Whether offered out of ignorance by the owner or eaten in his absence - many foods are not tolerated by dogs or are even poisonous. As is so often the case here: "The dose makes the poison". Small amounts are often harmless or even healthy, but higher doses can lead to problems.
Nicotine and caffeine
Just 5 to 25 g of dried tobacco are enough to kill a dog. Especially puppies and young animals are endangered. At this age, rottweilers are particularly curious and often chew or eat everything they can find. Drinking from a puddle in which cigarettes swim can also lead to poisoning. Symptoms of nicotine poisoning are excitement, muscle tremor, vomiting, salivation, increased breathing and heart rate, cramps, movement disorders or circulatory collapse.
Coffee and all other caffeinated beverages are also highly toxic to dogs. Caffeine cannot be broken down by dogs, the toxin remains in the blood for a long time. This can cause kidney and nerve damage and cardiac arrhythmia.
Avocado
The stem, bark, skin, leaves and core of the avocado contain the toxin persin. This can lead to fatal heart muscle damage in dogs, but also to shortness of breath, coughing, restlessness, indigestion and general weakness. Although the flesh of the avocado contains a lower concentration of persin, its consumption can cause problems. The high fat content often causes diarrhoea or vomiting. In addition, care should be taken that the dog does not swallow the avocados. The possible consequence would be a constipation of the intestines, which must be corrected surgically.
Bulbous plants
Onions, garlic and leeks are poisonous to dogs. The sulphur compounds found in bulbous plants can weaken and destroy red blood cells. The result is life-threatening anaemia (anaemia). The toxin content in onions is considerably higher than in garlic. The latter develops its toxic effect at a dosage of 5 g per kg body weight. 5 g corresponds to about two cloves of fresh garlic. It is therefore also not advisable to use garlic preparations to ward off parasites.
Grapes and raisins
The consumption of grapes can lead to poisoning symptoms such as stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhoea in your Rottweiler. In severe cases it can even lead to kidney failure or even death. Above all, raisins are warned against. They are considered particularly dangerous because they contain the toxin in concentrated form. The dose at which the sweet fruits have a lethal effect is not yet known. According to estimates by American researchers, 11.6 g of grapes per kg body weight can cause severe poisoning. In one specific case, the scientists calculated that the consumption of 14 g raisins per kg body weight was fatal for a Rottweiler.
Liver
Liver contains a high proportion of vitamin A and can be a nutrient-rich feed supplement in small amounts. However, permanent or excessive feeding of cod liver or cod liver oil should be avoided as this leads to hypervitaminosis (oversupply). As a result, skin changes and hair loss can occur. In addition, an oversupply of vitamin A can cause vomiting, disrupt muscle coordination, and cause bone changes.
Milk
Like many people, dogs suffer from lactose intolerance. The enzyme lactase, which is required in the small intestine to break down the lactose (lactose) contained in dairy products, is not very active in adult dogs. Therefore, milk products cannot be fully digested. This leads to malfermentation in the colon and causes diarrhoea or soft bowel movements. The tolerated daily amount of milk is max. 20 ml per kg body weight. Condensed milk is even worse tolerated. Quark, cottage cheese and yoghurt, on the other hand, can have a slightly health-promoting and even stomach-soothing effect.
Macadamia nuts
Macadamia nuts and fruit kernels contain amygdalin. This blocks cellular respiration, so feeding can be life-threatening for the dog.
Cabbage
The feeding of raw cabbage can lead to flatulence and abdominal cramps in dogs, as the disaccharides contained are difficult to digest.
Xylitol (birch sugar)
The sweetener Xylitol, which can be found in toothpaste and cake, is highly toxic to dogs and causes liver damage. Therefore, only special dog toothpastes should be used for dogs or brushed without toothpaste. Cake is generally not a suitable food for dogs, and special care should be taken when using sweeteners in baking.
Bones
Bone feeding is not recommended. Consumption can lead to constipation and consequently to gastrointestinal obstruction. Hard bones can also damage the dog's teeth, mouth, esophagus and stomach. In particular, chicken and game bones should be avoided because of the risk of splintering.
Raw eggs
Chicken eggs contain important nutrients, in particular essential amino acids, which serve to build up body cells and muscle tissue and ensure a smooth metabolism. However, raw eggs do not belong in the bowl, since the components avidin and trypsin inhibitors contained in the egg white impair the digestion of important nutrients and can result in deficiency symptoms. Therefore, feed only hard-boiled eggs if possible.
The food mentioned should not be fed to your Rottweiler or only in small quantities. A diet adapted to the individual nutritional requirements of the dog makes supplementary feeding completely superfluous. With a diet tailored to your dog's needs, you can be sure that your dog only gets the substances that are good for him - in the right composition and quantity.