinal distress while others are downright deadly! Below is a list of some of the most dangerous "people foods" for dogs.

Macadamia Nuts

While macadamia nuts have some really awesome health benefits for humans, these tender, buttery, delicious nuts can wreak havoc on your poor dog. Avoid feeding your dog macadamia nuts as well as any foods that may contain them. As few as 6 macadamia nuts can cause a dog to get sick with symptoms like vomiting, leg weakness, shaky muscles and a high temperature. If your dog were to eat chocolate with macadamia nuts, it will actually compound these symptoms making matters worse, and could even lead to death.

Avocado

Avocados contain persin. Persin is a fungicidal toxin that's generally harmless to humans, but dangerous for dogs. The pit can also be a dangerous choking hazard.

Grapes & Raisins

Dogs are unable to process grapes and raisins which can lead to kidney failure. Even the smallest amount can make a dog sick. Vomiting many times is a sign that your dog is experiencing a bad reaction to the fruit. You're dog can get weak and sluggish within just a day or two.

Onions & Garlic

Garlic & onions in any form can kill your dog's red blood cells. When red blood cells are killed off it causes anemia. So avoid letting your dog have foods containing raw, dehydrated, powdered, or cooked onions and garlic. Smaller doses can cause gastrointestinal distress while larger amounts can lead to poisoning. Watch for signs of illness such as weakness, wheezing & vomiting.

Chocolate, Coffee & Caffine

Now I'm sure you've heard chocolate is bad for dogs. The nasty little culprit in chocolate is Theobromine and it's found in all kinds of chocolate, even the white. Dark chocolate and baker's chocolate are the most dangerous. Chocolate can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. It can also lead to tremors, seizures, heart problems, and even death.

Other food items you should avoid feeding your dog are sweets, candies & gums containing Xylitol, yeast dough, citrus fruits, other nuts, persimmons, plums, peaches, salty snack foods & it's also best to avoid milk & dairy.

It's best to keep in mind that your pet wouldn't necessarily have access to these items if they were foraging for food in the wild and the best rule of thumb to stick with is if they wouldn't eat it naturally, they probably shouldn't having in their domesticated, cushy lives.

There are plenty of goodies that are healthy to feed your dog, including things you can share together. Check out our other blog post for some great recipe ideas:

7 Healthy Homemade Summertime Snacks for Your Dog

Here are some yummy DOG SAFE treats too!

Blue Buffalo Wilderness Dog Trail Treats

Triumph Dog Grain Free Jerky

Old Mother Hubbard Classic Crunchy Natural Dog Treats

Zuke's Mini Naturals Dog Treats

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