Top 7 Foods Dogs Should Never Eat - Avoid These!

What are some everyday foods that dogs should avoid?

One food that is highly dangerous for dogs is chocolate. If ingested, it can lead to severe poisoning, necessitating immediate veterinary attention. The risks include heart problems and other lifethreatening issues. Chocolate contains a substance called methylxanthines, or theobromine. Extensive experiments by animal scientists have shown that theobromine has the most pronounced and direct effects on dogs, even small amounts can potentially cause poisoning.

Overconsumption of chocolate can cause dogs to experience symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, rapid breathing, palpitations, and muscle tremors, and in severe cases, it can be fatal.

Bones are another nogo for dogs. If ingested, they can cause bleeding or other serious issues, requiring immediate medical attention. The risks include bones piercing the throat, or cutting the dog's mouth, esophagus, or gastrointestinal tract. Chicken bones and other brittle bones can become extremely sharp when broken, posing a significant risk to the dog. Hard bones can also damage the dog's teeth. If a dog swallows a bone it cannot chew, it may become lodged in the esophagus, causing nausea and vomiting, or may require emergency removal.

Raw eggs are also harmful to dogs. They can affect the health of the dog's coat, lead to vomiting and diarrhea, and often contain bacteria. The protein in raw egg whites can deplete the dog's vitamin H and vitamin B7, affecting cell growth and metabolism. Moreover, raw eggs contain bacteria and microorganisms, such as Salmonella, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

Onions and garlic can be particularly harmful, potentially causing hemolytic anemia. Onions can damage the red blood cell membranes in dogs, leading to a high concentration of hemoglobin in the blood. If a dog ingests onions, the presence of red urine is not due to pure red blood cells, but rather hemoglobin. In small amounts, the symptoms may resolve once the hemoglobin is metabolized. However, in larger amounts, veterinary care and intravenous fluid therapy may be necessary.

Raw or cooked liver should be fed to dogs in moderation, as it can cause skeletal problems. Liver is rich in vitamin A, and excessive consumption can lead to vitamin A toxicity or hypervitaminosis A, which can cause skeletal issues such as malformed elbows, rapid spinal bone growth, weight loss, loss of appetite, and more.

Raw meat and poultry can be dangerous for dogs, as they can contain harmful bacteria like Salmonella and Bacillus cereus. Salmonella infection can lead to dehydration, poor appetite, fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and depression, while Bacillus cereus infection can cause vomiting, severe bloody diarrhea, paralysis, and even shock.

Milk is another food that dogs should avoid. It can cause flatulence, diarrhea, dehydration, or skin inflammation. Due to the lack of lactase in most dogs, they cannot fully digest the lactose in milk, leading to problems like diarrhea and bloating.

For dogs, it's best to offer them waterboiled chicken breast as a source of protein and energy, as it is low in fat and ideal for their diet. For young puppies, goat's milk can be a suitable alternative.