Pet health: Chocolates, grapes, and other foods to never feed your dog, try these safer alternatives

You are eating your meal or snack, and your dog is just standing there looking at you with those puppy eyes, and you think it can’t harm if I let him have a little bite. Think again. Because not everything we eat is safe for dogs, and some foods can actually be harmful, even if they seem harmless to us.

While some treats may seem harmless, certain foods can cause serious health issues for your dog, ranging from mild digestive upset to life-threatening conditions. Feeding your dog chocolates, for instance, causes vomiting, diarrhoea, and even seizures in some cases. Both dark chocolate and baking chocolate should be kept away from your puppies.

Here is a list of some other common foods you should never feed your dog and some safer alternatives to keep your pup happy and healthy!

Chocolate

• Why it’s dangerous: Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, both of which are toxic to dogs. Dark chocolate and baking chocolate are especially dangerous due to their high theobromine content.
• Potential effects: Vomiting, diarrhoea, rapid breathing, increased heart rate, seizures, and, in severe cases, death.
• Safer alternative: If you want to give your dog a sweet treat, stick to dog-safe options like peanut butter (pet-friendly brands) or specially formulated dog treats.

Grapes and raisins

• Why they’re dangerous: Grapes and raisins are highly toxic to dogs, though the exact substance causing the toxicity is still unknown. Even a small amount can lead to kidney failure.
• Potential effects: Vomiting, lethargy, dehydration, kidney failure, and potentially death.
• Safer alternative: Opt for dog-safe fruits like apples (without seeds) or watermelon.

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Onions and garlic

• Why they’re dangerous: Both onions and garlic contain compounds that can damage a dog’s red blood cells, leading to anaemia. This includes raw, cooked, or powdered forms of these ingredients.
• Potential effects: Weakness, lethargy, pale gums, fainting, and, in severe cases, organ damage or death.
• Safer alternative: Use dog-friendly veggies like carrots, green beans, or peas as snacks or meal additions.

Alcohol

• Why it’s dangerous: Even small amounts of alcohol can be toxic to dogs. Alcohol affects dogs much more quickly than humans and can lead to severe intoxication.
• Potential effects: Vomiting, diarrhoea, difficulty breathing, tremors, coma, and even death in severe cases.
• Safer alternative: Provide plenty of fresh water to your dog. If you want to give your dog a special drink, consider dog-friendly broth with no added salt or onions.

Cooked bones

• Why they’re dangerous: While dogs love chewing on bones, cooked bones can splinter easily, posing a choking hazard or causing internal injuries.
• Potential effects: Choking, dental damage, or punctures in the digestive tract that may require surgery.
• Safer alternative: Provide your dog with raw bones that are appropriately sized or give them specially designed chew toys made for dogs.

Greasy human food

• Why they’re dangerous: Greasy human food can cause digestive upset in dogs and increase the risk of pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas.
• Potential effects: Vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and in severe cases, pancreatitis, which can be life-threatening.
• Safer alternative: Stick to lean protein sources like boiled chicken (without seasoning) or purchase dog-safe treats made from lean meats.

As much as we love sharing our food with our pets, it’s important to remember that not all human foods are safe for dogs. Always consult with your veterinarian if you’re unsure whether a particular food is safe for your dog, and if your dog accidentally ingests something harmful, seek immediate veterinary care.

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