Furry friends can change your entire outlook on life. The overflow of love and trust can be beautiful, profound, and frightening; you don’t want to let those sweet eyes down.
One big way harm can come to dogs is via them eating something they shouldn’t. It would be lovely if their instincts told them what to avoid eating, but anyone with a dog in their life knows this isn’t necessarily the case. Dogs today live in a world with all sorts of imported products and scented products that mislead their senses.
The following will explore a few things that your dog should never eat. Of course, this list is not comprehensive. There are things that are not good for your dog that are not present on this list. If you are considering introducing something new to your dog, take the time to research it. There are plenty of things that are completely fine for humans to eat but unsafe for dogs.
Chocolate, Coffee, And Caffeine
One of the most known dangers to dogs is chocolate. Within chocolate are methylxanthines which cause vomiting in small doses or death in large doses; typically, dark chocolate contains more of these substances than fairer chocolates. For small dogs, even half an ounce of baking chocolate can be fatal. Coffee and caffeinated products have the same substances within them and are likewise dangerous for pets.
To ensure your furry friend’s safety, it’s crucial to be aware of these harmful substances. In addition to avoiding such foods, you can also explore vet-approved homemade dog food recipes to provide your canine companion with nutritious and safe meals at home. This is the best way to approach your pet’s diet, as it allows you to have full control over the ingredients and ensures that your dog receives the balanced nutrition they need for a healthy and happy life.
Homemade dog food recipes can cater to your dog’s specific dietary requirements and preferences, offering a personalized approach to their well-being.
Insecticides
Products that are designed to scare away insects and bugs, like bug sprays and lawn sprays, are incredibly dangerous for animals (and often, humans as well). These products are designed to harm or kill small animals, and that means in the right quantities, they can harm or kill bigger animals.
Remember that skin absorbs these chemicals easily, and this means that even though you’re big enough to be unbothered by this absorption, your gut bacteria isn’t; since your gut bacteria is vital for nutrient absorption and mood stabilization, you might be feeling the effects of bug sprays and lawn sprays yourself.
Keep dogs off of sprayed grasses—dog lovers at Westley recommend selecting the appropriate walking gear to help with this. You also want to use safe, natural bug sprays to protect the people around your pet from bites.
House And Garden Plants
There are many plants within and around your home that are poisonous to dogs. Azaleas, rhododendrons, tulips, daffodils, sago palms, spider plants, snake plants, and many others range from mildly toxic to dangerously toxic for dogs. Before leaving any plant within reach of your pet, look up the particular species and confirm that it’s safe.
People Food
In addition to the well-known chocolate, there are many people foods that can cause health problems for dogs. Alcohol can cause vomiting, breathing problems, comas, and even death. Avocados contain something called persin that initiates vomiting and diarrhea. Macadamia nuts can cause weakness, vomiting, and overheating.
Grapes and raisins can induce kidney failure in dogs. The sweetener xylitol, which is commonly found in sugar-free products like gum and candy, can cause a rapid decline in blood sugar which creates weakness and seizures as well as liver failure in dogs.
Tomatoes, mushrooms, most seeds, and nuts are also problematic for dogs. If you’re ever unsure whether a dog can eat something, always research it before providing it.
Medications
Over-the-counter medications like acetaminophen, ibuprofen, and naproxen, as well as prescription medications, can be harmful to dogs. Prescription anti-inflammatories (a common form of prescription pain medications) can cause stomach and intestine ulcers or kidney failure. Antidepressants can cause vomiting and serotonin syndrome, which is a severe condition involving raised temperatures, increased heart rate, and blood pressure, as well as seizures.
Essential Oils
Many types of essential oils are not safe for pets. This means that not only do you need to be aware of where you store essential oils, but you also need to watch out for fragranced products, diffusers, candles, cleaning products, hygiene products, home sprays, and other products that might contain essential oils.
Dogs have skin that is sensitive to some kinds of oils as well as highly-developed senses of smell which can mean that something we think smells nice is actually so overwhelming to a dog that it’s stressful; it can also cause difficulty breathing, respiratory tract damage affecting the nervous system and liver damage.
Many essential oils are harmful to dogs when applied topically or inhaled. Be wary of peppermint, citrus, wintergreen, juniper, pennyroyal, ylang-ylang, eucalyptus, clove, cinnamon, anise, pine, tea tree, thyme, and sweet birch.
If you didn’t find an essential oil that you like on this list, that doesn’t mean it’s safe; always research the specific oil you’re considering before you introduce it to your dog’s environment.
Final Thoughts
The above list should have drawn your attention to several things you need to be cautious about your dog eating. Dogs are often curious by nature and will sniff and taste things that are unfamiliar to them.