Dog parents know how good it makes us feel to give our beloved pets a lick or taste of the foods we’re eating. Even though we buy them the best pet foods available for meals and snacks, many of us still give our canines human food as treats to motivate and reward them. However, many pet parents unknowingly feed our pets potentially toxic foods that can harm and/or kill them in the process.

Read on to explore the most harmful human foods for dogs:

1. Alcoholic Beverages
Never give your pets any type of alcoholic beverage. There are currently a lot of sweet alcoholic drinks. Although they may taste good to your dog these drinks can intoxicate and even lead to liver failure in dogs. Symptoms of pet toxicity include:

• Confusion
• Lack of balance and coordination
• Depression
• Breathing problems
• Cardiac arrest

2. Avocados
More and more dogs are being poisoned by a toxin found in avocados known as persin, which resides in the fruit bark, seed, and leaves of the avocado. When ingested it causes dogs to vomit and develop horrible diarrhea.

3. Chocolate
Probably the most common form of dog poisoning comes via chocolate. Chocolate is infused in every major holiday and thus is constantly in our homes. The compound known as theobromine is what makes chocolate toxic to our pets. It induces excitement, vomiting, diarrhea and possible death.

4. Coffee
This beverage has a strong smell that carries. Often people will get foam that will entice our pets to come and lick it off. The caffeine contained in coffee can stimulate and increase our pet’s heart rate. Coffee also contains xanthines which damages both the urinary and nervous systems.

5. Garlic
Garlic is the most potent of the Allium family, which is also found in chives, leeks and onions. Garlic can damage red blood cells and cause anemia in dogs. When garlic enters your dog’s system they will become nauseous, begin drooling and have abdominal pain. It often leads to diarrhea and vomiting.

6. Leaves, seeds and stems from fruits
The most common fruits to be careful with are apples, apricots, cherries, peaches, and plums and tomatoes. The leaves, seeds, and stems contain cyanide compound that will lead to a variety of symptoms including:

• Breathing problems
• Dilated pupils
• Shock

7. Nutmeg
Given in high doses to pets, this spice can be fatal. When ingested the toxin found in nutmeg can cause Damage to the nervous system, seizures, and death.

8. Raisins and grapes
Grapes and raisins are among the most common snacks people ignorantly feed their dogs, leading to potential loss of appetite and thirst, lethargy, seizures, and kidney failure.

9. Xylitol artificial sweetener
Xylitol is an artificial sweetener that can cause your dog’s blood sugar to drop drastically and dangerously. It will affect their coordination and can produce seizures. Xylitol is found in “sugar-free” foods such as candy and fruit drinks.

You are now equipped with a highly informative list of what toxic foods to avoid for your dog’s health. Some human foods are great as dog treats, such as carrots, chicken (no seasoning), salmon (no seasoning), green beans, turkey (no seasoning), peanut butter, and popcorn (no salt or butter). But for peace of mind just play it safe and give your dog treats that are specifically made for dogs.