We’re all guilty of sometimes treating our pets more like humans than animals – and that includes giving in to those big doe eyes begging for human food while you’re tidying the kitchen after dinner.
Yeah, I see you.
It’s okay to indulge your little darling once in a while, but with the recent doggie deaths attributed to chemicals found in people food, like the xylitol in sugar-free gum and peanut butter, it’s good to refresh yourself on the common foods that Fido should never enjoy.
The items on this list are according to Dr. Richard Goldstein of New York’s Animal Medical Center and Pamela Edwards of New York’s Hope Veterinary Clinic.
#25. Onions and chives
Though they would have to eat a lot of them, these can cause stomach upset and, in the long term, anemia.
#24. Salt and salty snack foods
It causes excessive thirst and urination, and in high amounts can lead to sodium toxicity, vomiting, diarrhea, hyperthermia, depression, tremors, seizures, and death.
#23. Tomato plants
They can cause solanine toxicity, which presents side effects such as hypersalivation, anorexia, gastrointestinal upset, lethargy, central nervous system depression, confusion, behavioral change, weakness, and a slow heart rate.
#22. Potato leaves, stems, skin, or green parts
The leaves and stems of potatoes can cause vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, disorientation, lethargy, and central nervous system depression, while the skins can cause additional problems like seizures and cardiac arrhythmias.
#21. Xylitol
This artificial sweetener can be found in many sugar-free products like peanut butter and gum. It can cause vomiting, lethargy, stupor, seizures, coma, and liver failure due to excessive insulin release.
#20. Apple seeds and cores
These items, especially when they’re rotting and the cyanide content is high, can cause dilated pupils, bright red mucous membranes, difficulty breathing, shock, and even death.
#19. Cherry stems, leaves, and pits
Same symptoms as apples, see above.
#18. Garlic (including garlic powder and garlic salt)
Much like onions, consuming decent amounts is linked to anemia in dogs.
#17. Citrus fruits
Even the smallest amount can upset a dog’s stomach, and larger amounts can be responsible for stomach pain and potential depression of the central nervous system.
#16. Licorice
The nutraceutical extracts can have positive effects, like reducing inflammation, but in large amounts they can cause muscle and adrenal gland damage.
#15. Coconut and coconut oil
Though some people swear by putting a little coconut oil on your dogs food, the vets say giving your dog large amounts of oil, milk, water, or flesh from the fruit can cause an upset stomach and diarrhea.
#14. Nuts
Nuts can cause anything from weakness, depression, vomiting, tremors, and hyperthermia to pancreatitis due to high fat content.
#13. Chocolate
Most people know chocolate can upset your dog’s stomach, but you may not know that the methylxanthines can lead to heavy panting, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures, and death.
The amount of the dangerous chemical is higher in dark chocolate than milk chocolate.
#12. Alcohol
In addition to gastrointestinal issues and otherwise acting drunk, alcohol can cause difficulty breathing, tremors, coma, and death in your dog.
#11. Caffeine
Another one that’s obvious to most people, but caffeine contains the same chemical as chocolate and should be avoided at all costs. Make sure your coffee beans are locked up!
#10. Avocado
Avocado contains persin, a toxin that causes vomiting and diarrhea.
#9. Raw or undercooked meat and bones
Dogs are susceptible to the same bacteria as humans when it comes to raw and undercooked meat – salmonella and e. coli – and bones can cause obstruction or puncturing in the gastrointestinal tract. Of course, wild dogs consume both, so once in a while it shouldn’t be harmful. Just remember that the more often they have them, the higher their risk.
#8. Mustard Seeds
They may be little, but they can cause big messes – in the form of vomiting and diarrhea.
#7. Raw eggs
Aside from the concerns of salmonella and e. coli, raw eggs can cause skin and coat problems for your dog.
#6. Yeast
This super dangerous human food product can cause life-threatening gastric bloat.
#5. Grapes and raisins
No one knows why, but these buggers can cause kidney failure in dogs (raisins are worse than grapes!).
#4. Chamomile
The herb that comes from the daisy plant might be a decent sleep aid in humans, but in dogs it can cause dermatitis, vomiting, diarrhea, and anorexia. Consuming it in the long term also makes them prone to excessive bleeding.
#3. Rhubarb
This root isn’t popular among humans these days, either, but it can cause hypersalivation, tremors, and kidney failure in dogs.
#2. Milk and dairy
Fun fact: humans and cats are the only two mammals that tolerate milk well as adults. Dogs have a low amount of lactase, which helps break down lactose, and giving them these products can cause upset stomachs and diarrhea.
#1. Apricot stems, leaves, and pits
Much like apples, apricots contain cyanide, and eating them can lead to dilated pupils, red mucous membranes, difficulty breathing, shock, and death.
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(h/t: IFLScience)
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