Trust me, I know how it is. My dog is watching me right now because I am sitting at the table. She is hoping that I am eating and that I will share with her. Dogs are a part of our families and they are right there with us all the time. We want to include them in everything. We feel like we are not being fair if we do not share what we have. It makes us happy to share because we like to provide what our dogs like and want because we love them. As a veterinarian, I know that people are going to give their dogs human foods, so I would like to spread the word about the ones that are not safe to share.
With that being said (and understood by dog lovers everywhere), how do you share and still keep your dog safe? Knowledge is power, so these are 5 foods that you should avoid:
#1 Grapes/raisins
When I was training in vet school years ago, grapes and raisins were not on the lists that I studied. However, now it is known that grapes and raisins can cause acute renal failure in dogs. No one seems to know exactly why grapes and raisins are causing this issue, but it is best to avoid feeding them to your dog completely. It takes four pounds of grapes to produce one pound of raisins, so raisins are even more concentrated. Don’t panic if your dog grabs a single grape or raisin, but I would suggest not borrowing trouble and intentionally feeding them. If you are enjoying a fruit tray with grapes and you must share with Fido, a sliver of melon would be a better choice.
#2 Xylitol
Xylitol is a sugar substitute found mostly in candies, desserts and gums, but also in some vitamin supplements (for humans) and medications. Sugar free icing on cakes and pastries is tempting to share with your dog, but don’t give in. Xylitol can cause a life-threatening drop in blood sugar (glucose) and liver damage in some dogs. Candies and desserts are not a good option for sharing anyway, but these specifically can be dangerous. If you are eating sugar free treats, give your dog a nibble of dog food instead. There is no part of this goodie that you should share.
#3 Fatty foods
High fat food can make dogs very sick. Dogs are unaccustomed to high levels of fat in their daily diet (hopefully) and sudden meals of food containing high levels of fat can cause pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is one of the organs designed to help digest food. It secretes enzymes to help break down foods and when it is inflamed, the ducts can become clogged allowing the premature release of these enzymes into the organ itself. This is painful and potentially fatal, requiring immediate medical care and prolonged hospitalization. If you are eating a fatty steak with a baked potato and you must share with your dog, don’t give him the fat you trim off. Instead give him a very small piece of the baked potato (not the part with bacon, cheese and sour cream!)
#5 Chocolate
Most dog lovers know that chocolate is harmful for dogs. It contains two compounds that are toxic to canids: caffeine and theobromine. As a rule of thumb, the darker the chocolate, the greater the risk to your dog. Chocolate also is high in fat and can pose a risk for the above reason also. You will probably not be munching on a square of Baker’s chocolate (the highest in both toxic components), but chocolate is not a good choice to share. When you finish with this treat, place it well out of your dog’s reach and if you want to include her, give her something else completely.
#5 Garlic and its family members
Garlic, onions, leeks and chives are members of Allium family. Allium species when ingested by dogs (and cats) can cause abnormal destruction of red blood cells and gastrointestinal difficulties. Certain dogs have been shown to be extra sensitive to these effects. I remember when people thought that garlic pills could keep dogs free of fleas. Garlic pills do not kill fleas and could kill dogs! Feeding members of this family to your dog is not a good idea. If you are enjoying sautéed onions, don’t share them with your dog.
It is important to note that your dog does not quantify what you share with her. She won’t say, “But this is such a small piece of your chicken. You are so selfish.” She lives in the moment and embraces joys. She will be grateful that you shared anything. She will come right back for more though, so make sure that you only give tiny pieces so you can maximize the fun of sharing and minimize the dangers of overindulgence and consequences of obesity. When I say “tiny” I mean bits the size of your thumbnail (smaller if you have a tiny dog). If you are vigilant about what you give and attentive to the portion size, you are helping to insure your dog’s safety and well-being, and that is what love really is all about.
