Dogs / Nutrition
Chocolate, grapes and macadamia nuts get most of the attention, and rightly so, but several other everyday pantry staples in an Indian kitchen carry real risk for dogs. None of these look dangerous si
Chocolate, grapes and macadamia nuts get most of the attention, and rightly so, but several other everyday pantry staples in an Indian kitchen carry real risk for dogs. None of these look dangerous sitting in a masala box or a fruit bowl, which is exactly why they catch owners off guard.
Onion, garlic, shallots and spring onions, whether raw, cooked, powdered or part of a gravy, damage a dog's red blood cells and can cause a form of anaemia. This matters particularly in India, where onion and garlic form the base of most curries and dals, which makes it tempting to share table food without thinking twice. A small amount occasionally is unlikely to cause obvious illness, but regular exposure, or a single large amount such as a bowl of onion-heavy gravy, is a genuine risk. Garlic is considerably more concentrated than onion, so even small amounts add up faster than expected.
Xylitol is a sugar substitute increasingly found in sugar-free chewing gum, some sugar-free sweets, certain peanut butters, and diabetic-friendly products now appearing on Indian shelves. It is extremely dangerous to dogs, causing a rapid, severe drop in blood sugar and, in larger amounts, liver failure. Always check the label of any sugar-free product before letting a dog anywhere near it.
Alcohol affects dogs far more severely than humans relative to body size. This includes drinks, of course, but also alcohol hidden in less obvious places such as unbaked bread dough, rum-soaked fruit cake, and some desserts and sauces. Vomiting, disorientation, breathing difficulty and dangerously low body temperature can follow even modest exposure.
Tea, coffee, and energy drinks all contain caffeine, which affects the heart and nervous system in a manner similar to theobromine in chocolate. Used tea bags and coffee grounds left in the bin are a commonly overlooked source, since a dog raiding the kitchen bin does not know the difference between a fresh cup and a spent one.
Dough containing yeast continues to rise once swallowed, using the warmth of a dog's stomach exactly as it would an oven, which can cause painful bloating and, in the process, produce alcohol as a by-product of fermentation. This combination of physical bloating and alcohol toxicity makes raw yeasted dough more dangerous than it looks.
Heavily salted snacks, papads, pickles and namkeen in large quantities can cause excessive thirst, urination and, in severe cases, sodium ion poisoning with tremors and seizures. An occasional small piece is unlikely to cause harm, but Indian snacking culture, with its salty mixtures and fried snacks, makes this an easy habit to fall into with a dog that begs at the table.
Avocado contains a compound called persin, which is genuinely dangerous to birds, horses and some livestock but poses little direct risk to dogs, who are far less sensitive to it. The real concerns with avocado for a dog are its high fat content, which can trigger pancreatitis in larger amounts, and the large pit, which is a genuine choking and intestinal blockage hazard if swallowed. Nutmeg, sometimes used in Indian desserts and spice mixes, contains a compound called myristicin that can cause disorientation, elevated heart rate and, in large amounts, seizures.
If your dog eats a meaningful amount of any of the foods above, contact your vet with details of what and how much was eaten rather than waiting to see if symptoms develop, since several of these, particularly onion, garlic and xylitol, can cause damage well before obvious symptoms appear. The simplest long-term prevention is a house rule: no table scraps from the family meal, however persuasive the begging.
Article content © S Vejay Anand. All rights reserved.
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