There’s a broad spectrum of delightful, elevated bowl dinners, but today, we’re sharing 5 Things Your Pet Should Never Eat In Their Elevated Bowl.
Dogs Bodies Are Created Different Than Humans
Often, well-meaning pet owners share their leftovers with their pets. They do not realize that dogs have different digestive and metabolic systems and can not handle the same foods we can. While some foods are perfectly healthy for us, they may be toxic or even deadly for some pets. Part of being a good pet parent is educating yourself on what your pet can and can’t eat in their doggie dishes.
1. Onions, Garlic, or Chives
Any food within this plant family can be very harmful to your dog. They can cause hemolytic anemia, which can affect your dog’s red blood cells and cause them to be damaged. After being damaged, the broken red blood cells will not circulate normally, causing your pet to have an increased heart rate, weakness, paleness of gums, and even collapse. Chives, especially, are very toxic to your dog, and it’s best to avoid them at all costs.
2. Xylitol
A sweetener found in many natural foods and other snacks and dishes, this is a definite no-no for your pet. While Xylitol is safe for humans, it will cause your dog’s pancreas to release large amounts of insulin into their bloodstream. In severe cases, some dogs have experienced irreversible liver failure. Your dog may experience symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, or even seizures. Xylitol can be potentially fatal to your dog.
3. Chocolate
While chocolate seems like a safe treat for your pet, dogs cannot process a chemical in chocolate called theobromine. This chemical can cause vomiting and diarrhea in mild cases and, in more severe cases, an elevated heart rate, tremors, or even death.
This will largely depend on the dosage the dog has consumed, and the darker the chocolate, the worse it will be. Especially dangerous for small dogs, it’s best to keep the chocolate stash away from your pup and give them something more friendly for their digestive system!
4. Coffee
Sharing some of your morning coffee with your pet might be tempting, but please refrain! Dogs are not used to caffeine, and eating high levels of caffeine will affect them negatively. (This includes all caffeine, including coffee grinds or instant granules.) Caffeine will likely produce an elevated heart rate and abnormal heart rhythms. Fatal doses of caffeine start at around 140-150 mg/kg body weight.
5. Citrus
Citrus can irritate your pet due to the toxic compounds in the seeds, the skin, and the tree on which they grow. They can cause vomiting and diarrhea, and the acidic flavor is a turn-off for most pets. Orange skins and peels must be avoided because they are toxic and can also be a choking hazard. Choose something else for your pets, and avoid giving them citrus of any kind.
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