Feeding dogs with natural food has caused difficulties for breeders to this day. While everything small or large is clear with adapted foods, many pet owners are not aware of exactly which products can or cannot be given to animals. The list of these products is quite long and includes not only harmful but also dangerous foods for the pets’ bodies.
Which vegetables are harmful to dogs?
Vegetables should make up 20-25% of our pets’ menu. Specialists recommend not limiting ourselves only to cooked products but also giving them raw. But are all vegetables permissible? Among the particularly prohibited vegetables are potatoes and broccoli.
The impact of potatoes on dogs
First and foremost, raw potatoes contain solanine, a dangerous, toxic substance. It is precisely for this reason that raw potatoes should not be given to the animal, but care should also be taken not to let them find them somewhere on their own or eat scraps from your garbage bin. On the other hand, cooked potatoes contain slowly digestible carbohydrates that are converted into fats, and potato starch leads to obesity and increases the glycemic index. With a more sedentary lifestyle for the dog, this product could lead to an increase in body weight. Additionally, potatoes in general are poorly tolerated by the dog’s body and poorly assimilated by the gastrointestinal tract, which can cause vomiting.
Broccoli
This is a typical vegetable that is beneficial for the human body, but it contains isothiocyanate, which is poisonous to animals. A large amount of broccoli can even lead to the death of the dog. Broccoli can be given to the animal only mixed with other food, but its content should not exceed 4-5%. In such a volume, the vegetable will only be beneficial to the body because it contains a wide range of vitamins and beta-carotene.
Sweets
As we all know, sweet treats are favorites not only for humans but also for our four-legged friends. For this, the owners of dogs are to blame, who use sweets as treats or rewards or allow guests in the home to indulge their pets. Sweets are forbidden for dogs! In some cases, the dog is ready to display all its acting skills to get the treat, in other words, to beg.
Sweets are harmful for many reasons. They are difficult to digest for a dog’s digestive system, ruin their teeth, make them obese, and can provoke diabetes.
The canine body has a very special relationship with chocolate. Theobromine, which gives the treat its bitterness, is a plant alkaloid found in cocoa beans. In humans, a small dose of this substance acts like caffeine – it stimulates the heart and circulation. But such an effect is dangerous for the canine body, as it causes its heart to beat more intensely and contract faster, leading to arrhythmia and tachycardia.
The diuretic action of the substance can cause a disturbance in the water-electrolyte balance. Poisoning a small dog requires only 3-4 pieces of chocolate (the formula is based on 7 grams per 1 kg of the animal’s weight).
So, think very carefully about the consequences before giving a delicious piece of chocolate to your companion.
Hollow, tubular bones
Another dangerous product capable of leading to a fatal outcome. We all know dogs’ love for this type of food, but not every bone is suitable for your pet. The greatest harm can be caused by tubular bones from birds because when they break, they splinter into sharp fragments capable of injuring the oral cavity, the walls of the esophagus, stomach, and intestines, and can even puncture them. Moreover, they often get stuck in the airways and can lead to choking in the animal.
The prohibition extends to tubular bones from birds because, in addition to the aforementioned risks, the splinters can get stuck between the teeth and their unprocessed fragments accumulate in the stomach.
Feeding with large beef bones without sharp edges is allowed, preferably with meat residues on them. It is best to give them raw and remove them after a certain time to prevent the dog from completely gnawing them.
Sausages and smoked products
No dog would refuse a piece of salami or some delicatessen meat, but for its own good, it’s best not to give such food to them. Boiled and smoked sausages contain two harmful components for dogs – salt and pepper. However, modern unscrupulous manufacturers don’t stop there, as they add not only soy but also flavor enhancers, colorants, flavorings, and other harmful substances. Of course, none of these components are suitable for animals.
Smoked meat products have a negative effect on the liver and pancreas. The most at risk are animals with diabetes, with weight problems, and with diseased livers and kidneys. This group also includes puppies up to 5 months old.
Fish
Unless your dog is of the Japanese Akita breed, whose representatives require fish in their diet, you can safely avoid giving this product to your animal, as it can be not only harmful but also dangerous.
Dogs often choke on fish bones, which can lodge in their throat, and esophagus, and damage tissues. Bones can also become stuck between the teeth, and since dogs can’t communicate their discomfort, they simply suffer. Fish bones can cause inflammation. Raw fish can be a breeding ground for parasitic microorganisms and parasites that will inevitably affect the animal. Parasites most commonly inhabit the bodies of freshwater fish, so it’s best to completely remove them from the animals’ menu. Specialists allow feeding dogs salmon meat, but not everyone can afford to feed their pet such expensive fish. Also, a special enzyme, thiaminase, was found in raw fish, which destroys vitamin B groups. It is most abundant in river and sea bream, carp, pike, sardines, capelin, and herring.
Another dangerous component for the canine organism is trimethylamine oxide. It blocks the absorption of iron from food, preventing the mineral from being absorbed, and leading to anemia. It is found in tuna, cod, and bluefish.
Bakery Products
Bread, rolls, and pastries made with yeast dough are all things that our four-legged friends enjoy just as much as we do. But the way they are prepared, especially those that are freshly baked, can be very harmful to the digestive tract of animals. In extreme cases, the condition can lead to intoxication and even tearing of the intestinal and abdominal tissues.
Bakery products may also contain sugar, which, as we’ve already mentioned, is among the prohibited foods for dogs. If you really want to treat your pet with bread, let it be a piece of dried black bread or rye biscuit.
Pork Meat
Of all types of meat, pork is the worst option for dogs. It often contains parasitic worms, and the animal can also become infected with infectious paralysis from it. In the latter case, it is commonly assumed that since humans do not suffer from such a disease, there is no need to check the meat for such pathogens. Additionally, pork is excessively fatty. However, considering the scale of pork’s prevalence, it is difficult to completely remove it from the menu for animals, and specialists do not insist on it either. Nevertheless, certain rules need to be followed:
The product should only be purchased from reputable stores where it undergoes mandatory veterinary inspection.
Only the leanest parts should be given to the dog.
It is well known that dogs need offal. Pork heart, in particular, contains less fat than beef heart. This is a good option for obtaining beneficial proteins and substances rich in vitamins and minerals.
Raw Eggs
This product is dangerous for several reasons. Firstly, it contains the enzyme avidin, which slows down the absorption of vitamins from the B group and impairs the absorption of biotin, negatively affecting the appearance of the coat and skin. Raw eggs can also be contaminated with salmonella. Of course, serious health problems in dogs can be expected only as a result of consuming 5 or more eggs within one week. Specialists advise owners not to overdo it and instead give their dogs a quail egg once every 3-4 days, with the shell ground into small pieces beforehand. However, this should not be done more than 2-3 times a week.
Despite the fact that dogs live together with us humans and often adopt many of our habits, they still have a body that differs significantly from that of humans. This must be taken into account because giving your pet beer, candy, or a piece of sausage automatically shortens its already not-very-long lifespan.
