| It's great to feed your pet pooch lots of different | | | | small amount of this for healthy heart, what he or |
| foods, after all their diet of kibble or meat must | | | | she gets from the bananas is too much. This can, |
| seem pretty boring. However some foods that | | | | in severe cases cause heart failure. |
| are commonly given to dogs can cause untold | | | | What to give instead: As a general rule fruits |
| damage to their health. Here are what foods you | | | | should be avoided, if you are worried about the |
| should avoid and what foods you can give instead. | | | | condition of your dog you could try giving a |
| If you suspect your dog has eaten any of these | | | | vitamin supplement or putting a supplement for |
| foods in large quantities you should promptly seek | | | | dogs on his or her meals. |
| the advice of a vet. | | | | Citrus fruits: |
| Chocolate | | | | Oranges, lemons, apples and grapefruit are all |
| Chocolate is commonly given to dogs, but even a | | | | main contenders here. They contain a lot of |
| little bit can be harmful. Chocolate contains the | | | | vitamin C which is good for the dog in right |
| substance Theobromine, which can cause | | | | amounts. However the amount they contain isn't |
| vomiting, diarrhoea, nervousness, tremors and in | | | | good when given on top of a healthy diet and the |
| large doses can cause death. Different types of | | | | acidity in these fruits can cause problems with the |
| chocolate have different levels of Theobromine, | | | | stomach. |
| with dark being the highest. Cocoa powder and | | | | What to give instead: Fruits should be avoided |
| things coated in it also contain high levels of this | | | | generally but if you are wanting to give extra |
| toxic chemical, however even the tiniest bit can | | | | vitamins to the diet try a vitamin supplement for |
| be harmful as the chemical is not easily cleared | | | | dogs or mixing cooked and cooled peas, sweet |
| from the liver and kidneys. This means with each | | | | corn and carrots with their meat or kibble. |
| dose, it can build up to potentially fatal levels. | | | | Onions and garlic: |
| What to give instead: You can buy dog chocs, | | | | Onions and garlic should never be given to dogs, in |
| which are made from safe ingredients and have | | | | any form. The toxins they contain can be fatal |
| no Theobromine in them. This makes a safe and | | | | for dogs and are hard for dogs to get rid of, so |
| healthier option that will keep you and your pet | | | | they can build up inside the dogs system. Signs |
| happy! | | | | include vomiting, diarrhoea, dark coloured urine, |
| Milk and dairy products | | | | paleness of the gums and tongue and the whites |
| Some people enjoy giving their dogs milk, be it in | | | | of the eyes turning yellow. Eating onions regularly |
| the form of ice cream or yoghurt. Although the | | | | can cause severe anaemia. If not gone |
| dog will enjoy it, it's not the best thing to do. Milk | | | | unchecked, eating onions or garlic can cause |
| contains the sugar Lactose and while your dog is | | | | death. |
| being weaned it has the ability to digest this sugar | | | | Mushrooms: |
| but as it gets older it looses this ability. This | | | | Mushrooms shouldn't be given to dogs as they |
| means the sugar sits in the digestive tract and | | | | contain toxins that can affect the digestive |
| ferments, producing a gas, giving your dog a bad | | | | system as well as the nervous system. |
| tummy ache and diarrhoea. While in some dogs | | | | Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhoea, tremors, |
| this can go unnoticed, many dogs have a high | | | | fits and difficulty breathing. |
| intolerance to such products. | | | | Nuts: |
| What to give instead: Cheese flavoured treats or | | | | Nuts contain many toxins, which can wreak havoc |
| even lactose free products, however you should | | | | on the nervous system and digestive tract. Your |
| still be careful with these. Some dog treats can be | | | | dog may vomit, have diarrhoea, go into |
| derived from milk but are lactose free and these | | | | anaphylaxis or have a fit from eating nuts. It can |
| are a great alternative! | | | | cause death in some cases. |
| Grapes and raisins: | | | | Salty foods: |
| An unknown toxin in grapes and raisins can cause | | | | Salty foods given on a regular basis can lead to |
| kidney failure in dogs, although this was only | | | | unbalances in the way dogs handle minerals and |
| discovered very recently, it is something every | | | | water absorption. This can have a wide range of |
| dog owner should be aware of. Grapes and raisins | | | | effects from upsets to the digestive system to |
| can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and if left unnoticed | | | | having a raised temperature and if left unchecked |
| can progress to kidney failure. | | | | can lead to sever dehydration and death. Eating |
| What to give instead: If you are worried about | | | | large amounts of salt is also fatal and should be |
| vitamins getting to your dog, try feeding a small | | | | treated by a vet immediately. |
| amount of cooked and cooled peas, sweet corn | | | | Sugary foods: |
| and carrots to the kibble or meat. Make sure they | | | | Giving sugary foods, especially if regularly, can |
| are cooked or they are of no nutritional value! | | | | lead to obesity and most likely diabetes in dogs. It |
| Bananas: | | | | will also affect your dog's dental health. Also |
| People often give their canine companion banana, | | | | artificial sweeteners can cause liver failure. These |
| however this could be fatal for the dog. Bananas | | | | foods should never be given. |
| are high in potassium and while a dog needs a | | | | |