By Alexa Andanar
We’ve all been there with that summer bar-b-q. Your dog begs for that burger in your hand, and you think, one bite won’t hurt.
But before you hand over human food to your dog, you may not realize it could even be fatal. Here are seven of the most dangerous foods to never give your dog.
Grilled Meats
Grilled meats like sausages, bacon, pork chops, and burgers have too much fat, and dogs are only allowed to have less than 25% of fat in their diets. Eating meats that are high in fat may cause stomach problems such as diarrhea and nausea to your dogs.
Worse, if you give them these fatty meats in excess, they may potentially develop more serious diseases such as pancreatitis, which are more common in Miniature Schnauzers or Yorkshire Terriers.
Snacks and Chips
I know what you’re thinking: it’s okay to give my dog a potato chip or two. Snacks and chips are loaded with salt, and dogs don’t process sodium the same way humans do. Too much sodium could be harmful to dogs as it dehydrates them. More seriously, excess sodium can also lead to sodium poisoning, where dogs may experience vomiting, diarrhea, and weakness.
Watch out when feeding your dog these processed snacks typically eaten in BBQ parties:
- Potato chips
- Flavored chips
- Nacho chips
- French fries
- Pretzels
Instead, bring some bags of pet treats with you to your backyard parties to give them something to chew on.
Bones and Scraps
Bones and scraps are commonly misunderstood as normal for dogs to eat. In reality, you are only allowed to give your dog raw bones. Leftovers such as ribs, T-bones, and chicken bones – any form of cooked bones – are dangerous as they are choking hazards. If your dogs digest the leftover bones improperly, they may splinter and cause gastrointestinal problems.
So the next time you have bones and scraps from your backyard party, throw them away. The last thing you want is for your dog to end up in the vet for surgery.
Grilled Vegetables
Some of our favorite barbecue veggies like grilled onions or corn on the cob are toxic for dogs, especially for smaller breeds. Onions have a toxin that breaks down our dog’s red blood cells, potentially causing anemia.
Dogs are also unable to digest corn on the cob, and eating it may lead to gastrointestinal injuries, so make sure you feed them only the corn kernels but in moderation.
Alcoholic Beverages
Keep your dogs away from accidentally tasting that cocktail or alcoholic drink you’re having. Alcohol, even in small amounts, is unsafe for dogs to consume and may make them sick from alcohol poisoning.
Symptoms such as vomiting, tiredness, lack of muscle coordination, and poor breathing develop an hour immediately after digestion, and alcohol poisoning may ultimately lead to lung failure or coma.
Dessert
If there’s one dessert you must not feed your dog, it’s chocolate. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which dogs metabolize poorly and may cause them to have seizures and an irregular heart rate.
Be also careful when feeding them with barbecue dessert such as fruit salad or fruit tarts, especially those that have grapes or cherries.
The Grill and Utensils
Although not food per se, dogs may mistake unattended grillware and utensils as food. Meat skewers might poke and puncture dogs’ mouths and discarded greasy remnants from the grill may lead to indigestion, internal blockage, and pancreatitis.
Always watch your pooches as they wander around during barbecue parties, and make sure they don’t go near the grill.
