20 Human Foods That Are Harmful for Dogs

We all want the very best for our dogs. They are our best friends. We walk them, we groom them, sometimes we even slip them food under the table. It's okay to let pups have table scraps from time to time, but we need to make wise decisions for the health and safety of our dogs. Here's what to never feed dogs in order to keep them happy, healthy and by our sides for years to come.

You may love avocado toast and from-scratch guacamole, but keep these faves away from your beloved pup. The leaves, bark and seed of an avocado contain a natural fungicide called persin. It's not toxic to humans, but in large quantities, it can cause diarrhea and vomiting in dogs, according to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Worse, swallowing the large seed can cause an intestinal obstruction.

Candy can be sweet, sour, sticky and sugary. It can also be disastrous for dogs because of a sweetener called xylitol. A huge range of candies, diet foods, even toothpastes and children's medications, are sweetened up with xylitol. Even in small amounts, xylitol can be toxic to pups. Your dog's blood sugar can plummet, and he may even have seizures or liver failure.

Dogs like to drink water. It's clean, it's fat-free, it's hydrating. It's also abundantly available. There's no need to fill your pup's bowl with milk to drink. Dogs, especially adult dogs, have a hard time digesting milk. They lack a hearty supply of the enzyme lactase, so it's difficult to process the lactose in milk. This can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, even pancreatitis if they load up on high-fat dairy products.