Dogs are our best friends. No matter how hard your dog begs and pleads, there are some people foods you should never give them. You also need to make sure potentially toxic food aren’t left out where your dog could get them.
You may already know not to give chocolate to your dog, but did you know that avocados can be bad for dogs too? Below we will share sixteen foods you should never feed your pooch. How many did you know already?
Bad Food for Dogs
Chocolate: While chocolate makes humans happy (and if it doesn’t, I don’t understand you), it can be harmful to your pup. It contains caffeine and theobromine, two stimulants that can make your pup’s heart race, blood pressure skyrocket and even cause seizures or death. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it can be for your pup because it contains even more of these substances. Smaller breeds can be affected by a lesser amount of chocolate than larger breeds.
Gum and Candy: Can you imagine a dog chewing gum? Yes, and I know it might make you smile, but it isn’t a laughing matter. A dog wouldn’t have a clue what to do with this strange, chewy substance and most likely swallow it, which will cause choking or a blockage in your dog’s digestive system. Candy can result in the same result, especially if it’s super chewy, like caramel or taffy. A hard piece of candy can fracture your dog’s teeth. If the gum or candy is sweetened with Xylitol, it can cause some serious problems for your dog. Xylitol is a dangerous substance that it has its own spot on the list.
Xylitol: Xylitol is a substitute sweetener use in a lot of different foods, including gum, candy, desserts, yogurt and peanut butter. Ingesting Xylitol can result in low blood sugar, seizure and liver failure in dogs. Please check the ingredients of anything that might contain Xylitol before giving it to your dog.
Grapes: Grapes are highly toxic to dogs and may result in severe complications, including sudden kidney failure. Just one grape can cause a very bad reaction in your dog, so it is best to keep those bowls of grapes and fruit salads out of paws reach. If you come home and find an empty grape vine on the floor near your dog, you should contact your veterinarian or animal poison control immediately.
Raisins: You know what a raisin is, right? They are dried and shriveled up grapes, of course. That means they are just as harmful to your dog as their round and juice friends. Raisins are also tricky, since they can hide in cookies and other goodies that your dog might try to gobble up.
Macadamia Nuts: Brought over to Hawaii and California from Madagascar and Australia many years ago. These nuts can be found in grocery stores and are sometimes bake into cookies. It is not known what in these nuts causes a bad reaction in dogs, but symptoms can include a severely upset stomach, vomiting, hyperthermia and tremors.
Avocados: These fruits contain a substance called Persin, which can be harmful to dogs. There is more persin in the leaves and skin of avocados and different varieties can contain more or less of this toxic substance. In any case, it is better to be safe than sorry and keep your dog’s nose out of the guacamole bowl on game day.
Onions: Onions contain a harmful substance that can damage your dog’s red blood cells, making them unable to carry oxygen through the body. This is as dangerous as it sounds and can be fatal. Now you might wonder what dog would eat an onion, but they have been known to gobble up slices dropped on the floor, snack on breaded onion rings or eat on the sweeter tasting pearl onion. Onion powder is also a problem for dogs, so please keep it safely stored away in your spice cabinet.
Garlic: Like an onion, garlic can damage your dog’s red blood cells. You may also be wondering what dog would want to eat garlic, but dogs don’t always shy away from strong tasting foods. They might eat a garlic clove that fell while you were cooking or get into a jar of chopped garlic left open on the counter. Garlic powder can also be an issued, so keep it with the onion powder in the spice cabinet.
Salt: Too much salt, can cause health issues for your pup. It can lead to sodium ion or salt poisoning, which will cause kidney damage. Signs of this include excessive thirst and urination, vomiting and diarrhea. Be sure to keep the potato chips, pretzels, popcorn and other salty snack away from your pup.
Tea Leaves: The most relaxing part of your day may be sitting down with a cup of tea, but you should avoid inviting your dog for teatime. Tea leaves contain caffeine, and like we have mentioned before about chocolate, can be quite troublesome for dogs. Even though your dog may seem uninterested in tea bags, you should store the cartons of them safely and avoid leaving mugs with used tea bags around where your dog could take a taste.
Raw Yeast Dough: If you are baking bread or other items with raw yeast, like homemade soft pretzels, be sure to let the dough rise somewhere safe from a curious nose. The yeast in the dough can expand in your dog’s belly and cause painful gas and bloating. Bloat can cause a dog’s stomach to twist, which can turn into a medical emergency. There is also the risk of alcohol intoxication since yeast produces alcohol during the fermenting process.
Spoiled Foods: There are all sorts of harmful things in your garbage, such as spoiled or moldy foods, that can upset your dog’s stomach or worse. Some molds contain mycotoxins that cause serious muscle tremors. Be sure to throw old or rotten foods out where your dog can’t get at them, like a securely closed outdoor garbage can.
Fatty Foods: Feeding your dog fatty foods, like hot dogs, bacon, ribs or fried chicken, can upset your dog’s stomach and cause vomiting and diarrhea. These foods can also lead to pancreatitis, which is an inflammation of the pancreas. Some breeds, like Miniature Schnauzers and Yorkshire Terriers, may be more prone to pancreatitis. If you notice your dog is hunched over with stomach pain, you should contact your vet.
Coffee: Just like tea leaves and chocolate, coffee is harmful to dogs because of the caffeine content. This goes for brewed, ground and whole bean coffee and it is also true of used coffee grounds, so be careful how you dispose of them.
Alcohol: Dogs can get buzzed from drinks or foods containing alcohol, just like people. This effect can be amplified for dogs, especially for small breeds. Alcohol can also affect your dog’s nervous system and even lead to a coma or death. There is simply no reason to ever offer your dog an alcoholic beverage. You should keep an eye on your dog during parties where drinks may be left around.
What Dogs Are at Risk?
Dogs of any breed, shape or size are at risk for ingesting something harmful. Some dogs may be more prone to eating things they shouldn’t based on their personalities. While all dogs need to be protected from bad foods and toxic substances, dogs who are super curious or love to put things in their mouths may need closer supervision.
Dog Poison Emergency Tips
It is good to know the list of foods that are bad for dogs, but that doesn’t mean you will be able to protect your pup from getting into trouble all of the time. If you suspect your dog has ingested a harmful food or substance, contact your vet or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) immediately. The APCC is available 24/7, 365 days a year at 888-426-4435. There may be a $65 consultation fee.
Be sure to stay calm and never try and treat your dog without professional advice. You could hurt your dog or injury yourself. Even the most loving dog can act out when in pain, scared or upset. Depending on the situation, your vet may need to perform a diagnostic test, induce vomiting, administer fluids through an IV, or prescribe medications. A hospitalization may also be necessary in a more severe case.
Contact R.C. Keller & Company Today
While these treatments may get expensive, you can help manage the costs with a Pet Insurance plan. Get a quote for your dog now. This way, if you ever come home and find a box of raisins spread on the floor and your dog with an upset stomach, you can rest easy knowing you will have help covering the medical bills.
R.C. Keller & Company is a fourth generation independent insurance agency, that has been helping dog owners in Illinois, since 1910. We are here to help with your insurance needs, so give us a call at 847-907-4520, if you have any questions.