Things Not to Give a Dog to Eat

While you may think it's harmless to feed your dog the same foods you eat, what you eat isn't necessarily safe for your pooch. You can expose your dog to foods that can cause illness and even death. To provide your dog with a healthy and safe feeding environment, you should avoid feeding your dog human foods.

Bones
- Give your dog a bone alternative.
  
  It's tempting to give your dog a bone from a steak or other meat product such as pork. Even feeding your dog a raw bone, a bone that hasn't been cooked, can potentially contaminate your dog with salmonella and E. coli, indicates the American Kennel Club. Cooked bones can crack or splinter. According to the St. Lucia Animal Protection Society, bones that splinter can lead to intestinal obstructions that will need surgery to repair. Giving bones to your dog can also cause tooth damage, obstructions in the throat and possible intestinal perforation.
Chocolate
- Never give a dog chocolate.
  
  While humans can digest chocolate, dogs lack this ability due to the chemical theobromine. Theobromine is a diuretic for dogs. Chocolate ingestion can cause excessive urination in dogs. Chocolate can also cause an increased heart rate, seizures, vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. Darker chocolate contains higher concentrations of theobromine, indicates Vetinfo. The slightest ingestion of chocolate requires immediate medical attention from your veterinarian since your dog can die from eating chocolate.
Fruit
- Grapes are poisonous.
  
  Fruits such as grapes and raisins can poison your dog. These fruits can cause kidney damage. As little as one-third of an ounce of grapes per pound of body weight can cause damage to your dog, according to Pet Education. Acids found in citrus fruits can cause vomiting. Seeds found in fruits can also cause complications. Peach and avocado pits can obstruct your dog's intestinal tract. Dogs should also avoid apple seeds, cherry pits and apricot pits.
Other Food to Avoid
- Avoid salty foods.
  
  Other dangerous foods to avoid include ham, onions and dairy products. Ham has a high concentration of salt. When fed to your dog, your pet can drink massive quantities of water to combat the saltiness. This can cause bloat, a condition that causes gas bloating. Your dog's stomach can twist, resulting in death, states the St. Lucia Animal Protection Society. Dogs can have an intolerance to lactose found in dairy products. Ingesting dairy such as milk can cause diarrhea and vomiting. Onions contain the chemical thiosulphate. Thiosulphate affects red blood cells, leading to anemia.