FOODS YOUR DOG SHOULD NEVER EAT

When your beloved dog begs for food under the family dining table, it's tempting to toss him something now and then. Resist that urge! Some foods meant for human consumption can be dangerous, and even deadly, to your dog. An animal's body processes food much differently than the human body. "Our bodies may break down foods or other chemicals that a dog's can't tolerate," explains Dr. Carmela Stamper, a veterinarian at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. And while sometimes people can have severe allergic reactions to foods, it's different for dogs. "Allergies in animals tend to manifest themselves more in skin or ear issues," she explains. In addition, a food might harm one dog and not another. It depends on a number of factors, including the animal's genetic makeup and size, as well as the amount that animal eats. "A big lab that eats a bar of dark chocolate may not have any problems," she says, "whereas a Chihuahua could get dangerously ill." Six foods your dog should never eat:

1. Raw meat
Why? It can contain E. coli, Salmonella or other harmful bacteria. Also, don't handle raw meat and then give your dog a treat without first washing your hands.

2. Grapes, raisins, and currants
Why? They can cause kidney failure in some dogs.

3. Fried and fatty foods
Why? They not only can give your dog a stomach ache, but also can cause pancreatitis, a potentially life-threatening disease.

4. Onions, garlic, chives, onion powder and garlic powder
Why? They can be toxic to your dog and in severe cases could even kill your pet.

5. Salty snacks
Why? In large quantities, salty snacks can make dogs really ill. One potato chip or pretzel every once in a while probably won't do any harm.

6. Xylitol, a sugar substitute used in many sugarless products
Why? Xylitol, which is found in sugarless gum, candies, oral products and some peanut butters and other nut butters, can be deadly if ingested by a dog.