Food Your Frenchie Should Never Eat
The appetite of a French Bulldog is like a bottomless pit. They can eat anytime, almost anything, and they are pretty opportunists when you drop something. Frenchies, especially at a young age, are not aware of any danger when it comes to eating. Therefore, you have to be his safe keeper and pay close attention to what you feed them. TomKings Kennel, the experts of French Bulldogs, helped us to create a list of the 5 most dangerous foods you need to watch out for.
The digestive system of a dog works differently than ours. Frenchies, including Merle French Bulldogs are no exception, and in fact, they need greater attention due to their small size. Some foods are banned due to the suffocation risk or blockage in the intestines, while others contain toxic substances harmful to a dog’s health. If the owner does not pay attention, the result can be fatal in both cases.
If you think your dog has eaten something bad, don’t hesitate, but take him to the vet right away. Don’t wait for the first symptoms to start to show as it might be too late already!
Chocolate
We all love chocolate, right? But unfortunately, chocolate is toxic for dogs, and even the smallest amount can cause a significant illness. Chocolate contains substances like theobromine and caffeine that stimulate our heart and blood vessels. Yet, our puppies cannot metabolize them the same way as we do.
The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is. The most common sign that your Frenchie has stolen some chocolate is that he starts vomiting, has diarrhea, and increased thirst. He is restless, constantly pants, and his heart rate is abnormally high.
Sweets
Sweets made with granulated sugar are not only harmful to humans but also to Frenchies. Cookies, cakes are no good for your baby, no matter how much he’s craving it. Weight gain, diabetes, and cavities are some of the negative effects of sugar, but it negatively impacts their behavior too.
When we talk about sweets, we also have to mention artificial sweeteners too. Xylitol is a commonly used artificial sweetener that can cause liver failure in a Frenchie. It is used in sugar-free candy and gums, baked goods, and even in peanut butter. Therefore, if your baby loves peanut butter, always make sure to buy those made with other artificial sweeteners. Xylitol can also be found in toothpaste, so it’s not a good idea to use human toothpaste to brush your dog’s teeth either.
Giving candies to a dog is never a good idea, not even a sugar-free one. They can easily choke on a small candy or after swallowing it, it can easily block their tiny intestines that can only be removed surgically – if you reach the vet in time.
Cooked bones
We learned from cartoons that dogs love bones. That’s right, but cartoons never mention how dangerous they are. Cooked bones are easier to chew, and the swallowed splinters can injure your baby’s gullet, stomach, or intestines. Splinters can do significant damage in a second, and you might not even reach the vet in time. Therefore, never let your Frenchie eat cooked bones, especially not chicken bones. Keep this in mind if your dog is on a B.A.R.F. diet. B.A.R.F is the acronym for Biologically Appropriate Raw Food (or Bones And Raw Food). In any case, the main point is that it’s a homemade diet consisting of a combination of raw muscle meat, raw meaty bones, vegetables, and fruit, avoiding processed food.
Milk and dairy products
Some dogs love to lick some ice cream, especially on a hot summer day. But dogs can be lactose intolerant, which means their stomach cannot process any milk-based product. If your dog has diarrhea after eating a dairy product or has allergic reactions like itching, he is most likely lactose intolerant. You must avoid giving him milk, cheese, ice cream, or any milk-based product. Fortunately, you can buy dog-friendly ice cream at many places. Most of them are made of lactose-free ingredients, and Frenchies love the taste!
Grapes
Grapes are probably the most toxic fruit of all for dogs. It contains toxins that cause kidney damage which can even be fatal. So it might seem like a cute and funny idea to play fetch with a grape, but that could be a very dangerous game. The same rule applies to raisins. Raisins are old grapes, says the joke. But it’s true and contains the same toxins. It’s another big no when it comes to Frenchies.