As a dog owner, it can be difficult to resist the longing look of a canine who wants a bite of what you’re eating. While feeding your dog table scraps may seem like part of a balanced pet care regimen, it’s actually detrimental to the animal’s health. Here’s what you should know about what makes table scraps so bad for dogs.

Interferes With Digestion

Like any animal, the canine digestive system is different from a human’s. Their bodies get used to digesting a certain amount of fat, protein, and carbohydrates from dog food every day, and consuming human fare interferes with their normal digestive processes. This disruption is especially severe when you feed your pooch rich foods high in fat and oil. Both can cause digestive discomfort, as well as vomiting, diarrhea, and pancreatitis. Digestive issues from human food are especially prevalent among dogs during the holiday season, when turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and other rich foods abound.

Can Prove Toxic

Some human food does more than cause upset stomachs in canines. Many foods can be toxic to dogs, such as onions, garlic, chocolate, and grapes, among many others. Onions and garlic contain compounds that damage canine red blood cells, resulting in lethargy. If enough of either root vegetable gets consumed, your dog could need a blood transfusion. Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine, two types of methylxanthine that are toxic, if not fatal, to dogs and cause symptoms such as vomiting, muscle tremors, and seizures. Grapes, as well as raisins, cause acute kidney failure in dogs, though why the compounds in the fruit create this health issue is still unknown. Other toxic foods for canines include avocados, macadamia nuts, and apple cores.

Provide your dog with quality pet care by keeping human food out of reach and scheduling routine wellness exams at Covedale Pet Hospital. The Cincinnati, OH-based vet clinic offers surgical and laser treatment therapies, as well as general pet care services such as vaccinations and physicals. Call (513) 251-4666 today to schedule an appointment, or learn more about how this pet care facility will help your dog online.