You Should Never Feed These Foods to a Dog
What is well tolerated by humans can be unhealthy—or even toxic—for dogs. Therefore, many foods should be kept on your own plate.
The head tilts to one side, the posture is submissive, and the large, round eyes stare at you almost pleadingly – you'd think the dog was about to starve to death. Dog owners know the famous puppy dog look all too well, which every four-legged friend has mastered to perfection and which ensures that their owner can hardly eat a meal without a pang of guilt.
The temptation to give your dog something from your own plate—or "accidentally" drop it under the table—is simply too great. But even if your dog would love to be a food processor, caution is advised when feeding them food. Many seemingly harmless foods contain substances that can cause serious harm to some animals and even lead to death through poisoning.
Grapes and raisins
While not all dogs react with discomfort or signs of poisoning to grapes and raisins, it's best not to even try the effects of grapes on your own dog. Eating grapes can cause vomiting and diarrhea, even fatal kidney failure. This is due to the substances contained in grapes, which many dogs find indigestible, and whose concentration is even higher in raisins due to the drying process.
According to estimates by US scientists, just ten grams of grapes or three grams of raisins per body weight can cause symptoms of poisoning - even small amounts are therefore dangerous, especially for small dog breeds.
Xylitol or birch sugar
It should come as no surprise that sugar is unhealthy and fattening for dogs, just as it is for humans. However, various sugar substitutes and sweeteners found in many sweets are hazardous for dogs. The xylitol contained in these sweets—often referred to as xylitol or E 967—can trigger a massive release of insulin in a dog's body, followed by a severe drop in blood sugar. This can lead to symptoms such as seizures and coordination problems, but can also cause liver damage and, in severe cases, even death.
Xylitol is a type of sugar, derived from birch, which the food industry markets as a natural, tooth-friendly, and low-calorie sugar substitute. Excessive consumption can have a laxative effect on humans. Birch sugar and foods containing xylitol should therefore be kept out of reach of dogs.
Onion and garlic
Alliums such as onions and garlic, whether raw, cooked, or dried, are not suitable for a dog's stomach. This is because they contain sulfur compounds, which destroy the dog's red blood cells (erythrocytes).
Possible consequences, such as blood in the urine and jaundice, can occur even after consuming small amounts. A medium-sized onion can be fatal to a small dog (weighing about five kilograms).
Poultry bones and cooked bones
Dogs love to nibble and gnaw on animal bones. Chewing is a challenging activity and exercises the jaw muscles. However, not all bones are suitable for dogs, and the size of the bone should also be tailored to each dog; otherwise, an excess of calcium and constipation can occur.
Only raw bones must be fed, and only under supervision. Cooked or boiled bones should never be given to pets. Softened bones pose a high risk of splintering, which can cause internal injuries in the dog's mouth and digestive tract. Chicken bones are hazardous, as they splinter easily, so they should never be fed to pets.
Raw beef bones (such as breastbones or joint bones) and beef scalps, as well as veal and lamb bones (including ribs or breastbones), are also popular snacks that are likely to delight dogs. Additionally, chicken or turkey necks are popular options.
Chocolate and cocoa
Even though many pet stores have products on the snack aisle that carry the misleading term "dog chocolate," suggesting that chocolate is a great dog treat, foods containing cocoa should never be fed to dogs.
Theobromine, a substance found in cocoa, as well as in black tea and coffee, is toxic to dogs. The substance is difficult for dogs to digest or break down.
In general, the darker the chocolate, the more theobromine it contains. Therefore, chocolate with a high cocoa content is significantly more dangerous for dogs than white or milk chocolate.
Tomatoes, raw eggplants, and potatoes
Nightshade plants, in general, should never be fed raw to dogs. Tomatoes, eggplants, and raw potatoes are also unsuitable for dog food, not even as an exception, and not even if they have been cooked. This is due to the presence of solanine in nightshade plants, which can damage the nervous system and is toxic to dogs. The green parts and the skin are considered particularly toxic.