WHAT’S HEALTHY FOR YOU MAY BE HARMFUL FOR YOUR DOG

It is easy to assume that food with high nutritional value that’s good for us will do our pets’ bodies good too. On the contrary, these five foods are not only unhealthy but potentially toxic to our beloved pets. It’s hard to resist those puppy dog eyes begging for table scraps by your feet, but sometimes the best way to show your dog some love is to not give in and say “No.” Avoid feeding your pets the following:

1. Grapes and raisins - Experts haven’t quite figured out exactly why they’re harmful to dogs, but they have been blamed for several reported cases of kidney failure. Not all dogs who have eaten grapes or raisins have been harmed, but still, when it comes to your loved ones it’s always better to be safe than sorry!
2. Potatoes - They may be a staple in many people’s diets, but dogs generally have trouble digesting them properly. Studies also show that potatoes can even cause chronic infections in your dogs’ urinary tracts.
3. Mushrooms – For humans, they can be a good source of magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium but for your pet dogs they can cause tummy aches, diarrhea, vomitting, liver and kidney damage, and in the very worst of cases even coma and death.
4. Avocadoes – The list of vitamins and nutrients we can get from avocadoes is a long one: Vitamins B6, C, and K, as well as copper, dietary fiber, folate, and potassium. For our pet dogs, however, avocadoes can cause fluid accumulation in the abdomen, chest and heart, difficulty breathing and pancreatitis.
5. Chocolate – One can argue that chocolate is good for humans- especially dark chocolate that is said to be full of anti-oxidants, but together with grapes and raisins, there’s probably few things worse that you can feed your dog. The darker the chocolate, the worse it is for your pet. This is not an unknown fact, but one crucial enough to repeat here. Cocoa beans contain theobromine which is lethal to dogs, resulting in seizures, coma, and death.

This article was in no way meant to scare you, but we thought this was important information every dog owner ought to know. After all, we’re just looking out for you and your pet!

**photo source: riverdogwalk.com**