What can dogs not eat? If something is safe for you to eat, it must be OK for your dog to eat, right? Not so fast! While many common foods are safe for dogs, some are dangerous and others are just plain unhealthy. It’s important to learn which common foods are toxic to dogs and those to avoid.
Because we’re all dog lovers the entire fitdogster.com team got in on this one. Altogether we spent over 40 – 50 hours researching common foods toxic to dogs and worth avoiding. We researched several internet sites, YouTube + other videos and spoke with vets and nutritionists.
Dogs digest foods differently than humans do. They have different metabolisms and tolerance levels than humans. Eating the wrong foods can lead dogs to long-term health problems and, worst case, death. Dogs are omnivores but some foods are toxic and others just don’t go over well with them. We also hit on some foods that are just better to avoid or offer rarely. A few will be obvious but we think you’ll be surprised by many of our findings. So let’s dig in!
Alcohol
Avocados
Caffeine
Cat Food
Chocolate
Cooked Bones
Dairy
Fat Trimmings
Garlic, Onions & Leeks
Grapes, Raisins & Currents
Lemons and Limes
Macadamia Nuts
Mushrooms
Mustard
Nutmeg
Peaches, Persimmons, Plums, Cherries…
Raw Bacon
Rhubarb
Salt
Xylitol
Yeast
To Sum It All Up
Alcohol
Alcohol can obviously be found in wine, spirits, and beer. Alcohol is also found in mouthwash, cleaning products, vanilla extract, and perfume.
Why?
Small amounts of alcohol can be fatal to dogs. About 8 milligrams of pure alcohol/kg can lead to death. Smaller dogs can be affected more. Further, hops (found in beer) is another toxin that can raise body temperature and cause malignant hyperthermia. This can lead to hyperthermia, breathing difficulty, and eventually death.
Symptoms
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Confusion
- Drooling
- Poor Breathing
- Ataxia – Lack of Muscle Coordination
- Sedation
- Hypoglycemia
- Hypothermia
- Hypotension
- Liver Failure
- Coma
Avocados
Avocados can cause serious health problems for your dog. Dogs should never eat avocados.
Why?
Avocadoes contain a toxic called persin and dogs are quite sensitive to it. Persin causes fluid to build up in the lungs and chest. In this case, the entire avocado plant is toxic – fruit, pit, bark, leaves. The pit itself could also be a choking hazard or intestine blockage risk.
Symptoms
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Severe Respiratory Distress
Caffeine
It’s important to keep coffee, tea, coffee grounds, tea bags, diet pills, and any beverages containing caffeine out of your dog’s reach.
Why?
Caffeine is a stimulant that is toxic to your dog. Dogs are very sensitive to caffeine. Ingesting even a little can cause caffeine poisoning. Seek immediate veterinary care if your dog develops the symptoms below.
Symptoms
Symptoms related to caffeine within 1 – 2 hours of exposure include:
- Agitation
- Unusual Thirst
- Restlessness
- Hyperthermia
- Poor Bladder Control
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Elevated Blood Pressure
- Rapid Heartbeat
Cat Food
Cats are carnivores and dogs are omnivores. Cat food is more meat-based, high in fat, and high in protein.
Why?
Although many dogs are fine with high-protein foods, some with existing health issues can experience more problems over time. Dogs with liver or kidney disease should stay away from high-protein foods. Cat food can be harder on these organs. Dogs with food allergies should avoid cat food for the same reason. Also, cat food consumption can cause obesity.
Symptoms
- Gastrointestinal Issues
- Abdominal Pain and Hunched Back
- Diarrhea
- Obesity
- Pancreatitis
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Fever
- Appetite Loss
Chocolate
Chocolate contributes to many dog poisonings. Some estimates are as high as 25% of all dog poisonings.
The higher the cocoa content in the chocolate, the higher the toxicity for dogs. So dark and baking chocolate is far more toxic relative to milk or white chocolate. Other important things to note are how much chocolate was eaten and the size and weight of the dog.
Why?
Chocolate contains methylxanthines (theobromine and caffeine). Dogs have trouble digesting chocolate due to this. Also, even if it doesn’t turn out to be an issue the high-fat content of chocolate could cause pancreatitis.
Symptoms
Chocolate poisoning affects the intestines, heart, kidney, and central nervous system. Some of the symptoms of poisoning (which can arise in 2 – 24 hours) from chocolate include:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Dehydration
- Hyperactivity
- Internal Bleeding
- Seizures
- Heart Attack
Cooked Bones
Cooked bones are a common reason why dogs need emergency surgery. Although cooked bones can be a good source of calcium, there are several risks.
Why?
Cooked bones are more likely to splinter. This can injure a dog’s mouth, and cause stomach inflammation. Cooked bones can also cause perforation of the intestinal tract and severe infection. Large chunks of bones can cause intestinal blockage and possibly more life-threatening issues.
Symptoms
- Internal Bleeding
- Lethargy
- Constipation
- Bloody Stool
- Abdominal Bloating
- Vomiting
- Lack of Appetite
Dairy
Most dogs lose the ability to break down the lactose in milk shortly after puppyhood. In fact, the same thing can happen in all mammals, including humans. Dairy is in butter, cheese, cow’s milk, ice cream, and yogurt (due to its own enzymes can often be tolerated more easily). Symptoms can begin within thirty minutes to two hours from digestion.
Why?
Lactose intolerance can be uncomfortable but generally not life-threatening unless continued for extended periods. In severe cases, lactose may require hospitalization.
Symptoms
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal Pain
- Bloating
- Dehydration
- Excessive Thirst
- Vomiting
- Weakness
- Weight Loss
Fat Trimmings
Fat trimmings are not a good idea to feed your dog.
Why?
Both cooked and uncooked fat trimmings cause digestive issues in dogs and even worse, pancreatitis. Raw trimmings can also contain parasites and bacteria.
Symptoms
- Decreased Appetite
- Dehydration
- Lethargy
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Stomach Issues
- Pancreatitis
Garlic, Onions & Leeks
Dogs have a hard time digesting garlic, onions, and leeks. Keep onions and garlic – powdered, raw, cooked, or dehydrated – away from your dog. Some Japanese breeds – Akitas and Shiba Inus – are particularly sensitive. Beware that onion powder is even in some baby food.
Why?
Garlic, onions, and leeks are part of the Allium family and contain toxic compounds to dogs – thiosulfate and n-propyl disulfide. Garlic is 5x more toxic to dogs than the rest of the Allium plants. These compounds can build up in the bloodstream and can destroy red blood cells. This makes it hard to carry oxygen to the cells. The dog weakens and can die.
Symptoms
Many of the symptoms of garlic poisoning are below. Keep in mind some of these symptoms can be delayed. You’ll need to watch your dog closely over a period of time to catch some of these symptoms.
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal Pain
- Depressed Behavior
- Pale Gums
- Weakness
- Lethargy
- Breathing Difficulty
- Elevated Heart Rate
- Jaundice
Grapes, Raisins & Currents
There is no safe quantity of grapes, raisins, or currents that dogs can eat. Take your dog to the vet after ingesting any amount of grapes, raisins, or currents. Some dogs are extremely susceptible to grape and raisin poisoning while others can eat them with no problem – something that amazes experts.
Why?
Dogs should never eat grapes, raisins, or currents. Grapes, raisins, and currents are known to be highly toxic to dogs. It has yet to be determined what substance in this fruit(s) causes this toxicity. Some research has suggested tartaric acid could be responsible.
Symptoms
- Vomiting
- Abdominal Pain
- Sluggishness
- Depression
- Tremors
- Seizures
- Kidney Failure
- Excessive Thirst
- Little to No Urine
Lemons and Limes
You should avoid feeding your dog acidic fruits, such as lemons, limes oranges, and grapefruit.
Why?
Acidic fruits contain essential oils and psoralens, which can be toxic to dogs.
Symptoms
Some of the signs of a dog consuming acidic fruit include:
- Cold Limbs
- Collapse
- Depression
- Diarrhea
- Excessive Drooling
- Lethargy
- Liver Failure
- Loss of Coordination
- Low Blood Pressure
- Photosensitivity
- Rash or Skin Irritation
- Tremors
- Vomiting
- Weakness
Macadamia Nuts
Macadamia nuts are in things like baked goods, trail mix, and other foods. Check the ingredient list on these items before sharing a snack with your dog. Even a small amount can affect your dog.
Why?
Unknown toxin. This type of poisoning is rarely fatal but it can be incredibly painful for the dog. The toxic dose is different for individual dogs with some showing symptoms even after very small doses. Also, macadamia nuts have high-fat content. This can elevate a dog’s triglyceride levels, which can potentially lead to pancreatitis.
Symptoms
Symptoms show within 12 hours and can last about 24 – 48 hours. Eating chocolate with macadamia nuts will make symptoms worse, possibly even leading to death.
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Hyperthermia
- Rapid Heartbeat
- Depression
- Severe Weakness
- Tremors
- Fever/Increased Body Temperature
- Ataxia – Impaired Coordination (Especially Hind Legs)
- Swollen, Stiff, Painful Limbs
- Temporary Paralysis
Mushrooms
Dogs should avoid mushrooms. Wild mushrooms can be toxic for dogs. While only 50 – 100 of the 50,000 mushroom varieties worldwide are known to be toxic, the ones that are poisonous can really hurt your dog or be fatal. Washed white mushrooms from the supermarket could be OK, but it’s better to just forget this as a treat for dogs.
Why?
Mushroom toxicity ranges from mild intestinal irritation and vomiting, diarrhea, or abdominal discomfort to serious toxicity and death.
Symptom
- Mild Intestinal Irritation
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal Discomfort
- Excess Drooling
- Weakness
Mustard
Although not lethal in small quantities mustard can cause serious stomach discomfort in dogs. In fact, some vets even use mustard to induce vomiting in dogs.
Why?
Mustard’s main ingredient, mustard seeds (containing isothiocyanate and glucosinolates) is toxic to dogs. These toxic compounds can lead to gastroenteritis, the inflammation of the stomach and/or intestinal tract. Some brands of store-bought mustard may also have other ingredients (garlic powder, turmeric, horseradish, paprika, sugar, salt) that are also harmful to dogs.
Symptoms
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Stomach Issues
Nutmeg
Nutmeg is not safe for dogs to eat. Keep nutmeg out of reach for dogs. Also, prevent dogs from consuming baked goods and other foods that contain nutmeg.
Why?
Nutmeg (like many common herbs & spices) contains myristicin. Myristicin causes hallucinations and seizures. Nutmeg also contains safrole which is believed to be a carcinogen.
Symptoms
- Rapid Heart Rate
- Increased Blood Pressure
- Tremors
- Dry Mouth
- Abdominal Pain
- Nausea
- Confusion
- Seizures
Peaches, Persimmons, Plums,
Cherries…
Although the peach and persimmon flesh itself is fine for dogs to eat, the seeds of persimmons, pits of peaches, plums, and cherries contain amygdalin, which releases cyanide when ingested. If your dog eats several pits/seeds, that can be a problem. Also, it’s not recommended to allow your dog to eat cherry and plum flesh.
Why?
Seeds from persimmons can cause problems in a dog’s small intestine, including blocking their intestines. Pits from peaches, plums, and cherries can cause the same problem. Peach, plum, and cherry pits also contain amygdalin. Amygdalin breaks down into cyanide, which is poisonous to both dogs and people. People don’t usually chew on pits, dogs do.
Symptoms
- Tremors
- Vomiting
- Breathing Difficulty
- Stomach Problems
- Loss of Balance
- Panting
- Foaming at Mouth
- Dilated Pupils
- Seizures
- Confusion
- Loss of Consciousness
Raw Bacon
In short, no. Dogs should not eat raw bacon. Cooked bacon is higher in salt (than raw bacon) and still high in fat, which can cause many other health issues.
Why?
The greatest concern over raw bacon is the parasitic worm that causes trichinosis. The larvae are usually destroyed in high temperatures. Dogs are also highly sensitive to salt and fat, so bacon is a food that should be avoided. Giving your dog bacon on a regular basis can lead to obesity. Obesity makes dogs more apt to get diseases like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes. High-fat foods like bacon can also contribute to pancreatitis.
Symptoms
- Gastrointestinal Issues
- Diarrhea
- Intense Vomiting
- Abdominal Pain
- Eye Inflammation
- Fever
- Muscle Pain
Rhubard
Rhubard is a vegetable used as a sweetener found in ice cream, pancakes, and in cocktails.
Why?
Rhubarb contains oxalic acid and oxalate salts, which are toxic for dogs to consume. This creates crystals in the urinary tract and can cause the kidneys to shut down. The leaves and stems are both highly toxic to dogs.
Symptoms
- Drooling (extreme)
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Tremors
- Blood in Urine
- Extreme Thirst
- Kidney Failure
Salt
Salt is in salty snacks, pretzels, canned soups, and chips. Many other common human foods have an excessive amount of salt for taste or preservation purposes. Watch out for tricky salt sources, like play dough or rock salt for de-icing sidewalks.
Why?
Salt poisoning can be fatal to dogs at 2.2 teaspoons of salt/pound or 4 grams/kilogram of body weight.
Symptoms
- Depression
- Tremors
- Elevated Body Temperature
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Fever
- Seizure
- Severe Dehydration
- Liver Failure
- Brain Edema
- Brain Hemorrhage
Xylitol
Xylitol is very toxic to dogs. Xylitol is naturally found in fruits and vegetables such as raspberries, strawberries, cauliflower and mushrooms. Xylitol is also an added sweetener in baked goods, candy, gum and toothpaste. Xylitol crops up in a lot of low-sugar and sugar-free foods. Be sure to check food labels as even some peanut butter brands contain xylitol.
Why?
Xylitol can cause an acute drop in blood sugar levels, liver failure and trigger seizures.
Symptoms
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Muscle Weakness
- Seizures
- Liver Failure
Yeast
Before it’s baked, bread dough needs to rise. And, that’s exactly what it would do in your dog’s stomach if they ate it.
Why?
As it swells inside, the dough can stretch and twist your dog’s abdomen and cause a lot of pain in the bowels or intestines. In extreme cases, this is a life-threatening situation that requires emergency abdominal surgery to prevent the walls of the stomach from dying from poor blood supply. Also, when the yeast ferments the dough to make it rise, it creates alcohol which can lead to alcohol poisoning.
Symptoms
- Bloating
- Extreme Pain
- Discomfort
- Unproductive Vomiting and Retching
- Lethargy
- Weakness
- Rapid Heartbeat
- Collapse
- Shock
To Sum It All Up
In our article, we touched on many of the most dangerous common foods for dogs. Although it can be hard, because of the health risks of many common foods, it might not be a bad idea to just never introduce these common foods. Sticking to high-quality dog food and treats is likely the best approach.
Keep clear of foods (or anything that may possibly be ingested!) that have large amounts of sodium (salt) and Xylitol. Obviously, high sodium shows up in many popular salty snacks and Xylitol is a common sweetener in many sweet treats. Also, beware of foods like pepperoni that often have multiple toxic ingredients – salt, onion powder and/or garlic powder.
Also, to prepare yourself for a potential incident, always keep your vet’s phone number handy, along with an after-hours clinic you can call in an emergency. The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center also has a hotline you can call for advice at (888) 426-4435. As an added resource here’s the Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661).
