Dangerous Food For Dogs – Your Questions Answered

Dangerous Food For Dogs – Your Questions Answered · 147 Comments Although I previously wrote about dangerous food for Dogs many people have asked for a much more in depth article. It seems, like me, you wish to know exactly why certain foods are dangerous for Dogs and the consequences that may result if your Dog eats them. In this article I will cover the topic as comprehensively as possible. We will find exactly what to not feed your Dog. Firstly we will go through the main foodstuffs that are, or may be, dangerous for Dogs to eat. We will then go through each one in turn and find out exactly why they are dangerous or toxic food for our Dogs. Dangerous Foods For Dogs To Eat Raw Pork Bones that have not been frozen Nuts, especially Almonds and Macadamias Avocados Tomato Plants Raisins and Grapes Chocolate Caffeine Onions Garlic Cooked Bones Alcohol Large amounts of Liver This is quite a large list of what you do not feed Dogs, as you can see. But many of us want to know exactly why our Dogs will come to harm if they eat any of the above. For some there is a wealth of information, but for other foods, you will find it very difficult to discover exactly why they are dangerous. Lets look at each one in turn and find out what the reasons are and the possible consequences if our Dogs eat them. Can Dogs Eat Pork? Raw Pork may contain a swine disease known as Aujeszky’s Disease or pseudorabies. It is incurable and fatal to Dogs. However the bacteria are highly susceptible to freezing. Any Raw Pork or Pork bones that have been frozen for three weeks at a suitably low temperature will be safe for your Dogs to eat. As raw Pork bones are so good for the Dogs to chew on don’t let the dangers of raw Pork for Dogs put you off. Either freeze them yourself or when you buy them check with the Butcher how long they have been frozen for. Dogs can eat cooked pork but always without the bone. Cooked bones, as I will explain later, are very dangerous for Dogs and should never be given. Do not feed Dogs Pork Bones unless you know they have been suitably frozen. Can Dogs Eat Almonds, Macadamias And Other Nuts? The dangers of Dogs eating Almonds or other Nuts can be very real. This is a real problem for me as we have over seventy Almond Trees and Faye, our biggest Dog, has an obsession with them. She will jump up at trees in order to gather the Nuts and break the shells with her teeth to get at the Nut! Firstly, all Nuts are difficult for Dogs to digest so do not feed them to your Dog. Also, unfortunately, as with Grapes and Raisins, the exact reasons why many Nuts are dangerous, or toxic, for Dogs is not fully understood. It seems that Macadamia Nuts are the most toxic for Dogs and should be completely avoided. After eating Macadamias a Dog may begin vomiting and show severe signs of weakness. Normally they can be treated and return to normal health but this does not mean they should ever be fed them. All Nuts have very high fat contents so should not really be fed on a regular basis. It is the bitter Almond that can be the most problematic for Dogs. Containing Cyanide it should be avoided. There is also a doubt about whether normal Almonds can lead to stomach upsets and slight problems for your Dog. Again, unfortunately the cause is not known. Be especially aware of the dangers of Macadamia Nuts for Dogs but you may be well advised to steer clear of all Nuts when it comes to the health of your Dog. Can Dogs Eat Avocados? Avocados can be poisonous to Dogs. The fruit contains Persin which can damage the heart and lungs and can lead to very serious problems. If your Dog does become poisoned it may experience real difficulty breathing, or have large build ups of fluid in its chest or abdomen. Unfortunately the levels that need to be ingested are not known and may differ largely from Dog to Dog. The best thing is to avoid Avocados completely. The Dangers of Tomato Plants For Dogs? It is not very likely that your Dog would choose to eat the foliage of tomato plants but they contain oxalates, which can affect the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems. Just make sure they are kept away from your Dog. Dogs may easily begin eating the leaves and stems if they are near to fallen Tomatoes. Can Dogs Eat Grapes And Raisins? A single Grape or Raisin is not going to kill your Dog but feeding Dogs larger amounts is definitely asking for trouble. There have been a few cases where Dogs have eaten half kilo bags of Raisins and died. Large quantities are definitely to be avoided and it is best to never feed your Dog any Grapes or Raisins. Unfortunately the exact reason why they pose such a threat is not known. It seems this is still quite a mystery but the effects are very serious. In some Dogs even small quantities can cause severe problems. There is serious risk of Kidney failure and death. If your Dog has eaten any significant quantity of Grapes or Raisins you must get to the Vets immediately. The quicker your Dog is treated the better its chances of recovery. Do not feed Dogs large amounts of these. Can Dogs Eat Chocolate? Absolutely not! Chocolate is very dangerous for Dogs and should never be given to them. Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine, both stimulants, that can affect your Dog very seriously. It can cause problems with the nervous system and the heart. White chocolate contains the least toxic elements and Cocoa beans the most toxic. The Theobromine can build up until it reaches toxic levels in your Dog and can result in death. Bear in mind that the smaller the Dog, the less it will need to eat before symptoms occur. Chocolate can be very toxic to Dogs so avoid it as much as possible. Is Caffeine Dangerous For Dogs? Caffeine should be avoided. It can cause problems to a Dogs heart and nervous system. Can Dogs Eat Onions? Like Garlic, Onions should never be fed to Dogs. Even small amounts can be a problem. The reason is because the effects can build up over time so there is an accumulative effect. Onions can cause anemia by destroying red blood cells. Can Dogs Eat Garlic? Garlic is not as dangerous as Onions are but nevertheless if fed repeatedly or over a period of time the same risks are present as they are with Onions. Can Dogs Eat Cooked Bones? Cooked bones are very dangerous for Dogs. Unlike raw bones, cooked bones become very brittle. They can easily shatter and can cause untold damage to your Dogs insides. Pieces can get lodged in the intestines creating blockages that will need to be operated on to be removed. The dangers of cooked bones for Dogs cannot be overemphasised. Never feed them any cooked bones. Raw bones are a much better option and will help to clean your Dogs teeth. The Dangers Of Alcohol To Dogs Alcohol is very dangerous for Dogs. Never let your Dog get access to anything alcoholic, or anything containing alcohol. There are many cases of alcohol poisoning Dogs and owners of small Dogs need to be especially wary. Don’t let your Dog lap at your Beer or glass of Wine. You may find it cute or funny but you are doing a disservice to your Dog. Lapping at alcohol can obviously cause intoxication but also liver failure, coma, seizures and death. As we have already discovered, Grapes are toxic to Dogs so Wine is especially dangerous. Hops are toxic to Dogs also so Beer should be kept well away from Dogs. Can Dogs Eat Liver? There is nothing wrong with feeding organs to Dogs on an infrequent basis. In fact they will do them nothing but good. Liver however should not be fed in large amounts. Liver can be dangerous for Dogs if fed in large quantities. Feeding large amounts of Liver to your Dog can result in Vitamin A toxicity which can affect muscles and bones. Too much Liver can be dangerous for Dogs, it can result in deformed bones, unusual bone growth and weight loss. Always feed Liver in moderation and your Dog will benefit, just do not feed more than a few times a week. All of the above foods are easily avoided. It is simply a matter of being aware of what foods are dangerous for Dogs and acting accordingly. Ensure certain foods, particularly raisins and chocolate are kept well away from where your Dog may be able to access them. Also when discarding cooked bones make sure your Dog cannot raid the rubbish to get to them. Be sure to let everyone know about any other toxic or dangerous food for Dogs. Also let me know if you found this article helpful, I have tried to be as thorough as possible after your requests for more information. Pick good quality food for your Dogs, like the cheap Hills vet diet, or another trusted brand. And don’t forget that raw meaty bones for Dogs will do them the world of good. Just be safe with your choices.