If you’re a dog owner, you know your furry friend is basically part of the family. But here’s the thing—while we enjoy our meals, some common human foods can actually be harmful (or even deadly) for your dog. So, don’t take it lightly! Here’s a list of 10 foods that should NEVER be given to your dog. You might be surprised by some of them, so let’s go through this together, okay?
1. XYLITOL
OKAY, SO WE KNOW SUGAR-FREE GUM AND PEANUT BUTTER ARE PRETTY POPULAR, RIGHT? BUT A LOT OF THEM HAVE THIS THING CALLED XYLITOL. IT’S A SUGAR SUBSTITUTE, AND IT’S CRAZY DANGEROUS FOR DOGS. EVEN A TINY BIT OF IT CAN CAUSE THEIR BLOOD SUGAR TO DROP, WHICH COULD LEAD TO LIVER FAILURE OR SEIZURES.
PRO TIP: KEEP YOUR GUM, CANDY, AND PEANUT BUTTER UP HIGH, OUT OF YOUR DOG’S REACH. BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY!
2. ALCOHOL
WE ENJOY A DRINK HERE AND THERE, BUT ALCOHOL? DOGS DON’T DO WELL WITH IT AT ALL. EVEN A TINY SIP CAN MESS THEM UP—VOMITING, TROUBLE BREATHING, OR WORSE. THEIR BODY CAN’T PROCESS ALCOHOL LIKE OURS, SO IT’S A BIG NO-NO.
JUST SAYING: IF YOU’VE GOT A DRINK IN HAND, MAKE SURE YOUR DOG’S NOT TRYING TO TAKE A SIP.
3. AVOCADO
AVOCADO’S ALL HEALTHY FOR US, BUT FOR YOUR DOG? NOT SO MUCH. THE PIT, SKIN, AND LEAVES CONTAIN A TOXIN CALLED PERSIN, AND THAT STUFF IS NOT GOOD FOR YOUR DOG. IT CAN CAUSE STOMACH ISSUES, VOMITING, AND DIARRHEA. EVEN IF THE FLESH ISN’T AS BAD, JUST DON’T BOTHER WITH IT.
QUICK TIP: KEEP YOUR AVOCADO TO YOURSELF, OKAY?
4. CAFFEINE
WE ALL LOVE OUR MORNING COFFEE, BUT DOGS? NOT SO MUCH. CAFFEINE CAN MESS THEM UP PRETTY FAST—MAKING THEM ANXIOUS, SHAKY, AND EVEN GIVING THEM SEIZURES. NOT WORTH THE RISK, YEAH?
PRO TIP: KEEP YOUR COFFEE, TEA, AND ENERGY DRINKS WELL OUT OF YOUR DOG’S REACH. THEY DON’T NEED THAT CAFFEINE BUZZ!
5. CHOCOLATE
THIS ONE’S A CLASSIC. CHOCOLATE IS SUPER TOXIC FOR DOGS, NO MATTER WHAT TYPE—DARK CHOCOLATE, MILK CHOCOLATE, WHATEVER. IT CONTAINS THEOBROMINE, AND THAT STUFF CAN MESS WITH THEIR HEART, NERVOUS SYSTEM, AND MORE. IT COULD EVEN KILL THEM IF THEY EAT ENOUGH.
IMPORTANT: KEEP ALL CHOCOLATE OUT OF YOUR DOG’S PAWS—ESPECIALLY AROUND HOLIDAYS WHEN CHOCOLATE IS EVERYWHERE!
6. FRIED & FATTY FOODS
WE LOVE FRIED FOODS, RIGHT? BUT DOGS? NOT SO MUCH. THESE FOODS CAN MESS UP THEIR TUMMY AND LEAD TO SERIOUS ISSUES LIKE PANCREATITIS OR EVEN OBESITY IN THE LONG RUN. SO YEAH, YOUR FRIES AND FRIED CHICKEN? NOT FOR DOGS.
FRIENDLY TIP: SHARE YOUR FRIES WITH YOUR FRIENDS, NOT WITH YOUR DOG. GIVE THEM SOMETHING HEALTHIER, LIKE CARROTS OR A DOGGY TREAT!
7. GARLIC & ONIONS
GARLIC AND ONIONS ARE GREAT FOR COOKING, BUT FOR DOGS, THEY CAN BE PRETTY TOXIC. THEY CAN MESS WITH YOUR DOG’S RED BLOOD CELLS AND CAUSE ANEMIA. EVEN COOKED GARLIC AND ONIONS AREN’T SAFE FOR THEM.
REMINDER: IF YOU’RE COOKING WITH GARLIC OR ONIONS, KEEP THEM FAR AWAY FROM YOUR DOG’S BOWL. BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY!
8. GRAPES & RAISINS
YOU MIGHT THINK GRAPES AND RAISINS ARE HARMLESS, BUT THEY’RE ACTUALLY REALLY DANGEROUS FOR DOGS. THEY CAN CAUSE KIDNEY FAILURE, AND SOMETIMES THE SYMPTOMS DON’T SHOW UP RIGHT AWAY. SO EVEN A LITTLE SNACK CAN END UP BEING A BIG PROBLEM.
PRO TIP: KEEP GRAPES AND RAISINS FAR FROM YOUR DOG. JUST DON’T TAKE THE RISK!
9. NUTS
NUTS MIGHT SEEM LIKE A HEALTHY SNACK, BUT THEY’RE NOT GREAT FOR DOGS. MACADAMIA NUTS, IN PARTICULAR, ARE SUPER TOXIC. THEY CAN CAUSE YOUR DOG TO FEEL WEAK, VOMIT, TREMBLE, OR EVEN HAVE TROUBLE WALKING.
QUICK TIP: IF YOU’VE GOT NUTS AROUND, MAKE SURE YOUR DOG DOESN’T GET INTO THEM. TRUST ME, IT’S NOT WORTH IT.
10. DAIRY PRODUCTS
WE LOVE OUR CHEESE, MILK, AND ICE CREAM, BUT FOR DOGS, DAIRY IS A BIT OF A PROBLEM. MOST ADULT DOGS ARE LACTOSE INTOLERANT, WHICH MEANS DAIRY GIVES THEM AN UPSET STOMACH, GAS, AND DIARRHEA.
PRO TIP: IF YOU WANT TO GIVE YOUR DOG A TREAT, CHOOSE SOMETHING DAIRY-FREE. THEY’LL THANK YOU LATER!
NOW THAT YOU KNOW WHAT TO AVOID, MAKE SURE YOU’RE KEEPING ALL THESE HARMFUL FOODS FAR FROM YOUR DOG. IF THEY MANAGE TO EAT SOMETHING THEY SHOULDN’T, DON’T WAIT—GET THEM TO THE VET ASAP. BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY.
BE A GOOD DOG PARENT!
AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOUR DOG RELIES ON YOU FOR THEIR HEALTH AND SAFETY. KEEP AN EYE ON WHAT THEY’RE EATING, AND DON’T LET THESE COMMON FOODS SLIP BY. SHOW THEM SOME LOVE WITH SAFE, HEALTHY TREATS, AND THEY’LL BE YOUR BEST BUDDY FOREVER.
