The Hazards of Feeding Dogs Human Food

Feeding a pet the same thing you cook for yourself is not always wise. The nutritional needs and health of a canine are different than that of a human, and feeding dogs human food also can be hazardous for several reasons.

  1. Obstructions And Lacerations

    • Several human foods can result in serious health conditions affecting the digestive tract of a dog. Feeding a dog meats that contain bones, or simply giving a dog meat bones or even fish bones can cause obstructions in the digestive tract and could potentially cause internal lacerations, according to PetEducation.com.

      Pits from peaches and plumbs may also cause similar blockages, as will the seeds from persimmons. Yeast may cause extreme gas and even tearing of the stomach or intestines.

    Bad Nutrition

    • One of the biggest problems with giving human food to a dog is the difference in nutritional needs. Food that is perfectly healthy for humans can be entirely inappropriate for the health requirements of a dog.

      Baby food can sometimes contain onion powder, which can be toxic to dogs. Caffeine is very common for humans, but can actually cause heart and nervous system problems for dogs. Vitamin supplements that humans take to increase health can sometimes damage the lining of a dog's stomach and digestive tract. Dogs often get diarrhea because of their inability to break down lactase in milk. Salt will lead to an electrolyte imbalance in dogs.

      Even feeding a dog cat food is unhealthy because it is generally too high in protein and fats.

    Deadly Foods

    • Some foods that humans eat as part of their normal routine can lead to death in dogs in some cases. Alcoholic beverages will intoxicate a dog just as they will a human, but the intoxication can easily cause the dog to go into a coma and potentially die. Beer contains hops, which can increase the heart rate in dogs, causing them to pant heavily and run a fever. Occasionally the animal will have a seizure and die, according to PetEducation.com.

      Mushrooms may cause toxicity, shock and death in some dogs. Raw fish can cause a dog to experience thiamine deficiency, resulting in seizures and sometimes death.

    Organ Damage

    • Some human foods cause damage to internal organs in dogs. Artificial sweeteners like Xylitol can cause a dog's liver to fail, while grapes and raisins contain a toxin that damages the liver and kidneys. Fat trimmings given to dogs on a regular basis may lead to pancreatitis.