You’ve just made yourself some incredible home-made pizza. You’ve served yourself a plate and you’ve just sat down at the table when you feel a bump against your knee. You look down and see two big brown eyes looking up at you with such passion that a stranger might think your dog hasn’t seen dog food in a year, let alone half an hour ago.

You look back at your pizza. Surely giving the dog a little bit couldn’t hurt. But which bit? Before you slide some pepperoni under the table, have a read through these 8 foods you absolutely should not feed your dog.

• Onions. Whether it’s raw, cooked, or you’ve used onion powder, you should never give your dog onion. While a great staple in human foods, onion can damage your dog’s red blood cells and cause anemia.
• Avocado. Smashed avocado on toast with feta is delicious for you but incredibly toxic for your dog. Avocados contain persin, which causes diarrhea, vomiting, and heart congestion in dogs. Avocado pits are very rich in persin, so if your dog eats a whole avocado pit, call your vet immediately.
• Grapes. This fruit causes vomiting, depression, low energy, and kidney failure in dogs. Even a small amount is incredibly toxic.
• Chocolate. It’s a pretty common fact that chocolate is bad for dogs. The type of chocolate will determine just how bad, as different types of chocolate have varying levels of caffeine and theobromine. Cocoa powder and dark chocolate, which have high levels of caffeine and theobromine, are very toxic. They can result in vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, elevated heart rate, restlessness, seizures, and death.
• Garlic. While beneficial in tiny amounts, garlic has the potential to be toxic for your dog. When ingested in larger amounts, garlic can cause lowered red blood cell count, anemia, weakness, vomiting, and breathing difficulties.
• Candy. This is a no-no for two reasons. Firstly, candy contains xylitol which causes vomiting, loss of coordination, seizures, and liver failure in dogs. Secondly, it contains sugar, which leads to dental issues, obesity, and can cause diabetes.
• Peppers. Some peppers, like capsicum, are okay for dogs to eat. Other peppers, such as jalapenos or birdseye, will make your dog very sick and cause them pain and discomfort with ingestion.
• Nuts. Your dog may present differently depending on which nuts you give them. However, macadamias and walnuts can cause muscle shakes, vomiting, increased body temperature, and weak back legs.

So, What Makes Good Dog Food?

Raw dog food is a great source of protein, calcium, and other essential nutrients for your dog. The premise of raw dog food is to provide your dog with the foods they would have eaten before they became domesticated. This includes meat on the bone, organ meats, vegetables like broccoli or celery, eggs, fruit, and dairy. The benefits of a raw dog food diet to your dog are;

• Shinier coats
• Cleaner teeth
• Healthier skin
• Higher energy levels

Can I Feed My Dog Any Human Food?

When your dog isn’t chowing down on one of our recommended dog foods, you can, in moderation, feed them the following foods;

• Cheese. Making for an excellent treat, dogs can eat cheese in small to moderate quantities.
• Yogurt. The perfect snack for a hungry dog, yogurt helps to strengthen your dog’s digestive system. Stick to plain yogurt though, no added sugars or sweeteners.
• Peanut butter. Sticky, sweet, and packed with vitamins B and E, unsalted peanut butter is a favourite with dogs.
• Coconut. If your dog has bad breath, coconut will help freshen it up a bit before you take them for a dental health check-up.
• Eggs. When cooked all the way through, eggs provide your dog with an excellent source of protein. They will go nuts for some scrambled eggs on special occasions.

Come in and say hi!

Girraween Veterinary Hospital are proud stockists of Hills Prescription Diet dog food and Paddock to Plate Raw Dog Food. Darwin dog-owners can pop in to grab a bag or have a chat with our friendly vet nurses at any time. Otherwise, you can book an appointment online or give us a call on (08) 8983 1183.