I don’t recommend feeding your pet human food because their bodies and digestive tracts are made different than ours. They’re also much smaller so a small dose for us might be a lethal dose for them.
Please avoid feeding your pets any of these as it can lead to major complications:
Chocolate
Chocolate is the infamous for being a food to avoid feeding your pet. And for good reason too as ingesting chocolate can cause vomiting, panting, diarrhea, tremors, seizures, and abnormal heart rhythms. Symptoms can become so bad that it can even lead to death.
Coffee
Ingesting coffee works very similar to chocolate. When ingested by a pet, these products contain substances called methylxanthines. Symptoms seen can be similar to those when ingesting chocolate; vomiting, panting, diarrhea, tremors, seizures, abnormal heart rhythms, and death.
Citrus
The ingestion of citric acid is the main culprit here as they can cause irritation and even central nervous system depression if ingested in large amounts. The citric acid can be found in the stems, leaves, peel, and the fruit itself. Simply ingesting the fruit may only present a minor upset stomach.
Coconut and Coconut Oil
Because of the high concentration of oils in the milk and the fruit, it is not recommended you feed that to your pet. Eating that may cause your pet to have an upset stomach, loose stool, or even diarrhea.
Coconut water contains such high levels of phosphorus that it is recommended it not being given to your pet at all.
Grapes and Raisins
Both grapes and raisins are also famous for being known not to feed them to your pet. Although not entirely well-known why they are toxic, the fruit can cause severe kidney failure. It’s best to avoid allowing your pet to come into contact with either food.
Macadamia Nuts
Macadamia Nuts are particularly dangerous to dogs as they can cause weakness, hyperthermia (high body temperatures), tremors, depression, and vomiting. Signs will typically occur after 12 hours of ingestion, however they can last up to 4 days.
Milk and Dairy
Much like humans, your pet may not produce enough lactase enzymes to effectively break down the sugars in milk. Symptoms of drinking or eating dairy products are similar to those of a lactose intolerant human; diarrhea, bloating, and an upset stomach. While not lethal, your pet may be very uncomfortable.
Onions and Garlic
The ingestion of of onions and garlic can cause gastrointestinal irritation which can lead to red blood cell damage. Cats tend to be more susceptible of these symptoms, however, dogs are just as much at risk if consumed in large enough doses.
Salt and Salty Snack Foods
A Cheeto or a chip or two isn’t going to pose much of a problem, however large amounts of salt can produce excessive urination or even sodium ion poisoning. Signs of excessive salt levels include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, hyperthermia, seizures and can lead to death.
Xylitol
Xylitol is an artificial sweetener used in a variety of products and can cause insulin release which can lead to liver failure. As insulin levels ruse, sugar levels drop leading to hypoglycemia. Initial signs include vomiting, loss of coordination and even progress to seizures.
