If you feel that your dog is an important member of your family, then that is of course perfectly fine. However, it does not mean that you can safely share all your food with your four-legged friend. After all, many foods that are completely harmless to you can cause intolerances in dogs and some are even highly toxic for them.
In the following we have therefore listed some foods that dogs are not allowed to eat and which should therefore under no circumstances end up in the food bowl of your four-legged friend.
There is probably hardly anyone who doesn't enjoy a piece of chocolate every now and then. As long as you don't overdo it, it's completely unproblematic for your health. When it comes to your four-legged companion, on the other hand, things are different, as chocolate is toxic to dogs. In the worst case, eating it can even be fatal for the animal.
The alkaloid theobromine contained in chocolate is responsible for this effect. While we humans have certain enzymes that break it down, dogs lack them, allowing it to unleash its toxic effects on them.
The amount of chocolate that becomes dangerous depends on the weight of your four-legged friend and the type of chocolate. In general, dark chocolate contains significantly more theobromine than light chocolate. Because of the risk of theobromine poisoning, however, you should strictly refrain from giving your dog any type of chocolate.
Grapes also belong to the foods that are not safe for dogs. Their consumption can trigger severe symptoms of poisoning in your four-legged friend. Exactly why this is the case has not yet been clearly identified.
The amount that causes problems can vary for each animal. Although some dogs are much less sensitive to this than others, you should absolutely avoid feeding them grapes. Of course, this also applies to raisins, which pose a serious risk to the health of your four-legged friend even in significantly smaller quantities due to their lower water content.
Onions and garlic contain certain sulphur-containing compounds that can seriously harm dogs. In a high enough quantity they can cause anaemia and even potentially fatal kidney failure in your four-legged friend.
Onions and garlic are therefore also among the foods that dogs are not allowed to eat and which you should avoid when feeding your four-legged companion.
Many people believe that bones are an integral part of a dog's diet. This is not fundamentally wrong. However, bones should only make up a small part of the food, otherwise problems such as bone droppings can occur.
Cooked bones should generally be avoided, because cooking makes the bones porous, which means they splinter more easily and can lead to internal injuries when eaten. No matter how keen your four-legged friend may be looking at you, you should under no circumstances let them have the bones of your roast chicken or your chops.
Avocados are also off limits for dogs. They not only contain too much fat, but also the toxin persin. This is considered harmless for us humans. In dogs, however, persin can cause symptoms of poisoning such as tachycardia, shortness of breath and vomiting.
Just like humans, dogs cannot eat raw legumes. The lectins they contain make them virtually inedible in their raw state. Among other things, they cause the blood cells to clump together, which can be life-threatening for your dog at a certain quantity.
If pulses are cooked at 100°C for at least 10 minutes, their lectins are inactivated, causing them to lose their toxic effect.
Raw pork is another item that shouldn't be on your four-legged friend's menu, because the meat can contain the Aujeszky virus, which is one of the herpes viruses.
Although pigs are the primary host of the virus, dogs can also become infected as secondary hosts. The disease caused by the Aujeszky virus is called pseudo-rage. It ends in death for infected dogs within days of its onset. Humans, on the other hand, are immune to the virus.
In Germany, the Aujeszky virus has been eradicated for more than 20 years. Nevertheless, it is advisable to refrain from feeding raw pork. This is especially the case when it is not clear where the meat originates from. If the meat is well cooked, any Aujeszky virus it may contain dies off, so that consumption should then be harmless for your dog.
Note that in addition to domestic pigs, wild boar can also be infected, which is why their raw meat should also be off-limits for your dog.
After being weaned from their mother's milk, the dog's body stops producing the enzyme lactase, which is necessary for the digestion of milk sugar. As a result, the animals develop lactose intolerance, which is why the consumption of milk and dairy products can lead to severe digestive problems.
Although foods such as milk and yoghurt are not toxic for dogs as such, they are therefore among the products that should not be on the menu of the four-legged friends.
Like milk, wheat is not toxic to dogs. However, due to the gluten it contains, the grain is not easily digestible for our four-legged friends. Many dogs develop digestive problems such as flatulence and diarrhoea from regular consumption of large amounts of wheat.
For this reason, we either completely avoid grain in our dog food or use rice and corn as gluten-free alternatives to wheat, for example in our dry food Bellfor Premium Pur Aktiv.
It should go without saying that alcohol and caffeine have no place in a dog's bowl. Nevertheless, we would like to point out once again that both are absolutely off limits for animals.
Dogs are less able to break down alcohol and caffeine than humans. As a result, their effects are significantly stronger and longer-lasting. Even relatively small amounts of alcohol can be life-threatening for your four-legged friend.
Of course you can give your four-legged friend occasional treats between meals. If you want to be on the safe side and want to give snacks that also make a valuable contribution to a balanced diet, we recommend that you use high-quality dog treats, such as those found in the Bellfor range.
Bellfor dog treats are characterised by carefully selected ingredients and perfectly coordinated recipes. In our shop you will find a large selection of healthy dog treats, from dog biscuits to soft snacks and dried meat to freeze-dried delicacies, which will surely delight your four-legged friend.
Get to know Bellfor dog treats.
If, despite all precautionary measures, your dog has eaten something that is not safe for them, this can trigger more or less pronounced symptoms depending on the food and the amount consumed.
If you notice possible symptoms of poisoning in your four-legged friend, it is very important that you remain calm. Be aware that poisoning is not something you can fix yourself with simple first aid measures.
Instead, take your dog to a vet immediately so they can take care of the animal. It is preferable to announce your visit in advance in order to avoid long waiting times. After all, depending on the severity of the poisoning, it may well be that every minute counts.
In the best case scenario you are able to tell the veterinarian what and how much your dog ate and approximately how long ago it was. This information makes it easier for them to treat the poisoning.
As you can see, there are some foods that dogs are not allowed to eat, even though they may be found on your plate regularly. If you are unsure about the compatibility, it is best not to share your food with your four-legged friend.
After all, you don't want to accidentally harm or even poison your dog. By sticking to products made for dogs, such as quality wet and dry food or healthy dog treats, you can ensure this doesn't happen to you. If, for once, you want to let your four-legged friend eat something different, find out in advance whether the food in question is safe for dogs or not.
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