15 Food items to avoid

The amount of stuff that a dog will consume greatly outweighs the amount it will not consume. As dog owners, it is our responsibility to educate ourselves on foods that may be beneficial to humans but are detrimental to our dogs. Many individuals are unaware that simple food items we consume daily can be lethal to our canine companions. Many of us are guilty of sneaking a morsel of food from the dinner table to Fido without realising the danger. The most effective method to avoid a potentially disastrous situation with your dog is to educate yourself about everyday household food that is toxic to pets. The following list details the fifteen most frequent foods to avoid giving your dog.

1. Bones: One of our dogs' most frequently given treats are bones. While they may be enjoyable for your dog, they are potentially deadly treats. Splintered bones can easily lodge in the stomach or digestive tract. This can result in significant health problems, including death. Dogs have adapted to becoming omnivores rather than carnivores throughout their history as domesticated animals. There is no safe animal bone to feed your dog as a snack; however, you can purchase counterfeit bones or milk bones without fear.
   
   
2. Chocolate: Most people are aware that chocolate can be lethal to dogs. It is particularly lethal in smaller dogs, as it can result in an increased heart rate and hypertension, resulting in rapid death. Bakers chocolate, gourmet chocolate, and most dark chocolates are lethal to our canine companions. There are additional sources of chocolate to be cautious of, including espresso beans wrapped in chocolate, vitamins, and chocolate-flavoured coffees.
   
   
3. Candy and Gum With Xylitol: Xylitol is a sugar-free sweetener in a wide variety of products, including gum, snacks, toothpaste, and even vitamins. Unfortunately, it's difficult to anticipate the exact amount of xylitol that will cause symptoms because the amount varies by product. It is critical to keep xylitol-containing foods and products out of reach of your family pet. Once a dog consumes even a small amount, it can quickly bring the dog's blood sugar to hypoglycemic levels. If left untreated, hypoglycemia can progress to coma and finally death. Increased doses can result in liver failure and death.
   
   
4. Avocados: Even if you adore guacamole, giving it to your dog as a treat is not a smart idea. Avocados contain a poisonous compound called Persin. While it is not immediately fatal, it can cause severe vomiting, an upset stomach, or a digestive tract obstruction, limiting waste removal. One of the biggest concerns is that the dog may consume substantial seeds and become lodged in the dog's throat or stomach.
   
   
5. Apples: Apples are an excellent snack for dogs since they are sweet, nutritious, and high in vitamins; unfortunately, apple seeds can create significant difficulties. The seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides, which irritate the stomach. There are ways to offer apples to your dog without risking seed ingestion. Apples may be cored and sliced, which is convenient for freezing. Additionally, you can create apple sauce and give it as a healthy topping for dog food. Apples are excellent for your dog as long as they are served seedless.
   
   
6. Onions: Onions are highly toxic to dogs, and even a trace amount can result in hemolytic anaemia, which is typically fatal. Onions contain thiosulphate, which slowly and meticulously depletes your dog's red blood cells. Because onion poisoning symptoms manifest over a period of days, treatment can be extremely costly and time-demanding, frequently with minimal effects.
   
   
7. Dough and Yeast: If you enjoy baking bread, you should keep raw yeast-containing bread dough away from your dog. The stomach provides a warm environment for yeast to ferment, resulting in alcohol formation. When it ferments in a dog's stomach, it becomes exceedingly poisonous and can result in death. Stomach heat works somewhat as an activator for the yeast dough. Even if it is not digested, it can cause severe discomfort and unpleasant gas, which can result in perforated intestines.
   
   
8. Coffee and Other Caffeinated Beverages: Coffee and other caffeinated beverages are frequently seen in households. It can include but is not limited to tea, coffee, chocolate, energy drinks, and vitamins. While most humans are fine with coffee and caffeinated drinks, dogs are extremely sensitive to the chemical. Large quantities of coffee and tea grounds and small amounts of diet pills, weight gain powder, can quickly kill a small dog.
   
   
9. Bacon: It's all too easy to fall into the habit of sneaking bacon to your dog while you have breakfast. Unfortunately, as delicious as it tastes, it can be quite harmful to your dog. Bacon is a high-fat food that can trigger pancreatitis in dogs. Naturally, the size of your dog and the amount of bacon you feed him or her can affect the extent of any potential injury. As with humans, dogs can exhibit a variety of unanticipated reactions. It is recommended that you avoid feeding it to your dog.
   
   
10. Garlic: It is related to the onion, can be up to five times as lethal in a dog. While extremely small amounts may be acceptable, high amounts can be lethal, particularly in Japanese breeds such as the Akita. Garlic consumption promotes the oxidation of red blood cells, resulting in their rupture. Additionally, this results in additional gastric difficulties such as vomiting, drooling, and an extremely irritated stomach. As with onion poisoning, symptoms may manifest many days later.
    
    
11. Raisins, Grapes, and Currants: Even a small amount of these fruits can be lethal to your dog, causing abrupt kidney failure. This also applies to all other grape and raisin-containing items, such as grape juice, raisin-containing nut mixes, bread and bagels, and breakfast cereals. Although the response mechanism in dogs is unknown, symptoms are typically quick and necessitate decontamination with vomit-inducing charcoal and monitoring for any grape family foods consumed by your dog.
    
    
12. Salt: Salt is one of the most often used household food items in the kitchen. It was once considered the gold standard for causing vomiting in dogs, but veterinarians no longer suggest it. Salt dehydrates the kidneys and can result in convulsions, coma, and death.
    
    
13. Macadamia Nuts: Macadamia nuts can induce serious reactions in dogs, the severity of which is dependent on the amount consumed and the dog's size. Symptoms of a reaction include excessive lethargy, a fever, an upset stomach, and the loss of limb function. The macadamia nut's effector is unknown; however, it affects the central nervous system nearly immediately.
    
    
14. Mushrooms: The United Kingdom is home to many mushroom species. While most species are non-toxic to dogs, a tiny number are deemed hazardous and even lethal. Aminta, Galerina, and the Lepiota species are among the most lethal. Numerous symptoms can arise depending on the species of mushroom consumed, including hallucinations, acute hunger, seizures, and difficulty moving. Contact your veterinarian immediately if you notice your dog eating a mushroom and symptoms develop.
    
    
15. Rhubarb: Rhubarb produces delectable fruit, but its leaves are toxic to dogs. Consumption in excess might result in drowsiness, drooling, and weakness. Kidney failure can occur in severe situations. 

Conclusion

Our houses are teeming with items that can cause harm or death to our pets. This contains certain meals and plants. Dogs are significantly less discriminating than cats and hence get into more mischief. As dog owners, we owe it to ourselves to educate ourselves about potential dangers to our dogs. As with a toddler, we should create a safe, pleasant, and worry-free environment in our house. If you suspect your dog has gotten into something he shouldn't have and may have been poisoned, contact your veterinarian immediately.