Do you feed your dogs table scraps? We generally don’t, as many things that we eat can make a dog sick. Once in a while things I cook from scratch that I know won’t make them sick I’ll feed them. However that’s a rare occasion and a treat. We’ve created a list of people foods to avoid. Most are foods that should be avoided in moderation, and some should always be avoided.

People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets

Alcohol

When I first wrote this, the first thing that came to mind was college frat boys teasing dogs with alcohol. Don’t be a frat boy and give yours dogs alcohol. It can cause vomitting, diarrhea, and pretty much everything else it does to humans on larger scale.

Chocolate, Coffee and Caffeine

Chocolate, coffee and caffein contain methylxanthines. All three are found from the cacao seeds. Methylxanthines stop a dogs metabolic process and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures and in extreme cases death. To be honest though, generally it does have to be in large amounts. I know many people who feed chocolate to their dogs on a regular basis with no problems. Still I would never voluntarily giving chocolate to your dogs. They might have an allergy attack from it as well. AKC and ASPCA recommend immediately contacting a veterinarian, although I do believe that to be to extreme unless they literally did eat an entire candy bar that you left on a couch. A few M&M’s, I personally wouldn’t worry.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon can irritate a dogs mouth and cause an upset stomach. Additionally it can lower a dogs blood sugars.

Citrus

Citrus contains citric acid. Citric acid can cause irritation, although large amounts generally have to be ingested.

Coconut and Coconut Oil

I don’t even like to really mention this one, because in small amounts coconut oil can be good for dogs. Generally it can be used as a wholistic way of eliminating parasites and helping with their coat. In large amounts it will cause upset stomach diarrhea or loose stools. However, with almost anything moderation is key. Coconut oil lubricates the insides of the intestinal tract which helps with eliminating parasites. That’s also why loose stools occur.

Grapes and Raisins

Grapes in dogs are known to cause kidney failure. We have grapes at our home, but we trellis them up in the air so they can’t get them. I know they’ve eaten some before, but in general they don’t like them. However, I’m sure in large amounts it would be a problem.

Macadamia Nuts

Macadamia nuts are fairly poisonous and can cause weakness, vomiting, depression, hyperthermia and weaken the nervous system in dogs. Simply stay away from most nuts.

Milk and Dairy

Dogs don’t have a significant amounts of lactase in their digestive track to break down lactose. Once again moderation is key, as small amounts isn’t going to harm a dog. Hey even I’ve shared a bit of ice cream with my dogs. Well, they ate the left overs.

Nuts

Nuts contain a lot of oils and fats that cause vomiting, diarrhea, and potentially pancreatitis. As mention before stay away from nuts. Peanuts are not nuts, and therefore an exception to the rule, and generally safe for dogs.

Onions, Garlic, Chives

These cause gastrointestinal irritation and break down red blood cells. The breaking down of blood cells lead to anemia. Large amounts of onions can do a lot of harm. I never feed my dogs anything with these ingredients. Although I know they’ve eaten some things with it in it. I don’t freak out if somehow they get something with it in it. I grow onions in my yard, and the dogs never touch them anyway.

Raw Meat, Eggs and Bones

So I put this one hear as many people say that giving these things to dogs will lead to parasites. However, if prepared properly, these things are healthier than kibble in my opinion. Cooked bones are of course a choking hazard. Meats that sit out and are not prepared properly should not be served to a dog. However, if done properly raw meat can be a great diet. Cooked eggs are healthy for dogs, however raw eggs will lead to a biotin deficiency.

Salt

Dogs don’t need a lot of salt in their diet. It can cause an excessive amount of urination in a dog.

Xylitol

Xylitol is a sweetener. It can lead to hypoglycemia, seizures and kidney failure. Just stay away from this stuff.

Yeast Dough

Yeast can grow and create bloated stomachs in dogs. Your dogs tummy will be very upset. Gas is never a fun thing.