Many people are unaware about the foods that should and should not be given to dogs. There are many types of foods which humans eat that can be harmful to dogs, and even prove to be fatal. Dogs can face various health problems if they consume these foods.

Harmful Foods for Dogs

There are many human foods that are harmful to dogs mainly due to the difference in the digestive systems. Let us take a look at some of the food harmful to dogs.

Chocolate
Chocolate can be very harmful to dogs. This is because it contains a large amount of fat, which is not easily digested by dogs, and might result in vomiting and diarrhea. It also has two compounds, namely caffeine and theobromine, which affect the dog's nervous system. You will notice symptoms like excessive urination, panting, restlessness, high blood pressure, and increased heart rate, due to the toxic effect of chocolate.

Alcohol
Alcohol can also be very harmful to dogs. It can be highly toxic and prove to be fatal. All alcoholic beverages contain ethanol, which is poisonous to dogs. If the dog consumes alcohol he may show symptoms like change in behavior, excitement, depression, breathing problems, excessive panting, odor of alcohol in its mouth, and excessive urination.

Xylitol
Xylitol is an artificial sugar sweetener containing alcohol. It is found in most of the sugar free products such as candy, chewing gum, etc. It is one of the harmful foods for dogs. Excessive consumption of xylitol in dogs will result in low blood sugar leading to weakness. It can also cause seizures. You should take your dog to the veterinarian immediately if you notice these symptoms.

Dairy Products
Dairy products are not too harmful to dogs, but still have some adverse side effects. They contain a high amount of fat and lactose, and dogs do not have the enzymes required to digest them, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

Coffee
Coffee grounds or coffee beans are toxic to dogs. The symptoms which occur when the dog consumes coffee are similar to those that occur when he consumes chocolate.

Moldy Food
Moldy or spoiled food can be very harmful to dogs, thus, one should always keep their dogs away from garbage cans. Moldy or spoiled food harms the dog's digestive system and can result in food poisoning.

Yeast Dough
Yeast dough is one of the harmful foods for dogs, as it expands in the dog's stomach, leading to problems like gas and pain. It might also damage the stomach and intestines causing vomiting, depression and lethargy.

Onion and Garlic
Onions in any form (raw, cooked or powdered) are harmful to dogs. Onions contain compounds like thiosulfate and organosulfur, which can cause harm to the dog's digestive system, as the dog is unable to digest them. They can also lead to poisoning. The symptoms that the dog might show after ingestion of onions and garlic are vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, and allergic reactions. Consumption of onion may also lead to hemolytic anemia in dogs.

Grapes and Raisins
Grapes and raisins can affect your dog's health severely. The effects can be severe and result in kidney failure and even death. The treatment takes a long time. Hence, you should contact the veterinarian immediately if your dog has ingested grapes and raisins.

Mushrooms
Mushrooms have a toxic effect and are very harmful to dogs. If the dog ingests poisonous mushrooms it might show symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, stomach problems or liver failure. Some dogs are even allergic to normal mushrooms which are edible.

Avocado
All the components of avocado are toxic. The toxic substance which is contained in avocado is called 'persin'. The symptoms you will observe when your dog ingests avocado are breathing problems, abdomen enlargement and heart problems.

Nutmeg
Many people are unaware that nutmeg consumption in large quantities can be very harmful and toxic for the dog. The symptoms one might notice after the consumption of nutmeg are seizures, tremors, problems related to the nervous system and also death.

Cat Food and Baby Food
Cat food has high protein and fat content, which is not suitable for dogs. Baby food may contain onion powder, which is one of the harmful foods for dog.

You can also consult a veterinarian for more information on what you should feed your dog. Let's take care of our loyal friends by avoiding these food items in their bowls.