It can be hard to resist your dog coming up to your table for scraps. However, there are foods you will want to know can actually be harmful to your puppy friend. One study found that 46.3 million homes in the United States own a dog. Pet insurance for dogs is a great way to ensure your beloved pet is protected all year long. We all have to do our part to keep our beloved pets safe. In this post, you will learn foods that you should never feed your dog.
Caffeine: Most people require a little bit of caffeine to get them out of bed in the morning. Caffeine can be found in many drinks including soda, coffee, and energy drinks. Of course, no dog owner wants to get their canine hopped up on coffee. However, dogs can sometimes sneak a drink of whatever is laying around. Caffeine packs a punch for adult humans. However, caffeine is very dangerous for the smaller organs of a dog. Caffeine ingestion can cause a sped up heartbeat, seizures, and possibly death.
Chocolate: This candy is great for humans to enjoy but you should not share chocolate with a dog. There are various types of chocolate available, some are more dangerous for dogs than others. However, this doesn’t mean that there is a safe chocolate for dogs, all are harmful in one way or another. Darker chocolates are the highest in methylxanthines which are toxic to dogs. Should an accident happen, pet insurance for dogs could save you big on treatment costs.
Dairy Based Products: Humans have an internal mechanism that allows us to properly process diary. However, our dog family members don’t have this mechanism. Therefore, milk and dairy products can pose many digestive problems for a dog. Dairy products like milk and yogurt are not as dangerous for dogs as chocolate. However, it is still recommended that you avoid giving any diary product to your dog as it can cause diarrhea.
Raw Meat: This food is one that is unsafe for both humans and animals. Most owners are not going to intentionally feed their dog raw meat. However, it is easy for a wandering dog to pick up raw meat that may have fallen during the cooking process. There is a myth that dogs are able to digest raw meat but it is not true. Like humans, dogs are susceptible to E. coli and other diseases that live in uncooked meat. The next time you are grilling, make sure no raw food scraps are left on a surface.
Xylitol: This ingredient is a sweetening agent used in a wide range of household products. You can find xylitol in candies, cookies, cakes, and even toothpaste. This sweetener causes the body to release an additional amount of insulin. A sudden increase of insulin in dogs often leads to lowered blood sugar. In turn, a lowered blood sugar can cause loss of balance, tremors, and vomiting. If you suspect your dog has ingested xylitol, it is advised to visit a vet immediately. Pet insurance for dogs helps to cover the costs of those unexpected emergency vet trips.
In closing, there are several foods you never want to feed your dog. It can be tough to resist the begging of the dog you love. However, protecting them from harmful foods helps them live a long and healthy life. Caffeine is great for getting you out of bed but this stimulant should never be given to a dog. Chocolate is one of the most well known dangerous food for dogs. In many cases, the darker a chocolate is, the more dangerous it is for a dog. Dairy products should be avoided for dogs as it is hard for their stomachs to digest. Raw meat is dangerous for both humans and dogs, containing many harmful diseases. Xylitol is a sugar found in many products. Avoiding xylitol is best done by not giving your dog any kind of sweet human food. Pet insurance for dogs helps to ensures you keep your beloved animal safe from dangerous foods.
