Foods that are harmless for humans may have hazardous health effects for your dog. Because of this fact, you have to pay attention to the dog foods that you choose for your pet. Sometimes the dangerous effects occur because of certain chemical compound in the food. In other situations, food may obstruct the airways, leading to the death of your dog. Canned food for dogs is not totally safe, either.
Foods that Cause Intoxication
There are numerous foods capable of triggering a toxic reaction in dogs. There are several different consequences, depending on the chemical substance that is causing the reaction. For example, consumption of alcoholic beverages may lead to coma and even death once the intoxication occurs. Onion and onion powder are also able of causing intoxication. More than that, onions and garlic include sulfoxides and disulfides in the composition. These substances inflict damage to the erythrocytes and lead to anemia.
Other foods that may cause toxic reactions include:
- Chocolate
- Coffee
- Grapes
- Liver
- Macadamia nuts
- Mushrooms
- Raisins
- Tea
Chocolate, coffee and tea are not recommended because they include the following substances, which are toxic in dogs:
- Caffeine
- Theobromine
- Theophyline
These substances will eventually affect the heart and the nervous system of your dogs. It is a good fact that in the case of such foods it is known which chemical compound is responsible for the toxic reaction. However, there are foods such as grapes, raisins and macadamia nuts, which contain unknown harmful chemical compounds.
Foods that Lead to Nutrient Deficiencies
Frequent consumption of certain foods can deplete the body of your dog from important nutrients. Raw fish, for example, will cause thiamine deficiency. The loss of vitamin B1 will result in:
- Loss of appetite
- Seizures
- Death
Raw eggs, on the other hand, block the proper assimilation of vitamin B7. Some of the consequences of frequent raw egg consumption include hair coat and skin disorders. As mentioned before, onions typically lead to anemia in dogs. However, you are recommended not to give your dog human supplements that contain iron, because this mineral causes kidney and liver toxicity, and harms the lining of the digestive system. Instead, you are recommended to look for adequate dog food that can solve this problem.
Other Dangerous Foods
It is also not advisable to give cat food to your dog. This contains more proteins and fats that the dogs can metabolize. Bones from poultry and fish are able to block or even perforate the digestive system. Persimmons, on the other hand, may cause obstruction and inflammation of the small intestine. The digestive tract can also get obstructed when the dog eats pits from plums and peaches. Yeast dough is yet another food that can affect the digestive system of your dog. More precisely, it expands and leads to a gas accumulation that causes terrible pain, in the first phase. If the gas continues to accumulate, the rupture of the intestines and of the stomach may occur, fact that eventually causes the death of the dog.