If you’re a dog owner, you are already probably aware that there are some foods you should never feed your dog. However, you might not realize just how many human foods are actually toxic foods for dogs in Matthews, NC.
Common Toxic Food for Dogs in Matthews, NC
In this article, we’ll show you six of the most common toxic household human foods you should avoid giving to your dog. Keep in mind that this isn’t a complete list, so it’s important to familiarize yourself with other possible problem foods too, in order to be a responsible pet owner.
Some of the most common foods that are toxic for dogs include:
Avocado
Avocado can cause dogs to develop severe diarrhea and vomiting, which can lead to rapid and serious dehydration. Although eating an avocado is not usually fatal to dogs, it can make them very sick and may require emergency vet care to help the problem as well. This includes any part of the avocado, including the leaves of the plant.
Additionally, if a dog happens to ingest the pit of an avocado, it can cause serious problems with the digestive tract. Dogs who swallow avocado pits need to be taken to the emergency vet right away.
Onions
Another toxic food for dogs in Matthews is onions. Too many onions in a dog’s diet can cause anemia, which can in turn lead to severe health problems. If your dog happens to eat a large quantity of onions, they can even be fatal. This includes onion powder as well as fresh or cooked onions, and any other form as well.
The same is true of garlic, and they both behave the same way in a dog’s body. Keep your dog from eating any food that contains even the smallest amount of onion or garlic in order to keep him safe and healthy.
Caffeine
You probably already know how dangerous chocolate is to dogs, but did you know this is largely because of the caffeine content? Even just a small amount of caffeine can cause a dog’s heart rate to increase to dangerous levels, and it can affect a dog’s blood pressure too.
Caffeine can be found in coffee or tea (including dry, grounds, unbrewed, etc.) as well as in chocolate, the most dangerous being baking chocolate or cocoa powder because of the high concentration levels. However, it can also be found in other foods and in some kinds of medicine, so you should always take care to check the labels and be careful of what you give your dog.
Grapes
Grapes are extremely dangerous for dogs, and this includes raisins as well. It only takes a couple of grapes or raisins to cause a dog to start getting sick, so it’s important to never give your dog even a bite of food that contains them.
Grapes can cause dogs to vomit uncontrollably, and may quickly lead to weakness and lethargy. They can also cause seizures and may lead to kidney failure, which in turn can lead to death. If you think your dog has eaten any grapes, it’s a good idea to get him to your veterinarian in Matthews, NC quickly.
Macadamia Nuts
Macadamia nuts are another toxic food for dogs that can make them very sick. Early signs of sickness from macadamia nuts may include vomiting and diarrhea, but this may quickly advance to shaking and weakness in the legs. Dogs may develop seizures and could even die from poisoning by macadamia nuts, depending on how many they eat and whether or not chocolate is also present at the time.
It only takes six macadamia nuts to make a dog sick, so be very careful with cookies and other foods containing these nuts around your dog.
Xylitol
Dogs who ingest Xylitol will quickly show signs of poisoning through vomiting and diarrhea. As the problem progresses, dogs may develop weakness, tremors, and severe dehydration, and they usually eventually develop seizures as well. If left untreated, Xylitol poisoning can cause liver failure and death in just a short time.
Xylitol can be tricky to find in foods, so be careful and read labels if you have any concerns. It is most often used as a sweetener in sugar free gum, but it can be found in a variety of other foods and medications too. Pay close attention to peanut butter if you use it to give medications as the sugar free contains Xylitol. When in doubt, do not give your dog anything that could potentially contain Xylitol.
Take Your Dog to a Vet in Matthews, NC if They Eat a Toxic Food
With this information, you can be more careful about the human food you share with your dog—which shouldn’t be done very often in the first place! If your furry friend does eat something you fear may be a toxic food for dogs, monitor him for any signs of a problem, and take him to the emergency vet immediately if you notice something is wrong.
At Caring Hearts Animal Hospital, our compassionate and well-trained staff is here for you and your pet to help with any medical situation. If you have a question about what your dog ate, or if you should go to the emergency vet, feel free to contact us and we’ll be happy to help you. Your pet’s health is our number one priority, so we always do anything and everything we can to help them live a long and happy life with you.