Delicious but dangerous

Watching your furry friend munch on certain types of human foods may seem adorable, but in reality, it may be toxic for them. In order to guarantee your furkid’s health and well-being, here are some of the most common food types that might be very delicious, but also very dangerous for our four-legged friends:

1. Food that is high in caffeine

Coffee, tea, candy, chocolate, and any other foods high in caffeine should be completely avoided by dogs. This is even more so when there’s sugar involved as well, because the two substances, when mixed together can cause even more harm to your dog.

The caffeine in the food can speed up heart rate, cause diarrhoea, restlessness, and contribute to weight gain. Even worse, it can also cause severe heart and nervous system damage if too much is consumed.

2. Fatty meat

Your pooch may love you greatly for feeding them large chunks of tasty, juicy, and fatty meat, but too much of it can be harmful! High-fat foods like meat trimmings, ham, and bacon can contribute to pancreatitis in dogs, and because of their high salt content, they can also cause your dog to have an upset stomach. In drastic cases, your pooch may try to hydrate themselves and bloat, which can be fatal.

3. Cooked Bones

Source: @balithegreyhound

Unbeknownst to many, dogs cannot chew on all bones – only certain raw ones. This is because while a raw and uncooked bone is good for your dog’s teeth and nutrition, a cooked bone is much more brittle and easily broken into tiny shards and splinters that can cause internal damage when swallowed!

Plus, cooking also takes away the nutrients from the bone, but that said, take note not to feed your pooch small uncooked bones that can be swallowed whole or raw bones that have been cut – these are likely to become choking hazards and splinter.

4. Dairy

While dairy might not be toxic for all dogs, a good number of them tend to be lactose intolerant. Even if they aren’t, dogs generally have a harder time digesting diary as compared to us humans – they don’t produce the enzyme needed to break down the lactose in dairy products. This can result in flatulence and other digestive problems such as diarrhoea.

5. Raw foods

The raw food diet is an increasingly popular trend amongst pet owners for its alleged health benefits, but it is still a debatable topic between vets because raw meats and eggs are known to carriers of the salmonella bacteria, which can cause food poisoning. If you rather play it safe, then it would be best to simply not give them any sort of raw food at all! Otherwise, consult your vet in Singapore to assess whether or not it’s safe for your pup to try out the diet.

Be informed about what your pet can and cannot eat

There are many other alternative human snacks and foods that you can give your dog as a positive reinforcement. Washed fruits and vegetables like banana, apples, sweet potatoes, and cucumbers act as healthy snacks for your pup, so don’t be afraid to expand your dog’s “menu” – just remember to avoid these 5 foods!