10 things/foods that you must never feed your Dog!

It is said that, 'Dogs do speak, but only to those who know how to listen'.

But it takes a lot of time to understand and perfect that listening. But it doesn't mean that you must lose sight and ears of which foods can lead to serious health issues in dogs. Here are 10 foods, you must avoid at any cost:

1. Chocolate: Chocolate is poisonous to dogs mostly because of its theobromine content, which dogs are unable to metabolize effectively. The amount of chocolate a dog can eat without showing symptoms varies drastically with their weight. If your dog eats chocolate, you should monitor them closely and seek veterinary attention if they show any symptoms, or if they are very young, pregnant or have other health concerns.

2. Grapes and raisins: Grapes and raisins are known to be highly toxic to dogs, though research has yet to pinpoint exactly which substance in the fruit causes this reaction.

3. Onions: Onions contain a compound called N-propyl disulphide which is highly toxic for dogs. This compound can cause the breakdown and eventual destruction of red blood cells and lead to anaemia. In extreme cases, onion poisoning can be fatal for dogs.

4. Raw Potatoes: Raw potatoes contain solanine, a compound that is toxic to some dogs. However, cooking a potato reduces the levels of solanine.

5. Alcohol: Dogs cannot metabolize alcohol, so beverages, foods, or household products containing different forms of alcohol are unhealthy and can be toxic. Alcohol can cause lethargy, respiratory depression, and dangerously low body temperature in dogs.

6. Nuts:  Not all nuts are toxic to dogs, but almost all nuts are high in fat. This can lead to obesity and pancreatic issues in dogs. Feeding your dog salted nuts can also lead to water retention and other complications, and some nuts, like almonds, are potential choking hazards.

7. Caffeine based products:  Dogs and cats are more sensitive to caffeine than humans are. While taking a sip of hot coffee or iced tea probably will not adversely affect most pets, ingestion of one or two caffeine pills can be fatal for small dogs and cats. Symptoms can start as soon as 30 minutes after ingestion and last for 12 or more hours.

8. Apple Cores (seeds): Apple seeds can be harmful to dogs. Apple seeds contain a small amount of cyanide which is released when they're broken or chewed. Just swallowing a few apple pips is unlikely to cause your dog any harm, but it's best to remove them while giving them apples and avoid the risk.

9. Soy, Wheat and Corn: Soy, Wheat and Corn contain trace amounts of a carcinogenic mold and gluten. They are nor canine and feline appropriate foods.

Companies like Tailblaze have foods which do not even have traces of Soy, Wheat and Corn and are completely Raw. And in this case the raw food diet is an excellent option!

10. Kibbles (All the commercial brands from Paid-degree to Royuck Canine): Kibbles are highly processed foods and are generally made from cheap meat derivates which don't have any commercial value. These can wreck havoc in your pet's health in the long run!

Hope this blog helps you make an informed choice as a pet-parent and lover.

A blog by:

Manaal Maniyar,

A proud pet-parent, A concerned dogs activist and A certified canine-nutritionist