Most people dont really think about it, but dogs and cats digestive systems work differently from ours. This is why some foods we think are good for our beloved pets can actually cause irreparable damage. Here are a few of those foods
Grapes and Raisins As far as grapes and raisins go, no one is sure why they're harmful. It's been confirmed that even grapes grown without fertilizers or pesticides can be toxic to dogs. But not to every dog, and not every time. It's also not known whether small amounts eaten over a long time period could have a cumulative effect.
What we do know is that the end result in nearly all reported cases of grape or raisin toxicity is acute kidney failure. The term "acute" means that the condition is severe and comes on quickly. The dog ultimately can't produce urine, which means they can't filter toxins out of their systems - a process essential to life.
Nuts Macadamia nuts should be avoided. In fact most nuts are not good for a dog's health since their high phosphorus content is said to lead to bladder stones.
Onions Onions, especially raw onions, have been shown to trigger hemolytic anemia in dogs. Stay away from onion powder too.
Potatoes Potato poisonings among people and dogs are rare but have occurred. The toxin, solanine, is poorly absorbed and is only found in green sprouts (these occur in tubers exposed to sunlight) and green potato skins. This explains why incidents seldom occur. Cooked, mashed potatoes are fine for a dog's health and are actually quite nutritious and digestible.
Fatty Foods Fatty foods are hard for a dog to digest and can overtax the pancreas, leading to pancreatitis. This is potentially fatal.
Artificial Sweeteners Xylitol is used as a sweetener in many products, especially sugarless gum and candies. Ingesting large amounts of products sweetened with xylitol may cause a sudden drop in blood sugar in dogs, resulting depression, loss of coordination, and seizures.
Chocolate Chocolate is made with cocoa beans and cocoa beans contain a chemical called Theobromine, which is toxic to dogs. You can buy special dog chocolate at pet shops if your dog has a craving.
Turkey Turkey skin is currently thought to cause acute pancreatis in dogs, partly due to it's high fat content.
Other know harmful foods include:
Coffee (all forms of coffee)
Mouldy or spoiled foods
Salt
Yeast dough
Garlic
Alcoholic beverages
Avacado (the only 'fatty' member of the vegetable family)
