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What food shouldn't you give your dog? Aren't they able to eat just about anything? Because most dogs have a scavenger mindset where food is concerned, this is a popular misconception. Rummaging through waste bins is such a popular pastime! But there is doggy danger in even the most ordinary human foods.
Forbidden foods
Chocolate - It's fairly well known that chocolate is an absolute no-no for the doggy digestion - it's toxic to dogs in even quite small quantities and can prove fatal if large amounts are eaten. Consult the vet if your pet wolfs down a left over choc bar, especially urgent if your dog is small and has consumed a large amount. This is a situation that can't wait.
Corn on the cob - It's not the kernels of corn that are the problem, it's the hard, indigestible inner stalk. All too often, hungry or just plain greedy dogs, find left overs from the barbecue, all tasty and buttery and down they go. Unfortunately the corn husk is likely to get stuck in the dog's stomach and this is a major problem, life threatening if neglected and requiring surgery. Dogs that have swallowed corn stalks are unwell, off their food, sometimes diarrhea, absolute misery. Get to the vet - pronto. Dispose of left over corn cobs with great care.
Onions - Good for humans, surely they'll be the same for the dog? You'd think so wouldn't you -but they're only alright in very small quantities - a trace of onion flavouring will not usually cause a problem, a large amount could well do. This goes for all the humble onion's relations too - leeks, chives, garlic and shallots. They all contain n-propyl disulfide which can be toxic. Not usually necessitating a quick dash to the vet but it can make your dog anaemic over time, so no onion bhajis for Rover I'm afraid - although I'm sure he'd love them.
Fruit cake - is also on the banned list - too many raisins and grapes. It also often contains nuts - these should never be fed to a dog . All these ingredients have an unpredictable toxicity for man's best friend - alright sometimes and panic city the next. Don't take the risk.
Alcohol - a pint of lager and a packet of crisps. Not if you love your dog. It's surprising how many people do give their dog a slurp of whatever they are drinking - those pleading eyes - but don't do it. Alcohol is not tolerated by the doggy digestion and can be toxic except in very small amounts. Clean, pure water is best drink for your dog. Although why they like drinking out of mucky puddles so much is one of life's mysteries!
Miscellaneous bad stuff - It's all down to common sense - dogs are carnivores - meat is the stuff they like best and it's what their digestions are designed for and what they need. So stay away from coffee, salt, fruit (avocados and grapes are especially to be avoided), salt, pepper, processed foods of any kind, sugar and artificial sweeteners. What about vegetables? These are alright in small amounts - in his natural state a dog would kill his prey and tear it open to eat the stomach contents first. Most prey kills would be grazing animals and the wild dog would eat grass and cereal from their gut. It's recommended that dogs, especially when they're older, should have some veg as a small part of their diet. Vegetables are good for us, good for our dogs too.
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