For years, people were under the impression that dogs are carnivorous by nature, perhaps because they are descendants of the meat-eating wolf and fox. When browsing for pet food, specifically cat and dog foods, you will find that most tend to have meat flavored varieties.
However, veterinarian studies have found that dogs are more likely to be opportunivores. This means that they are likely to eat whatever would aid their survival, making them more omnivorous than carnivorous. There is evidence in canine anatomy that suggests this, but for scientific reasons, dogs will forever be classified among Carnivora.
Despite their natural evolution that allows the domestic dog to survive, there are still toxic and non-nutritious foods that they should not be fed. Some of these are not only unhealthy but can also lead to complications and death.
By all means, if you want the best for your companion and best friend, then you should avoid these foods. Here, we have compiled a list of foods to avoid feeding your pooch. We will also discuss the reasons behind each and why it is considered unhealthy for dogs.
Why Some Vets Suggest That Dogs Are Omnivores
The first and primary reason why vets are now suggesting that dogs are omnivores is that it was found that, like humans, dogs can produce arachidonic acid from plant oils. Strict carnivores do not have this ability and are completely dependent on meat sources for their nutritional need of this vital acid, among other nutrients, which includes taurine. Taurine and arachidonic acid can only be sourced from meat proteins and fats by Carnivora, such as cats.
Another reason for this suggestion is the structure of canine teeth. While large parts of the structure are suggestive of their carnivorous nature, they also possess molar teeth that are designed for the grinding of certain plants. Molar teeth are teeth with a flat surface that is purposely designed to grind bones, but it can also be suggestive of vegetational eating habits.
The third reason is the study of canine metabolism, which is the process of digesting food and turning it into energy. This study mostly involves an analysis of the intestines, and it was found that dogs have a small intestine that occupies at least 23% of the total gastrointestinal volume of their digestive system. This is similar to other omnivores and opposes the standard occurrence of what is natural for Carnivora, which possesses a smaller intestine total volume.
Another key factor that led to this discovery is the fact that dogs can digest nearly all the carbohydrates they take in. Dogs can also produce vitamin A from the beta-carotene found in plants.
This concludes the study by accepting that dogs are not strict carnivores. This is an important factor to consider when discerning between what is healthy for your dog and what is not. The primary reason is that metabolism and diet play a key responsibility in the health of any living creature.
However, if you think that this excuses you to feed your dog chocolates, then you are mistaken. Chocolates are among the many toxins that are not good for dogs.
What Not to Feed Your Dog
Like chocolates, there are plenty of food sources that are not safe for canines. These include all of the following.
Alcohol
A lot of pet owners sometimes find it funny if they intoxicate their dog by feeding it alcohol. While it may be hilarious to you, it is potentially harmful to your best friend. Under no circumstances should you ever allow your dog to consume alcoholic foods or beverages.
Alcohol can lead to serious complications that will result in death or that can send a dog into a coma. It will also result in poor breathing and coordination, as well as improper acidity, which will leave lasting effects on your dog’s psychological and physical health.
Apple Seeds
Apple seeds are a toxic substance that can cause the death of a dog if eaten in high quantities. While an apple in itself is a dog-friendly food, always make sure that it is de-seeded and the core is removed. The casings of apple seeds contain a harmful chemical that, when digested, can form cyanide, a harmful toxin that can kill both dogs and humans.
Avocado
Avocado is a delicious food source that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, but, unfortunately, not so much by your canine companion. Avocado contains a nutrient called persin, which is bad for your pooch’s digestive system.
Ingesting persin can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, and heart congestion. The most dangerous quantities of persin can be found in the pit. While a small amount is nothing to be too concerned about, it is ill-advised to feed a dog avocado, in general.
Chocolate
Chocolate contains a theobromine, as well as caffeine, which can cause upset stomach, heart complications, and liver failure if a dog ingests high quantities. It also causes restlessness, increased urination, seizures, and can result in death.
For the safety of your canine friend, it is best to avoid giving your pet any kind of chocolate. Chocolate also contains sugar, which is another fatal food source for dogs. No matter how much they enjoy it, stick to pet-friendly treats.
Caffeine
A lot of human foods and beverages contain caffeine, which is a toxic foodstuff that can cause hyperactivity, seizures, and eventually death. Items with a lot of caffeine include chocolate, as mentioned above, coffee, tea, cola, pain medication, and plenty of others. Always ensure that a treat is caffeine-free before feeding it to your dog.
Cooked Bones
While bones, in general, are good for the health and teeth of your best friend, pre-cooked bones are not. The main reason for this is because it is softer and can splinter easily. These splinters are not only a choking hazard but can also cause digestive blockage or intestinal punctures, which will result in fatal complications.
Fat Trimming From Meat
The fat from animals, whether cooked or raw, can be a danger to your pooch. It is known to cause pancreatic problems, which will result in long term health conditions that will be unsettling and uncomfortable for your best friend if it does not result in fatality.
Garlic
Garlic has long been used as a flea and tick treatment for dogs, but ingesting high quantities of it is as fatal as onions. Garlic, when absorbed into a dog’s bloodstream, will proceed to kill red blood cells and will result in anemia.
In the worst cases, this could result in a weak immune system and cause death, but milder cases may only cause weakness and difficulty breathing. However, even in small doses, it is not a healthy food source for your dog, so if you like to add garlic to your food, do not feed it to your pup.
Grapes
Grapes, even in its dried form of raisins, are a no-go for canines. Under no circumstances should a dog eat or ingest grapes in any form. Grapes are known to cause kidney failure, and many cases occurred where a dog had died from just eating a handful of grapes.
Hops and Beer
Again, the alcohol in beer is not a healthy chemical for canines, and what is even worse about beer is the hops some brands are made of. Hops are a toxic substance that can cause fever, increased heart rate, and in the worst-case scenario, even death.
Liver
You may have noticed that a lot of dog food brands sell liver-flavored dog food. While this is not bad for your pooch, because no actual liver is used in its creation, liver can be harmful. It contains too much vitamin A which can have adverse effects on the muscle and bone growth of a dog. Usually, it would be best to allow your dog to produce healthy quantities of vitamin-A from plant sources.
Macadamia Nuts
For some, it is common knowledge that macadamia nuts are incredibly toxic for dogs, though others may not be aware of this. Symptoms of macadamia nut ingestion include weak back legs, fever, muscle shakes, and vomiting. If ingested with chocolate, the symptoms will be aggravated.
Dairy Products
Milk and other dairy products may not be fatally harmful, but it can cause digestive problems for dogs, and it can also activate other food allergies. It is recommended to stay away from feeding your dog milk, cheese, and other dairy products.
Onions, Chives, Persimmon, Peach, and Plum Pits
As mentioned before, onions can cause anemia in dogs and are, therefore, not a good option to feed your best friend. Onions, like garlic, contain certain sulfides that can attack and kill red blood cells, which can result in fatal complications. The same goes for chives and the pits of persimmons, peaches, and plums, which contain the same cyanide found in apple seeds that is a fatal toxin.
Salt and Sugar
Sodium-ion poisoning can occur in humans and dogs, which is normally caused by ingesting too much salt. To avoid this fatal complication, it is advised to limit the sodium intake, or salt intake, of your canine friend. The same goes for sugar, which in excessive and continuous quantities will lead to diabetes.
Xylitol and Yeast
Last but not least, two of the most toxic foodstuffs that are not harmful to humans, are incredibly dangerous to canines. Xylitol, the replacement sugar often added to many products, including toothpaste, is an excessively toxic substance for dogs that will result in fatal complications if ingested. Always check the products before feeding your dog to make sure it does not contain Xylitol.
Yeast, whether it is raw or in bread or other baked goodies, can be harmful to a dog. If the yeast activates inside the stomach, it can cause unnatural expansion and might cause it to rupture, which is potentially fatal. It will also cause digestive harm, so for absolute safety, it is recommended to never feed a dog yeast.
Conclusion
There are many other harmful chemicals that are not good for either canines or humans and that should be avoided, but this list is not a complete assessment. However, it does contain the most common mistakes often made by pet owners and is intended to help avoid unforeseeable accidents.
Other substances to watch out for include tobacco, marijuana, human-intended vitamin supplements, and tomato leaves. These are also very toxic for dogs and should never be fed to them. Others to consider are raw meats and fish.
