You probably want to share all the delicious things you eat with your pup. After all, we know how hard it can get to resist those puppy eyes. But it’s important to hold off on spoiling your pooch, some foods that may seem staple for humans can be very bad for your dog and can cause all sorts of health problems. Here are a few foods that are best avoided for your dog, no matter how adorable they look when they ask for it:

• Dry Fruits and Nuts: Raisins, almonds, macadamia nuts and currants can affect each dog differently. They all contain chemical compounds that are harmful for a dog’s health. In the worst scenarios, it could lead to kidney failure.
  
  
• Chocolate: This is at the top of the list and for a good reason! Chocolate, whether it is white chocolate or dark chocolate, all contain theobromine. Your dog cannot metabolise theobromine effectively, resulting in vomiting, diarrhea and in serious cases, heart problems, tremors, seizures and death. See here Why is chocolate bad for dogs?

• Sweets: As much as we might enjoy eating sweets, sweets shouldn’t be fed to dogs. Candy, gum, peanut butter or baked products contain an ingredient called xylitol, that can cause an insulin surge through your pooch's body, leading to a drop in blood sugar as well as liver failure. It can also lead to diabetes, dental cavities and joint problems due to weight gain.
  
  
• Salt: It’s definitely not a good idea to share chips and pretzels with your dog. This also applies to home cooked food that has been cooked for humans. Why? Because it contains salt. Salt and salty foods in general can cause your dog to get extremely thirsty and you might also catch them urinating more than often. This can also lead to a condition called sodium ion poisoning. Other symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, high temperature, tremors, seizures and even death. 
  
  
• Avocado: Can avocado really cause problems for my dog? Yes and no. Avocados contain persin that can be toxic for your pet, if consumed in high amounts. Although most dogs are resistant to persin, they are not 100% safe for consumption. Persin is present not just in the fruit, but also in the pits, leaves, seeds and bark making it potentially dangerous to your dog.
  
  
• Seeds of fruits: Fruits like apples, lemons, cherries, plums, and peaches contain seeds that should not be ingested by dogs as they can lead to intestinal problems. Most of these seeds contain cyanide, which can cause cardiac arrest in serious cases.
  
  
• Alcoholic beverages: We all know the effects of alcohol on us and it can have a similar effect on your pooch as well. Apart from intoxicating them, alcohol can also lead to vomiting, diarrhea, breathing problems, coma and death. So from next time, keep your liquor far away from them!
   
• Coffee/Tea: Any beverage that contains caffeine can be fatal for your furry friend. Keep them away from coffee, tea, cocoa, colas and energy drinks because they could cause harm to your dog’s heart.
   
• Yeast dough: If you’ve ever made bread from scratch or seen someone make it, then you know that the dough tends to rise before it’s baked. And this is exactly what would happen in your dog’s stomach if he/she ate it. A dog’s stomach offers the optimum condition for rising dough, often resulting in a bloated stomach and releasing toxic levels of ethanol into their bloodstream. In severe cases, it can lead to something called alcohol toxicosis which will require immediate medical attention.
  
  
• Lemon/Lime: We’ve all come across videos of Dogs vs Lemons and while for us, it may seem like a funny prank, it is not good for dogs. Lemons/Lime or any citric fruit like grapes can cause digestive problems for your dog, as they all contain citric acid. Too much lemon juice can cause stomach problems, resulting in vomiting and diarrhea.
  
  
• Plums: Dogs can consume plums, but only certain parts of it. The problem lies with the seeds and pits of the plum fruit. Your pup can consume the plum flesh, but make sure not to feed them seeds or the pits since they contain cyanide. Cyanide is poisonous for both humans and dogs and can cause serious digestive problems in your pet.
  
  
• Milk and Dairy Products: It may be really tempting to share your ice cream with your dog but milk and other dairy products like cheese and ice-cream are a big no-no. Dogs aren’t built to process milk products and lack the enzyme to break down milk sugar causing them to vomit and develop gastrointestinal diseases. They can also trigger allergies in some dogs, making them itch.
  
  
• Onions and garlic:  No, onions and garlic are not only known to give you dragon breath, they can be bad news for your dogs too. If consumed in high quantities, these food items can destroy your dog’s red blood cells causing anemia. If you notice signs of weakness, vomiting, and breathing problems in your dog, consult a veterinarian immediately.
  
  
• Grapes: Grapes are highly toxic too, just like dry fruits and nuts. Therefore it's best if it’s kept far away from your pet. Grape toxicity can lead to lethargy or weakness, dehydration, diarrhea and kidney failure. Some dogs can suffer more severe reactions than others. 

New scents are enticing to dogs but to keep them healthy and safe, it’s important that you resist that cute face and feed your dog a diet that is approved by a vet. No matter how careful you are, sometimes, your dog might find and eat something that they shouldn’t. In such cases, it's best to seek medical help. Here's where you can book an on-demand video consultation with our in-house team of expert vets.