DANGERous Food your dog should never eat

  • We understand that it is oftentimes difficult to resist the temptation of feeding your puppy especially when they look at you with those puppy eyes. You might think in those situations "What's the harm?”. However much of the human food you eat is very harmful for dogs and can even be deadly. 

    Xylitol: 

    • Many candies, gums, baked goods and even diet foods are sweetened with this chemical. This chemical can cause your dog’s heart sugar to drop and can cause liver failure which can happen just in a few days. Some early symptoms include vomiting and lack of coordination, and even seizures.

    Avocados: 

    • Avocados contain a chemical called persin which causes vomiting or diarrhea in dogs. Make sure that dog does not even eat parts of the avocado plant as this chemical is in the leaves, seeds and bark as well as the fruit itself.

    Onions and garlic: 

    • It is essential to keep onions and garlic away from your dog as they kill your dog’s red blood cells which causes anemia. Anemia can be caused by little amounts of onions and garlic. Excessive doses of onion and garlic can cause poisoning. 

    Caffeine: 

    • Watch out for coffee and tea and even beans and the grounds as caffeine can be fatal to dogs and if your dog consumes any caffeine then go to the vet immediately.

    Grapes and raisins: 

    • Although grapes and raisins may seem like a good snack to give to your dog, they can cause kidney damage. Even a small amount can cause a dog to be sick. One of the earliest signs that your dog is sick because of eating grapes or raisins is that they are vomiting over and over. Then you can expect that your dog becomes sluggish and depressed.

    Milk and other dairy product: 

    • Milk and dairy products can cause diarrhea and a range of digestive issues in your dog as well as trigger allergies.

    Macadamia nuts: 

    • Keep your dogs away from macadamia nuts and food that have macadamia nuts in them. Just 6 macadamia nuts can make a dog sick. Some symptoms that could be caused by eating macadamia nuts could include muscle shaking,vomiting, high temperature, and weakness in their back leg.

    Chocolate:

    • All chocolates have a chemical called theobromine which is toxic to dogs, however the darker the chocolate the more poisonous it is. Chocolate can cause a dog to vomit and have diarrhea as well as more serious effects such as heart problems, tumors, seizures, and death.

    Fat trimmings: 

    • Fat trimmings (cooked and uncooked) can cause pancreatitis in dogs. 

    Bones:

    • Even though it seems natural to give your dog a bone, they can choke on it. Bones can also sprinter and potentially block or cause cuts in your dog’s digestive system.

    Perisomenes, peaches, and plums:

    • The problem with these foods are the pits. The pits could not only potentially block the dog’s small digestive system but also have cyanide which is poisonous to dogs. 

    Raw eggs, meat and fish: 

    • Some people feed their dogs raw eggs, meat, and fish thinking that's best for them, however it can cause food poisoning such as salmonella and Ecoli. Specifically eating raw fish can lead to “fish disease” and “salmon poisoning disease” which is treatable but must be treated by a doctor. The first signs include vomiting, fever and big lymph nodes. In order to avoid this make sure to fully cook the food to kill the parasites.

    Salt: 

    • It is not a good idea to share foods which contain salt like chips or pretzels with your dog as too much salt can cause your dog to become extremely thirsty and get sodium ion poisoning. Symptoms that occur when a dog eats too much salt include vomiting, diarrhea, depressions, high temperatures, and seizures and even death. 

    Sugar: 

    • Excess amounts of sugar can do the same thing to dogs as it does for humans). It can cause your dog to be overweight and cause diabetes and issues with your dog’s teeth.

    Yeast dough:

    • If your dog eats yeast dough then it will rise in your dog’s stomach. As it swells inside, the dough can stretch your dog’s abdomen and cause your dog a lot of pain. . 

    Medicine made for humans: 

    • Dogs should not take any medicine made for humans as it can make them very sick. Some common ingredients in cold medicine and pain relief medicine such as ibuprofen can be deadly for dogs..

    If your dog eats what they shouldn’t: 

    • No matter how careful and how many precautions you take, your dog may swallow something they shouldn’t. In that case, make sure to call the number of emergency help immediately.

Safe treats your dog can eat

  • It is essential to make sure that your dog has a healthy, well balanced diet. However, dogs can still have some human food from time to time. However it should be in small amounts and the foods must be cooked, pure and not fatty or heavily seasoned. Below are some safe snacks your dog can eat.

    Lean meats: 

    • Most dogs can safely eat lean cuts of meat that have cooked well. Make sure to remove any visible pieces of fat, which includes the skin on poultry and to remove any pieces of bone in the meat.

    Fresh fruit: 

    • Slices of apples,oranges, bananas and watermelon can be a tasty treat to give your dog, however it is essential to remove any seeds, stems and leaves as they can cause serious issues. Make sure that your dog can eat the fruit before giving it to them, because even though most fresh fruit can be safely eaten by dogs, there may be expectations.

    Some vegetables: 

    • Dogs can safely eat carrots sticks, green beans, cucumber slices, zucchini slices, and plain baked potatoes. However, raw potato and any potato plants are not safe for dogs to eat. Even though most veggies are acceptable for dogs to eat, there may be expectations, so make sure your dog can consume the vegetable before giving it to them. 

    Cooked white rice and Pasta: 

    • Dogs can eat cooked white rice and Pasta, and it can even make your dog feel better when they are having stomach issues. 

potential danger to your dog

  • Dogs face a wide variety of dangers that range from harmful plants to harmful chemicals. As their owners, it is our responsibility to protect them from these dangers. However, to protect them from these dangers we must know what they are. Below are 6 dangers your dog could potentially face.  

    Plants: 

    • While any kind of plant may upset your dog’s stomach, some are more dangerous than others. Some common plants which make dogs sick include lilies, tulip, and holly. For certain types of lilies, eating them may cause liver failure in dogs.

     

    Rock salt: 

    • If your dog gets on their paw or fur rock salt, it can cause vomiting and in more severe cases, it causes spasms and kidney damage. Make sure to clean your dog’s paws, belly, and legs after they walk anywhere where there may be rock salt. 


    Tobacco products: 

    • Products with nicotine are seriously harmful to pets and can cause vomiting, a drop in blood pressure, seizures, and even cause death. 


    Mosquito repellents: 

    • Most mosquito repellents have DEET, which is not recommended for use on dogs as they are sensitive to the chemical as it can cause tremors, seizures, and even death. Ask your vet for safer ways to keep mosquitoes away from your pet.


    Essential oils:

    •  Dogs are very sensitive to essential oils especially tea tree, pennyroyal, wintergreen, birch, sage, wormwood and citrus oils. If your pet digests any essential oils it may cause stomach and liver problems or seizures. 


    Soaps:

    •  Many soaps have a detergent that can be harmful to dogs.As a result, eating soap can cause an upset stomach, vomiting, loose stools or diarrhea. Additionally, excess amounts of soap can lead to a blockage in the intestines. 


    Chemicals: 

    • All types of chemicals (which includes bleach, antifreeze, fertilizer) can cause a range of side effects in your dog , which include diarrhea, fever, burning or irritation of the skin, chemical burns, and even death. It is important that you ensure that your pets do not come near any of these chemicals. If you believe your dog has ingested any type of chemicals, then immediately call the poison control center or vet right away. 


Foods that are BENEFICIAL for your dog

  • The food your dog eats will help determine your dog’s health and as a result their overall life quality. It is your responsibility to ensure your dog’s diet is healthy. Here are 8  healthy foods which will support your dog's health and promote healing. 

    1. Bone broth: Bone broth helps improve digestion and helps improve leaky gut syndrome as it contains a lot of gelatin, which soothes and repairs the mucosal lining which helps seal the gut barrier. In addition to that, gelatin assists the breakdown of proteins and fats from food making them easier to digest. In addition to that, bone broth contains glycine which has many benefits including detoxing the liver, reducing inflammation, strengthening bones, joints and muscles while also alleviating joint pain as well as improving cognition and memory. Furthermore, bone broth is rich in calcium, magnesium and zinc which helps dogs absorb these minerals.

    2. Raw goat milk: Raw goat milk is a very nutrient rich food as it provides fat soluble vitamins such as K2 and electrolytes such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium, protein and amino acids. It is recommended to give a small dog ¼ cup per day of raw goat milk, to give a medium sized dog ½ cup per day, and to give larger dogs ¾ cup. It also recommended to start with a smaller amount of raw goat milk and then build up to these amounts. 

    3. Organ meats: Organ meats which include liver, kidney, and heart are very nutrient dense and include nutrients such as iron, zink, amino acids and folate,which help build strength and endurance. 

    4. Eggs: Eggs are a nutritional powerhouse and are very easy to add to a dog’s diet. Eggs provide many nutrients such as high quality protein, amino acids, calcium, and zink. 

    5. Omega 3 oils: There are many benefits to omega 3 oils which includes them being anti inflammatory, improving joint support, improving kidney function, and heart health. A great source of Omega 3 oils is sardines and anchovies as they are smaller fish which have not the time to accumulate the toxins in larger fish and as a result provide a clean source of omega 3 oils. For smaller dogs, you can start by feeding them ½ of a sardine a day and for larger dogs work your way up till you reach one complete tin every other day. 

    6. Kelp: Kelp is so good for dogs because it's full of trace minerals and minerals in general, which includes iodine, selenium, zinc, magnesium. Some of the health benefits of these minerals include better thyroid health, metabolic health, nervous system health, digestive system health, and immune function. 

    7. Mushrooms: Mushrooms contain some of the most unique and potent natural medicines on Earth. Some of the best mushrooms your dog can consume include turkey tail, cordyceps, Maitake, Reishi. These medicinal mushrooms are packed full of vitamins and nutrients including prebiotics and digestive enzymes. One of the biggest advantages of eating these mushrooms is the amazing boost to the immune system and digestive system. Additionally, these mushrooms provide a large range of anti cancer benefits. 

    8. Fermented food: Fermented food assists in detoxing the bowel which can help heal leaky gut and IBD while also assisting immune functions. Fermented food is a great source of a wide variety of prebiotics and a great variety of nutrients such as vitamin C, B, choline which balances and nourishes the blood, and lactic acid which represses cancer cells. It is recommended to work up to feeding your dog 1 tablespoon of fermented food per 5 kgs of body weight. Some great fermented foods include yogurt, fermented vegetables and fermented fish stock.