Dogs are our best friends and have been for many years. So much time and effort go into nurturing our relationships with dogs and for good reason, as they supply our lives with so much. You either have a dog or someone directly close to you has one, so it means something to you to pay attention to how to look after your furry little mates.
Dogs can be fairly high maintenance and expensive depending on the breed but most people look past this due to the amount of joy, happiness, and abundance they bring to our lives. Dogs can help create a family, be there for a lonely person, or even aid those who are blind, either way, they are good for so many things and it’s no surprise that dogs are everywhere these days.
So maybe you are looking for some extra knowledge about dogs and what they can or perhaps you are worried about something you’ve given your dog. There is an abundance of information and knowledge out there to help you look after your dog in the best way today and make sure they keep you happy and are healthy for the long term.
A healthy dog is a good dog, and those with energy make the best companions for walks and strolls, so it’s best to keep an eye on which human foods are not safe for dogs. Chances are you will most likely be eating meals or snacks around your dog and feel tempted to give them a little treat. They are probably looking, gazing at you for just a small bit of what you’ve got and this can be hard to ignore. However, it’s good to be mindful of what dogs can actually eat.
So Which Human Foods Are Safe & NOT Safe For Dogs?
Given how complex the human diet can be these days and the options available for food, it can be hard to keep up with exactly what ingredients are in our foods and the positive and negative effects they have on our bodies. You might be mistaken to think that what is fine for you to consume and digest is ok for your dog too, but this is most likely not the case.
French Fries
This is a food that is so widely consumed by humans that your dog might get a smell for them and think they can have some too. However, you need to ask yourself is it safe for dogs to eat french fries? Again you might think it’s ok for them to have them occasionally as a treat but the thing is, there are no nutritional or health benefits associated with dogs and french fries. If you’re naturally quite mindful about ingredients and are a healthy person, you’ll know that most french fries are full of processed junk, unhealthy fats, and even sugar. This will slow your dog down, help in congesting their arteries as the same happens with humans and give them negative effects over the duration of their life. You want your dog to be spritely, energetic, and feeding them french fries is only going to do the opposite for them.
Chocolate
This might sound crazy to you, but the majority of chocolate is actually poisonous to dogs. This is due to its theobromine content, which dogs are unable to metabolize properly. Theobromine primarily affects the central nervous system, cardiovascular system, and respiratory system, as well as having a diuretic effect. Your dog could experience nausea, vomiting, and other horrible side effects from ingesting chocolate. Essentially, it’s just not worth the risk. Yes we all love chocolate and the majority of us probably have some lying around the house, so put it somewhere the dog can’t get it for their sake.
Onions, Garlic & Chives
There are more common foods that are probably in your kitchen that you never had a clue would have such a negative effect on your pup. These mentioned foods can cause gastrointestinal irritation and red blood cell damage.
So How Can I Help My Dog?
Now you are aware of some of the common foods that are safe for humans but not for dogs, here are some tips on how to prevent them from eating them:
- Keep your foods locked away
- Put them in drawers or cupboards that are up high where the dog can’t reach them
- Tell others in your house and what the dog can and can’t have
- Be mindful when preparing food that things don’t drop on the floor
So now you are hopefully a bit more equipped about what foods aren’t safe for your dog or other people’s dogs, which should give you some peace of mind.