Rockwall Veterinary Clinic Shares Foods You Should Never Feed Your Dog

You can feed a dog just about anything, and odds are, the dog will eat it up without thinking twice. This is a cause of concern for pet owners, as there are many types of foods that will do damage to the health of a dog. It’s important to learn which foods should be avoided to keep dogs healthy.

Onion of any kind can do serious damage to a dog. Onion has the potential to cause anemia in dogs, and should be avoided at all costs. Even products derived from onion, such as onion salt or onion powder, can still cause damage to the dog. It is so serious that even cooking a steak with onion would mean that giving the dog a cut of the steak is out of the question, for fear of health concerns of anemia.

If raw foods such as onion and garlic can cause harm, then of course artificial foods and sweeteners can too! Xylitol is an example of an artificial sweetener that has been known to induce liver failure in dogs when consumed. Xylitol is found in a variety of consumer products, but is easily spotted on the ingredients list for those that want to know what they can feed their dog.

Sometimes problems such as diarrhea can be a result of feeding your dog dairy products, whether it be milk or foods prepared with mentioned dairy products. Not every dog has the ability to break down the enzymes that are in milk. As a result, the dairy is passed through the digestive system and will cause problems for the dog as long as dairy remains in the diet.

Two things to always stay away from would include caffeine, and a special emphasis on chocolate as it contains caffeine. Caffeine will speed up the system of the dog and lead to major heart problems that often result in death. Because it is so serious, caffeine in any shape or form should never be given to a dog. Caffeine can also cause the dog to become hyperactive, which given the circumstances, will be fatal to the dog.

Dog diets are hard to balance, since every breed of dog can be different. Each individual dog will also have different likes, tastes, and personality. Focus on building a well-balanced diet instead of feeding a dog table scraps or solely “human food.” Otherwise the proteins and fats may be off balanced, and could lead to health issues later on.

In Conclusion

Patience in learning what your dog can handle is key. Always research the food you are giving your dog before actually feeding the dog. It’s always best to stay safe rather than have a dog with severe health problems. Dogs are a man’s best friend, and should be treated as such.