We love our animal friends, and of course, we want to share the things that we enjoy eating with them. They stare at us longingly, and even the most practically minded among us has trouble resisting them. Many of us don’t realize that some foods we commonly share with our furry companions could cause them health problems over the long term.
Onions
Repeat after me: Onions are bad for dogs. According to Canna-Pet, onions are among the worst foods that you can share with your canine companions. While onions may be beneficial for humans, they contain substances that thin the blood and result in anemia in dogs. Caused by a severe reduction in red blood cells, anemia causes your pup to become lethargic and bruise easily. Severe cases can lead to death.
Pizza
We all love pizza. Sometimes you need to live a little, so why shouldn’t your faithful companion? Pizza contains several ingredients that are not advisable to give dogs. According to Sam’s Pizza, the meat on pizza tends to be highly processed, and the crust may have onion or garlic which could upset the dog’s stomach. As we’ve mentioned earlier, onions and garlic can cause anemia. Cheese is also not a good nutritional choice for dogs. Many dogs are lactose intolerant. Dairy products can cause them to suffer from unpleasant digestive symptoms like gas, vomiting, or diarrhea. Additionally, many dairy products contain a high amount of fat. Eating too much fat can cause obesity and problems with the pancreas.
Chocolate
Chocolate contains a substance called theobromine which can cause severe symptoms or even death. According to Embrace Pet Insurance, dogs metabolize theobromine much more slowly than humans do. Although dark chocolate contains higher levels of theobromine, milk chocolate and white chocolate are also dangerous for dogs.
Salty Snacks
Who hasn’t shared a few chips or pretzels with their canine best friend? You might think that it’s fine to give your dog these treats once in a while. Most dog owners know not to give their fuzzy friend too many empty calories, but many of us don’t consider the high salt content of these foods. Dogs that eat too many salty foods can develop sodium ion poisoning. Your dog might experience symptoms of dehydration, diarrhea and fever. Like chocolate, too much salt can provoke seizures or death.
Though your dog might beg for a taste of your human food, make sure that you double check that it’s safe for him to eat before feeding him anything. Making sure your dog gets proper nutrition is very important for his health. If you would like to know more about which foods to avoid feeding your canine friends, check out a comprehensive list of unhealthy foods for dogs.