Ok, we have all known a "garbage disposal" dog or two that could and did eat everything without any problems... and many, many people will tell you they have fed their dog this or that and it never hurt them...but it is better to be safe than sorry and these foods are ones that are generally NOT reccomended as treats for Fido! Just because he will eat it, doesn't mean he should !!!
CHOCOLATE
This sweet stuff is toxic to dogs. Chocolate contains theobromide, a chemical that can damage a canine's lungs, heart, kidneys and nervous system. Baking chocolate is the most toxic to dogs, but owners should avoid feeding their pooch any kind of chocolate.
(My family has a funny story about coming home to find our not so innocent looking cavalier surrounded by candy Kiss wrappers that were from a box of wedding favors...needless to say, the guests didn't get any favors and the dog lived...but she did get a bit of indigestion!)
SUGARLESS GUM
Sure, dog breath can suck at times, but sugarless gum is not the answer. The sugar-free sweetener, xylitol, found in gum can stimulate a dog's pancreas to secrete insulin. This effect can lead to low blood sugar and severe liver damage.
ALCOHOL
Again, you will hear stories about how hilarious it was the time your buddy's dog drank his beer and stumbled around...but dogs don't have the same metabolism as people and for many pets the consequences of "a night on the town" could be alcohol poisoning from the ethanol found in alcohol which can cause rapid damage to your dog's respiratory and central nervous systems.
MACADAMIA NUTS
Not usually fatal, macadamia nuts can still cause your dog to become very ill. A mere handful of these nuts can lead to vomiting, muscle and joint pain, swelling and lethargy.
GRAPES AND RAISINS
It can take just four to five grapes or raisins for your dog to get extremely sick. The reason why the fruit is so poisonous to dogs is still unknown, but it is clearly not worth the risk! Yes, some dogs love grapes and eat them with abandon and no side effects...but some don't!
Some other foods to avoid for various reasons include:
*Avocado (and Guacamole :) !
*Excessive amounts of fat trimmings, bones (especially the kinds that "splinter" when chewed)
*Human vitamins and /or iron supplements
*Liver in large amounts (yes dogs love it and its a good treat, but it contains iron oxide which can't be digested by dogs! )
*pear pips, apple core pips, kernels of plums, peaches, apricots -- contain cyanogenic glycosides which can result in cyanide poisoning !
*rhubarb Leaf
*mushrooms
*potato peelings
*moldy or spoiled foods
*nutmeg
*yeast dough
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