FDA warns against feeding dogs raw meat, peanut butter

(FoxNews.com) - If you've ever had to medicate your dog, chances are you've snuck it into some peanut butter to entice him to swallow it. Turns out, that trick could be harmful to man's best friend, according to a new statement issued Wednesday by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

While you may toss your dog a piece of food occasionally, some eats aren't fit for dogs and others could be deadly, the FDA warned, as animals' bodies process food differently from humans'.

"Our bodies may break down foods or other chemicals that a dog's [digestive system] can't tolerate," Carmela Stamper, D.V.M, a veterinarian at the FDA, said in the statement.

The FDA warned against feeding dogs the following foods:

· Raw meat: Uncooked meat can contain E. coli, Salmonella and other harmful bacteria. Keep raw meat well out of reach on countertops and wash your hands before giving your dog a treat if you've handled raw meat. The warning goes the other way, too: "People can get sick after handling contaminated dog food, not washing their hands, and then using their hands to eat a sandwich or a slice of pizza," Stamper said in the statement.

· Peanut butter: Peanut butter itself isn't harmful, but it may contain xylitol, a sugar substitute used in many sugarless products that's deadly to dogs.

"If you feed your dog pills coated in peanut butter, or put peanut butter in their hollow chew toys, make sure to check the list of ingredients first to make sure it doesn't contain xylitol," Stamper said in the statement.

Find out what other foods the FDA warns against feeding your dog here.