Recently, you may have felt compelled to share your human food with your lab. Among these, there are many foods your dog should avoid. Even If you think a particular food for you is the best food for your dog, pause.
Read on to see what foods you should say no to when your four-legged friend comes begging.
The Labrador retriever should avoid:
- Garlic and Onions
- Avocado
- Raw meat, eggs, and fish
- Candy, gum, peanut butter and baked goods
- Alcohol
- Coffee, Tea, and Caffeine
- Chocolate
- Cat food
- Raisins
- Milk, cheese, ice cream
- Bacon and fatty meat
- Cooked bones
- Tobacco and marijuana
Garlic and onions
These pungent smelling bulbs are dangerous to your adorable dog. While they leave you with dragon breath, they will be poisonous to your lab. The retriever will succumb to anemia in no time. Consistent doses of these ingredients or their high intake mess the dog’s red blood cells. Be sure to keep these at bay.
Avocado
Most Labrador retriever owners often have an avocado tree in their yard. Taking this fruit when on season in limited doses may not pose a risk, but consuming the seeds and leaves is deadly. The pits can be hard to digest and can cause gastrointestinal blockages that are fatal. Unripe avocados contain persin too, which is harmful. Much as persin reduces once the avocados ripen, your dog could still eat many. Bottom line, this is not the best food for your dog, and you should avoid it.
Raw meat, eggs, and fish
You may imagine that since the dogs are carnivorous, raw meat and fish are among the best foods. You could not be more wrong. Feeding your dog raw meat will expose them to salmonella and e.colli infections. Raw eggs have enzymes that may make your Labrador retriever have skin conditions. If you happen to feed your dog raw fish, some parasites in it could cause death to your companion. Cooking fish is a better option as it ensures the parasites are not alive. Vets also recommend that you cook the raw meat. Be sure to check the health of your Lab. You will notice consuming raw meat, fish, and uncooked eggs will harm your dog’s health.
Candy, gum, peanut butter and baked goods
You need to keep your sweet tooth goods away from your dog for good. These foods contain xylitol, are super harmful. Not only do they have excess sugar, but they also cause an insulin surge throughout the dog’s body. This will make your dog have low blood sugar and liver failure. Candy and gum also can predispose it to seizures, low coordination, and vomiting. You would not want your lab to die over something this sweet. Keep the sweet tooth to yourself.
Alcohol
Intoxicating your animal is far from fun. Weak breathing, abnormal acidity, loss of coordination are the results of indulging. You should never give your dog alcohol on purpose. If so, be ready to have it on a coma or pass out for hours. This is definitely a bad food for a dog. Freshwater is enough drink for your pup. Ensure you store your alcoholic drinks far from children and far from your dog’s reach too!
Coffee, tea, and caffeine
They keep you awake and stimulate your system. These drinks or products are not the best foods for your Labrador retriever. Within 1-2 hours, your dog will be experiencing a lot. From hyperactivity, vomiting, restlessness, to tremors, seizures, and possible death. This cycle happens so fast. To prevent this, aim to keep these far off alongside any caffeinated drinks.
Chocolate
One of the major foods to avoid for dogs is chocolate. Cocoa powder, unsweetened baker, semi-sweet, and dark chocolates are super dangerous. They contain theomobrine and caffeine. Both, which will stimulate your dog and increase its heart rate. Chocolate will also make your dog extra thirsty, have diarrhea, and vomit often. The best way is to keep this goodie for yourself. Yummy right?
Cat food
Much as your Labrador needs food rich in protein, cat food does not offer the expected ratio for your dog. The proteins in it are too high for your dog’s consumption. Cat food is thus not recommended for your dog. Not only can it cause stomach upsets and obesity but also pancreatitis. Always keep your cat food and dog food separate, especially if you own both pets.
Raisins
It is best to keep these out of reach of your dog. They are well known for their ability to cause renal failure if consumed in huge amounts. Avoid raisins and sultanas to avoid vomiting, lethargic movements, and possible death.
Milk, cheese and Ice cream
When your dog begs to devour these treats, avoiding feeding him any of them often. Dogs lack the enzyme necessary to breakdown dairy products, especially cows’ products. Once consumed, after a while, you will notice that your dog can start vomiting. With time, it will develop gastrointestinal problems. Much as dogs differ in lactose tolerance, most are actually lactose intolerant. Every vet will recommend you avoid milk and other dairy products. This keenness also applies to your puppies.
Bacon and Fatty meat
Because your canine-filled buddy is carnivorous does not mean they should consume fat. Fatty meat is in the top list of foods to avoid giving your dog. Unbelievable, right? Well, their high salt content will make your lab take a lot of water from thirst and bloat. Many dogs develop pancreatitis when their diet has fatty meat. Meat trimmings, ham, and fat patties should be a no-no for your dog.
Cooked Bones
Bones are very good for your lab. They should always be the raw ones, though. You will notice that once you offer your dog cooked bones, they can choke. This is a high possibility because they splinter a whole lot.
Tobacco and Marijuana
Tobacco contains a harmful substance called nicotine. This will expose your dog to vomiting, tremors, weakness, and abnormal heart rate. Marijuana will expose your lab to slow responsiveness, dribbling urine, and organ failure. These are substances that your dog should avoid at all costs.
Macadamia nuts
This is among those in the nut family that dogs should avoid. Your lab should be far from consuming macadamia nuts. Muscle shakes, increased temperature, vomiting, and weak back legs will be evident symptoms.
Many vets and dog owners have varied opinions on what works best for their dogs. Knowing what foods to avoid and those that are best for your Labrador retriever’s growth is key. Be keen, especially when purchasing dog food from the stores. Reading the contents of the package could save you more trouble than you can imagine.
Keep track of what you feed your lab. A good way is avoiding free feeding, which will aid you in spotting any off symptoms. Sometimes what could be harming your dog could be a simple ingredient in their daily diet. Remember, prevention is better than cure. Click here to learn which foods are best for your Labrador Retriever.
