If your dog is anything like mine, you probably know the struggle of trying to resist and not give it any of your food. Dogs tend to look at you with their puppy eyes as you’re eating as if they’re begging for food, and many of us just can’t stand the pressure. I would often let my pooch have a bite or two, thinking that can’t possibly cause any damage.
However, there are some foods that we don’t even know are harmful to canines. You probably can’t even count the times you’ve let your pooch have some popcorn or even nuts. I bet you didn’t know they’re bad for your canine. Well, there are quite a few more foods we should not give our pets, and I’ll tell you why.
Foods to Avoid
1. Avocado
In general, Avocado is safe to give if you remove skin and leaves. If you do so, you can add avocado to some canine food.
The issue with skin and leaves is that they contain persin. Persin is an oil-soluble toxin that’s harmful to animals.
Pets that are sensitive to persin can experience fluid accumulation around the heart, respiratory distress, and many other complications. Surely, canines aren’t as sensitive to it as other animals such as horses, but let’s not take the chance.
2. Milk and dairy products
It’s surprising how many people give their canine milk and yogurt as a treat, not knowing how actually harmful they are. Of course, there’s a matter of cheese and how people use it as a training treat.
Cheese isn’t as harmful in the short term, but in the long term, it can cause obesity and gastrointestinal problems. The best is to avoid giving your pet any dairy products, with occasional cheese treat that’s completely okay. However, make sure to check with your vet just to make sure if it’s safe. Some canines are more sensitive to dairy than others.
3. Popcorn
This one was a surprise for me since I always used to give my old pup popcorn when we’re enjoying a movie. Popcorns cause both short and long-term problems, which makes them bad enough to avoid them. 
They’re high in sodium and fat which is exactly what makes them so bad for your pet.
It can cause dehydration and obesity depending on how often your canine has popcorn. Plus, those un-popped kernels can hurt gums and teeth. Unbuttered and unsalted popcorns are somewhat safer for your pet, but let’s face it, how often do you not butter and salt your popcorn?
4. Macadamia nuts
Avoid these at all costs since they can make your canine very ill. There isn’t a clear reason why macadamia nuts make canines sick, but it sure does.
If your canine eats a macadamia nut, it can experience vomiting, ataxia, depression, and weakness. Most canines can recover from this, which is good to know since they tend to sneak in and steal some food when we’re not looking.
Final Thoughts
Some foods are completely safe for your pet such as most fruit and vegetables, meats (such as octopus), etc. There’s no harm in sometimes treating your pup with a bite of your food, but make sure you’re certain of how safe the food is.
Avoid giving them any sweets, chocolate, dairy, and everything else previously mentioned above. The last thing you want is having a sick dog that won’t eat. If you’re ever in doubt, the best thing to do is to consult your vet for advice.
Ultimately, you want to be able to make sure you never run out of dog food. While giving them alternatives “works”, keep in mind that actual canine food has all the ingredients for them to live a long and healthy life.