Vets warn of 5 foods that could cause a dog ‘extreme pain’
Dogs aren’t exactly renowned for being picky eaters. They’re crazy about grub, whether it’s carefully chosen organic kibble or some random piece of rubbish they’ve sniffed out whilst poking around on the pavement. Given that dogs are fixated with food, it’s crucial to monitor what your pooch is gobbling down to ensure it’s safe.
Some foods can make dogs ill or even prove lethal, and it’s alarmingly easy to make a mistake and cause a serious emergency. That said, with proper awareness and careful attention, these disasters can be prevented. Three vets have disclosed the foods dogs must avoid, and explained precisely why they pose such a danger.
1. Cooked bones
Keep your dog well clear of that rotisserie chicken, as the cooking process “makes bones more brittle than when they are raw”, meaning they’re far more likely to “splinter when a dog chews them”, explains Dr Danielle Bernal, a veterinarian and Vice President of Global Innovation and Nutrition at ZIWI.
They can provoke choking or, even more seriously, puncture your dog’s intestine. Potential complications include broken teeth, mouth injuries, constipation, and most worryingly, a blockage or rupture in the intestinal tract. This can additionally result in peritonitis, which is inflammation of the tissue lining the stomach.
2. Raw dough
Keep a close eye on your sourdough, as the yeast in raw bread can initiate life-threatening conditions once ingested. Dr Bernal highlighted the risks: “The dough continues to rise in their stomach and can extend their entire abdomen, causing extreme pain and potential blockages in the intestinal tract.”
This can lead to a stomach twisting condition known as gastric-dilatation volvulus. An additional hazard is that the fermentation process of the raw dough produces ethanol, potentially resulting in alcohol poisoning.
3. Bacon
You might not feel fantastic after finishing off a plate of bacon, but it poses an even greater risk to your four-legged friend.
This breakfast staple contains significant amounts of sodium and fat, which can trigger an upset stomach or even pancreatitis (a condition where the pancreas becomes inflamed and fails to function correctly) in dogs.
4. Macadamia nuts
Macadamia nuts can be dangerous and contain high fat levels that may disrupt dogs’ digestive systems. Vet Justine Lee warned that consuming approximately two nuts per pound of a dog’s body weight could cause poisoning, potentially leading to temporary loss of mobility.
5. White bread
Common white bread is laden with oil and sugar, which can induce pancreatitis in dogs. Schnauzers are especially prone, said veterinarian Dr Sonja Olson.
Dr Olson recounts treating a dog that had gobbled up an entire loaf of white bread; she recollected that “he was extremely ill” and remained so “for days”.
