Dangerous Foods - Foods to Avoid Feeding to Dogs

Find Out Which Foods Will Make Your Dog Sick

Apr 8, 2009

Giving your dog a treat from the table is usually not a major concern, but some foods can be toxic to your dog and should never be offered. Find out which foods to avoid.

Many people like to offer food treats to their dogs to provide a little variety in the dog's diet or to help bond with their dog. Usually, in small quantities, food treats are not a problem. However, there are some foods to avoid as these foods can be dangerous for your dog.

Some foods should be avoided because they are toxic or poisonous to the dog. Others are dangerous foods to offer because they can cause injury to the dog's mouth or intestinal tract. Either way, these are foods which should never be offered to your dog.

Dangerous Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Dog

The following foods are considered to be dangerous to your dog and should not be fed:

There are also a few other items which you should avoid feeding your dog or allowing your dog to eat and these include:

Some of these items can be threatening for your dog in the short-term, causing symptoms ranging from mild digestive upset to life-threatening, potentially fatal reactions. Others can cause more long-term problems with your dog's health. None are safe to offer to your dog.

How to Protect Your Dog from These Dangerous Foods

Protecting your dog from these dangerous foods involves restricting your dog's access to them. If you are unable to control the temptation to feed your dog while at the dinner table, set aside a small treat which your dog is allowed and feed that instead. Alternatively, you can remove your dog from the room when eating meals so you are not tempted to feed him dangerous foods.

Always be aware of what other people are feeding your dog. Well-meaning guests and neighbors may not be aware of the dangers or may not know which foods to avoid. Ask your neighbors to avoid feeding your dog if you are not present. Also ask dinner guests to refrain from giving treats or isolate your dog in another part of the house while you are preparing and serving dinner to avoid the temptation to give dangerous foods.

Keep your dog out of the trash can or waste receptacle. Trash often contains uneaten or spoiled food items, as well as other items which may be dangerous for your dog to ingest. The temptation to raid a trash container can be very strong for a dog, so do not rely on your dog's training to prevent this from happening. Place your trash containers where they are not accessible for your dog.

Rawhide Chews as Potentially Dangerous Foods

Rawhide chews, pig ears, beef jerky treats, smoked hooves, pig's skin and other dog chew products made from beef or pork have been linked many times to Salmonella outbreaks. On October 1, 1999, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a press release warning of the dangers of rawhide chews. Not only can rawhide chews cause disease for dogs, they can also cause exposure and disease for people.

The copyright of the article Dangerous Foods - Foods to Avoid Feeding to Dogs in Pet Nutrition is owned by Lorie Huston. Permission to republish Dangerous Foods - Foods to Avoid Feeding to Dogs in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.