subject: 7 Things You Should NEVER Give Your Dog [print this page] Since humans and dogs have a different bodies and metabolisms, dogs cannot eat the same things a human can. To protect your dog from some serious problems here are the 7 things a dog should never consume.
1. Certain bones: A lot of people believe it is ok for dogs to eat bones, but the reality is some bones can be extremely dangerous, causing obstruction or laceration to their digestive system.
You should never, ever give your dog chicken bones or fish bones. Even rawhide bones and green dental bones have caused intestinal obstruction in dogs. There isn't one single type of bone out there I can recommend to you, because there isn't one guaranteed to be completely safe. The thicker the bone is, the better. Avoid any bones that may splinter.
2. Mushrooms: They may be yummy, but they can contain toxins that cause shock and possibly death in dogs.
3. Raw fish: Raw fish, if given to your dog often enough, will cause seizures and can be deadly. This is caused from a vitamin B deficiency.
4. Caffeine: Products with caffeine, such as coffee or chocolate, can affect your dog's nervous system, and can be deadly.
5. Alcohol: Getting your dog drunk is not going to be funny when they end up dying from it. Dogs can get alcohol poisoning very easily. Remember, their body size is much smaller than yours. Even large dogs are smaller than people (usually). Plus, a person can (typically) know when they've had too many drinks. A dog can't. Dogs have a tendency to get into people's drinks during parties. During parties, make sure to keep your dog somewhere they won't have any chances of accidentally drinking alcoholic beverages.
6. Human medications: Although the vet may suggest giving your dog certain human medications, it's crucial to follow the vet's directions. Never give your dog more than the vet recommends. Their bodies are smaller than ours and cannot take as much. Also, you must never assume a certain human medication is ok for your dog to take. Always consult a vet before giving your pet any human medication and verify how much they can take.
7. Macadamia nuts: No one knows exactly what is in Macadamia nuts that is toxic, but it is known they will cause cause locomotory problems in dogs, even if they only ingest a small handful.
A dog's body is sensitive to different things than a human body is and in many cases dogs are poisoned by an owner that does not know they are harming their dog. Hundreds of thousands of dogs are accidentally poisoned each year, and not just by these 7 substances. These are only 7 of the many things that may poison your dog.
Other times, dogs get into things they shouldn't. Dog owners need to educate themselves about the many (sometimes surprising) substances that can poison a dog, and be sure to keep those out of their dog's reach.
