A dog lover has revealed the identities of eight human foods that can prove dangerous and, in some cases, prove if consumed by your pooch.
While you may be tempted to share some of your food with your furry friend when they look at you with those beseeching eyes, you might want to avoid giving them certain foods. Dogs Discovery (@dogsdiscovery) took to TikTok to issue the important health warning, detailing the science behind each individual foodstuff.
Here are the foods you should never feed your canine companion.
Ice cream
The account began by raising concerns over allowing your hound to indulge in dairy products – namely ice cream. “Most ice cream contains xylitol, which is a common sweetener that is incredibly toxic to dogs,” Dog Discovery said.
Xylitol is a natural sugar alcohol found in plants such as fruits and vegetables, and it is often used as a substitute for sugar. VCA Animal Hospitals backed up the warning, adding: “Xylitol is extremely toxic to dogs. Even small amounts of xylitol can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), seizures, liver failure, or even death in dogs.”
Milk
Continuing the dairy theme, Dogs Discovery warned of the danger of milk itself. “Most dogs are lactose intolerant meaning they can’t break down the sugar in milk,” they explained.
According to the American Kennel Club, milk can be safe for your dog in small doses – although this is not the case if your dog is lactose intolerant. Even if your dog appears to handle a small quantity well, the American Kennel Club advises: “You should probably hold off on offering your dog an entire bowl in one sitting, as it can cause unpleasant reactions, including diarrhoea, vomiting, and loose stools.”
Chocolate
Many of us know chocolate is toxic to dogs, but did you know it is due to an ingredient called theobromine? “This poisons their nervous system,” Dogs Discovery states.
And Wag Walking backs this claim up, adding: “Dogs are unable to metabolise theobromine and this makes it toxic to them. The darker the chocolate or the more bitter the taste, the more toxic it is to dogs.”
Crisps
Dogs Discovery also recommends pooches avoid crisps as they “can’t handle sodium as well as humans,” thus consuming too much salt can result in “fatal ion poisoning.”
Walk Walking adds that sodium is a natural substance your dog’s body needs, but, just like for humans, too much can prove dangerous and even deadly. “Sodium toxicity is caused by sodium chloride, which is used to maintain the levels of water in the body; an essential part of your dog’s metabolic system,” its website states.
Cookies
Much like ice cream and chocolate, most cookies contain xylitol and theobromine. “Additionally excess sugar and fat [in cookies] leads to pancreatitis in dogs,” Dogs Discovery adds.
Junk food
You may be noticing a theme – unhealthy food is likely best avoided if you want to keep your dog happy and healthy. Next up on the list is processed food, with Dogs Discovery suggesting your pets avoid items such as burgers due to their potential garlic and onion powder content. “Both cause irreversible damage to red blood cells,” they advise.
According to PDSA, “onion and garlic poisoning can also lead to anaemia (low red blood cell count). Symptoms of anaemia include trouble breathing and lethargy (low energy). These symptoms may occur 1-5 days after eating the onion, garlic or leek.”
Cooked bones
Wrapping up their advice, the account reports on the dangers of cooked bones. “While raw bones are fine, cooked bones can easily splinter into sharp fragments, which when chewed, cause internal bleeding” they explain.
PetMD emphasises this point too, stating on its web site: “Cooked bones should always be off-limits. They become brittle and easily break into sharp shards that can do a lot of damage when they pass through the gastrointestinal tract. Never feed your dog cooked bones. This includes those that originate in your kitchen and those that can be purchased.”
People were quick to comment on the clip, with one person writing: “My dog eats all this except chocolate.” “My dog must be human,” joked another. “Because whatever my toddler eats…he’s right behind him waiting for leftovers!”
Others, however, heeded to the advice, with a third person responding: “Just because a dog doesn’t die when they eat something doesn’t mean its not bad for dogs. All dogs are carnivores.” And another person agreed: “My dogs have doggy ice cream specially made for dogs but no way I’m feeding them chocolate or any other human food.”