Dogs enjoy a bite of our food from the dinner table every now and then. While you may think that treating your dog to some human food is a treat for them, it can actually be quite harmful. It is important to know which human foods are not the best for your dog. Here are some human foods that are toxic to dogs;
Chocolate, one of the most delectable human treats, is quite toxic for dogs. Chocolate contains a substance methylxanthines that actually disrupt a dog’s metabolism. Once ingested by dogs, the chocolate can cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, seizures, heart malfunctioning and in worse cases death. There are some brands of chocolate that are worse than others. Dark chocolate is the most toxic as it contains the largest amounts of methylxanthines while white chocolate is the least toxic. Other foods that contain methylxanthines that should not be consumed by dogs include coffee and caffeinated cola sodas.
2.Onions, Chives, Leeks and Garlic
Onions, chives, leeks, and garlic are part of the Allium plant family, and they all are toxic to dogs. Of all the plants, garlic is the most toxic to dogs. When ingested, dogs can experience weakness, gastrointestinal issues, pale gums and an increase in heart rate. Eating foods from the Allium plant family can also cause damage to red blood cells in dogs. It should be noted that the effects of toxicity from these foods may not be readily apparent in dogs, and dog owners are encouraged to monitor their dogs for possible symptoms of poisoning if any of these foods are consumed.
Dogs are lactose intolerant which means that they do not produce the enzyme lactase which assists with the breakdown of dairy products. Feeding your dog any dairy product is sure to cause tremendous digestive issues as well as foul flatulence. So, letting your dog taste your ice cream cone is not a good idea.