Foods Toxic to DogsFoods toxic to dogs may seem harmless. Did you know that garlic and walnuts are dangerous foods for dogs? Many people foods, poisonous to dogs, are common snacks foods for us. Find out which ones. Many foods that we take for granted as being safe can actually be dangerous dog treats. And that includes a lot of foods that we consider to be health foods or natural foods!
Photo by Gina Mig, flckr Foods that you would never suspect as being harmful dog treats are actually toxic for your dog. Take walnuts, for example. Most of us know that the chocolate dessert on the right is a big NO-No for dogs. But did you know that the walnuts on top can hurt your dog also? I’ll go through the foods that you should avoid giving to your dog—one by one. Perhaps the most surprising item will be GARLIC. I’ll pay special attention to garlic, as most people actually think that it is good for their dogs! Alcoholic Drinks are Dangerous Dog TreatsI’ve seen men, in particular, offer a dog a drink of their beer. Not a good idea! I've also seen lots of photos on the internet, where people have taken pictures of their dogs with beer bottles--thinking that it's cute or funny.Even a small amount of beer or any other alcohol can cause intoxication, coma or even death for your pet! Since most people wouldn't think of beer as being a food toxic to dogs, you'll need to keep an eye on your family and guests when they are drinking. Beer contains hops which can cause increased heart rates, fever, seizures and even death. Are Baby Foods Toxic to Dogs?Baby foods are not a balanced food for your dog. I wouldn’t even recommend using them as a snack, as they can contain garlic or onions. Baby foods were meant for human babies--not dogs.Because you have no way of knowing exactly which ingredients and spices are contained in a particular jar, it's best to just feed baby food to babies! See the sections below on garlic and onions as foods toxic to dogs --to see why this is important. Bones are Dangerous Foods for DogsBones can break into splinters and cause a deadly bowel obstruction. The splinters can also puncture your dog’s intestines or stomach.The worst bones for doing this are chicken bones and fish bones. Make it a policy of yours - never to feed your dog any chicken or fish bones. Chocolate is One of Those Foods Poisonous to DogsYou can’t assume that a substance is good for a dog just because he likes it! Dogs love chocolate, and it can be deadly for them.Most people already know that chocolate is toxic for dogs. You wouldn’t just hand your dog a chocolate bar—just like you wouldn’t give him a bowl of antifreeze to drink! But dogs can be sneaky and creative. If you leave the room and there is a box of chocolates or a candy bar on the table, your pet may find a way to help himself! The ingredient in chocolate that is harmful is called “theobromine”. It occurs naturally in chocolate. The darker the chocolate, the more theobromine it contains. The size of your dog and the amount that he eats make a big difference when you consider how toxic a piece of chocolate is to him. For example, a 5 pound dog will get a lot sicker than a 50 pound dog who eats the same size piece of chocolate! Theobromine, the dangerous part of chocolate, will stay in your dog’s bloodstream for 14-20 hours after he ingests it. If you find that your dog has eaten chocolate, try inducing vomiting, unless he has lost his gag reflex or is unconscious. Letting your dog have even a little bit of chocolate is serious. Dogs who have eaten a considerable amount of chocolate (for their size) can exhibit these symptoms:
What to Do if Your Dog Eats ChocolateIf you find that your dog has helped himself to some chocolate there are several things that you can do.First, see if you can determine how much your dog has eaten. If you know that it’s a very small amount, you can try to induce vomiting. If you have activated charcoal, give him some, as the theobromine will bond chemically to the charcoal and be excreted in the feces. In a pinch, burn some toast and scrape the charcoal off it. (In fact, you might try using activated charcoal, no matter what harmful treat your dog has consumed--even if you are taking him to the vet.) If your pet has eaten a large amount (or he is very small) take him ASAP to the veterinarian. You are dealing with a true emergency, and you need to get help! Coffee and Tea are Foods Toxic to DogsI don’t usually think of giving a dog coffee or tea, but apparently some people do! Caffeine in any form is a toxic food for dogs and can affect the heart and nervous systems.Egg Whites Can be Dangerous Foods for Dogs!Raw egg whites contain a substance called avidin. It causes B vitamin deficiency, skin problems and bone deformities.Another reason to avoid giving your dog raw egg whites is that they can give him samonella or e-coli poisoning. Fat Trimmings can be Harmful Dog TreatsDon’t be tempted to give fat to your dog just because it smells so good or you don’t want to waste it! Too much fat can cause pancreatitis in dogs.Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas. If your dog has pancreatitis, you may see bloody stools, bloody vomit or diarrhea. He can even become dehydrated and die. Raw Fish Can be Dangerous Foods for DogsDogs like to be with you, no matter what you are doing. And that includes when you are cleaning the fish from your Sunday afternoon fishing trip.Avoid the temptation to fling some of the scraps to your dog. It may seem harmless, and your dog will egg you on--but raw fish may contain parasites that will be harmful to your dog. Just don't take the chance with your best friend! Garlic and Onions are Definitely Foods Toxic to Dogs!Veterinarians now know that garlic and onions damage red blood cells in your dog and cause a type of anemia called hemolytic anemia. This can, in time, lead to death.Onions are worse than garlic. But garlic presents a special problem in that, for years, even veterinarians were recommending the use of garlic to get rid of or prevent fleas and also to lower blood pressure. Now we know that garlic and onions are actually foods poisonous to dogs! In fact, even today, you can see garlic capsules and supplements being sold everywhere in pet stores and online for that very purpose. DO NOT be foolish. Make sure that your beloved dog does not get garlic in his food or supplements, as it can be very harmful! Grapes and Raisins are Foods Poisonous to DogsVeterinarians aren’t quite sure why grapes and raisins are harmful to both cats and dogs, but they do know that even a few of them can damage your pet’s kidneys!If you feed your dog people food, remember that raisins are often included in foods like cookies and cereals. Human Vitamins with Iron are Dangerous Foods for DogsHuman Vitamin Supplements that Contain Iron can be harmful to your dog. Too much iron can damage the lining of your pet’s digestive system and it can be toxic to your pet’s liver and kidneys.Liver -Foods Toxic to DogsBelieve it or not, even though dogs love liver, you'll need to limit the amount that you allow your dog to have. In small amounts, liver is a healthy treat for your dog. But make sure that you are not feeding him liver treats exclusively as liver is one of those foods poisonous to dogs in larger amounts.Here's the reason--too much liver can cause vitamin A toxicity, which affects your pet’s muscles and bones. Macadamia Nuts are Foods Toxic to DogsMacadamia nuts are another human food that are a danger because they contains an unknown toxin that will be a harmful treat for your dog.Macadamia nuts cause weakness, tremors, panting and swelling in a dog’s legs. Moldy or Spoiled FoodIt seems that I shouldn’t have to mention this, but you can make your dog sick by feeding him garbage.Vomiting and diarrhea are not fun for him—or for you! Put your garbage in the garbage can! Mushrooms are Foods Toxic to DogsMushrooms are complicated. Different ones contain different toxins. Unfortunately it’s pretty hard to sort them out. Mushrooms can cause shock in your pet and even result in death.You probably wouldn’t consider giving your dog mushrooms. Here's the tricky part. Mushrooms are often found in other, processed foods. If you give your dog table foods, make sure you read the labels--and don't give him any foods containing mushrooms. Here is another twist. Most of us never think of this, but, please be aware that mushrooms can sprout up on your lawn at any time—especially after a nice rain. Foods poisonous to dogs that you didn't even know about... Just keep an eye out for them, and remove any mushrooms or toad stools that you find in areas where your pet roams. Nutmeg - Food Toxic to DogsNutmeg is a spice that you might put in pies or cookies. Nutmeg can become an unintended dangerous dog treat because you might not realize that it is in a human treat.Nutmeg can cause tremors, seizures or death in dogs. Potatoes - Foods Toxic to DogsCooked potatoes are actually quite nutritious for dogs. However, raw potatoes that have green sprouts on them can be toxic.The sprouts on potatoes turn green when they have been exposed to sunlight, although they remain white if kept in the dark. If you only give your dog cooked potatoes, (which are very nutritious for dogs), you won't have to worry that you are giving your pet a dangerous food for dogs. Turkey Skin and Grease - Foods Toxic to DogsGiving your dog turkey skin can also give him pancreatitis. This is a bad dog treat choice for your dog's Thanksgiving.The effects of the turkey skin treat will not be instantly felt, but the long term suffering (by your dog) as a result of eating foods toxic to dogs like grease and turkey skin--will be felt for a long time afterward. Walnuts are Foods Toxic to DogsThese nuts may have a fungus or mold that can cause drooling, lack of coordination, jaundice or vomiting.Many cookies have walnuts as an ingredient. Because walnuts are often a hidden ingredient, we don't always realize that a food product contains them. When you give your dog a ready-made product, check the ingredients on the package to make sure that you aren't giving your dog foods toxic to dogs--by accident! Xylitol - Foods Toxic to DogsRecent studies are proving xylitol to be very healthy for humans. It can prevent tooth decay if ingested daily.It isn’t the same story for your dog, though…Xylitol can cause a liver reaction that can lead to liver failure in just a few days. Giving xylitol to dogs is very, very dangerous! Xylitol is found in chewing gum, candy, toothpaste and in some pastries. Well, that’s a pretty good list of foods toxic to dogs! Most natural foods are perfectly safe for your dog. Many are really healthy dog treats. Just be careful not to feed your dog the foods toxic to dogs discussed above. If you are interested in learning which foods are really healthy for pet treats you can visit this page on healthy dog treat recipes ingredients.
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