Dogs, especially puppies, can be curious and playful, biting and chewing on things that do not seem appetizing at all, such as plastic, paper and shoes. Because of these habits, dog owners sometimes think their pets can eat just about anything, and they tend to forget that a dog's digestive system is not the same as ours. Some dog owners don't want to give in to the advertising industry by using manufactured dog food products and so they feed the animal table scraps. Although dogs scavenged and ate scraps for years before dog food became an option, some foods that seem harmless to you or me can still hurt your dog if fed to them in excess. There are also a number of recipes for homemade dog food that can be found in books and on the Internet, but it is important to know which food items can be harmful to your pet. Some of the more dangerous foods include chocolate, onions and avocados, but other items such as macadamia nuts, raisins, grapes and coffee can also cause problems if consumed in excess.
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Chocolate
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According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), chocolate is the most dangerous human food that can be fed to your dog. While a very small amount might not cause any damage, ingesting chocolate in large amounts can cause dogs such symptoms as severe vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, urination and, in very severe cases, tremors and seizures. If you find that your pet has consumed any amount of chocolate at all, it is recommended that you take the animal to your veterinarian right away. It is also a good idea to keep on hand the phone number for a canine poison control center.
Onions
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As with chocolate, small amounts of onion will not hurt your pet. But according to the ASPCA, onions in large amounts can be quite dangerous and can cause your dog's gastrointestinal tract to become extremely irritated. This can then lead to damage of the red blood cells. Remember, even if the onions are cooked, as with onion rings, they can still make your dog extremely sick.
Avocados
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The leaves and fruit of the avocado plant often contain persin, which is toxic to dogs when ingested. Persin helps to fight insects and protects the avocados against fungus, but when eaten by your pet, it can cause severe congestion and fluid buildup around the animal's heart. In extreme cases this can even lead to death. Even ingested in small amounts, or when the avocado is mixed with other food products, such as in guacamole, it can still be dangerous for your pet.
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