Dangerous Foods for Your Dog

Many things that are good for us may not be good for your dog. While most lean meats, fruits and vegetables can be great healthy choices for dogs, not all human foods are good. This is just a small list of some common foods that your dog should avoid. Do some online research if you want to find out more or have questions about a specific item. Things that are on this list may affect different dogs in different ways, and some are only dangerous in large amounts. I wouldn't worry if you dog ate one piece of chocolate or three grapes, but even a couple pieces of sugarless gum could be of great concern.

As the premier animal poison control center in North America, the APCC is your best resource for any animal poison-related emergency, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you think that your pet may have ingested a potentially poisonous substance, make the call that can make all the difference: 888 -426-4435. A $60 consultation fee may be applied to your credit card.

Chocolate / Coffee / Tea - Contains caffeine, theobromine or theophylline, which affects the heart and nervous systems. All chocolate is dangerous and cause problems or death, but bakers chocolate and dark chocolate is the most fatal.

Grapes and Raisins - Contain an unknown toxin can cause renal failure ( grape seed extract has no known problems associated with it.

Onions and Garlic - Contain more sulfoxides and disulfoxides. Baby food can contain high amounts of onion.

Sugarless Gum (Xylitol) - causes dogs to secrete insulin so their blood sugar drops very quickly. Can cause liver failure and may be fatal even in small amounts.

Antifreeze - Antifreeze tastes sweet so dogs are attracted to it. Even a small amount can kill a dog. Antifreeze is most commonly used in cars but is also present in snow globes. If one shatters, do not allow your dog near it until it is safely cleaned up.

Avacado - Avocado fruit and pits have been associated with myocardial necrosis in dogs, though leaves are the most toxic part of the fruit.

Macadamia Nuts and Walnuts - Contain an unknown toxin

Chicken Bones (and other cooked bones) - May splinter and cause damage. Can cause intestinal obstruction or lacerations

Milk and Dairy - Not toxic, but can give dogs diarrhea. Around 50% of dogs are lactose intolerant.

Alcoholic Beverages - can cause intoxication, coma and death.

Hops - Unknown compound causes increased heart rate, seizures and death.

Fat Trimmings - can cause pancreatitis

Human Iron Supplement - Can damage the digestive system including liver and kidneys.

Liver - In large amounts can cause vitamin A toxicity

Mushrooms - Contain toxins that affect multiple systems casing shock and death

Persimmons - Can cause intestinal obstruction and enteritis

Peach and Plum pits

Tomatoes / Potatoes / Rhubarb - Potato peelings, green Potatoes, rhubarb leaves,  tomato stem and leaves (maybe green tomatoes too) contain oxalates which damage the digestive, nervous and urinary systems. Ripe red tomatoes should be fine.

Raw Eggs - contain avidin which decreases the absorption of biotin and may also contain salmonella

Raw Fish - Can result in thiamine deficiency

Salt - In large quantities can lead to electrolyte imbalance

Sugary Foods - Can lead to obesity and diabetes mellitus

Tobacco - Can cause rapid heart beat, collapse, coma and death

Yeast Dough - Can expand and produce gas and possibly rupture the stomach or intestines

Apple Cores - Contain cyanide

Broccoli - In large amounts can cause digestive upset

Nutmeg

Turkey Skin