What Can Dogs Eat: Dangerous Foods for Dogs

What can dogs eat and not eat? That is the big question of the day. Since the list of foods is so broad, I have decided to separate this into two different topics. Here we will discuss the dangerous foods for dogs. If you want list of safe foods, then read What Can Dogs Eat?

Foods Dangerous to Dogs

Practically every day, I am asked can dogs eat grapes, can dogs eat chicken, can dogs eat chocolate, etc. Here is a quick list of foods dogs simply cannot eat.

Alcohol

Just like humans, alcohol affects the liver and brain of a dog. Just a little bit can cause vomiting, diarrhea, central nervous system depression, problems with coordination, difficulty breathing, coma, even death. The smaller your puppy, the less alcohol it will take.

Avocado

While you may love guacamole, your dog should not try it. Avocados have a toxin called persin. While this is harmless to humans, it can devastate your precious pooch. A small amount will not hurt your puppy, but if your dog consumes a lot then it will do severe damage. Therefore, keep your pup away from the seeds, the leaves, the bark and the fruit.

Caffeine

If this list was not alphabetical, caffeine would top my list of what dogs can’t eat or in this case drink as well. Caffeine in large enough doses can be fatal to a dog. Additionally, there is nothing and I mean nothing you can do once your dog has had a fatal dose. This is why dogs cannot eat cocoa, chocolate, soft drinks, and many cold medications.

Symptoms of caffeine poisoning include: restlessness, heart palpitations, muscle tremors, bleeding, rapid breathing and fits.

Chocolate

Dogs eating chocolate is just a bad idea. While they may love the taste and will even steal chocolaty treats, chocolate has caffeine and that is dangerous for dogs. The amount of chocolate needed to cause problems will vary depending on the dog and the type of chocolate. Therefore, it is best to keep the chocolate away from your beloved four legged friend.

Grapes and Raisins

For some reason, people are unaware of this dangerous food for dogs. I am often asked “should dogs eat grapes” or “can dogs eat grapes“. The answer is a resounding NO!

It is unclear why, but when dogs eat grapes and raisins it can cause kidney failure. Just a small amount can cause your baby dog to get sick. Repeated vomiting is an early warning sign. This is followed by depression and lethargy.

Macadamia Nuts

Like raisins, macadamia nuts are an unknown food dogs can’t eat. It can be fatal and in doses as small as six nuts can be seriously ill. I personally went through this scare with my basset hound Olivia. She ate a bag of macadamia nuts and her hindquarters were paralyzed. I rushed her to the vet and found out there was nothing we could do but wait. Luckily, Olivia recovered over the next few days but seeing a basset hound unable to move her back half was the scariest thing ever.

Symptoms of macadamia nut poisoning include: muscle tremors, weakness or paralysis in the hindquarters, vomiting, rapid heart rate, and elevate body temperature.

Onions and Garlic

No matter how much your puppy begs, DO NOT EVER feed your puppy onions and garlic. It will destroy your dog’s red bloods cells, which causes anemia. Small amounts on a regular basis or a large quantity at one time can poison your dog. Therefore, it is imperative you keep all forms of garlic and onions away from your puppy.

Symptoms of anemia include weakness, vomiting, little interest in food, dullness, and breathlessness.

Salt

When it comes to what can’t dogs eat, salt puzzles many people. After all, people give salty products to their dogs and they seem fine. However, too much salt can kill your dog. Excessive sodium intake can cause sodium ion poisoning, which can be fatal.

Symptoms of sodium ion poisoning include: vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, seizures and elevated body temperature.

Yeast Dough

Yeast dough needs to rise. This is what makes it so appetizing to humans. Fresh baked fluffy bread is just delicious. However, when you feed yeast dough to a dog, it rises in the dog’s stomach. The dough can stretch the dog’s abdomen causing severe pain and even death. Additionally, it can ferment inside the dog causing alcohol poisoning.

Foods Dogs Should Not Eat

While these foods will not kill your puppy, they can make your dog sick. These foods should be avoided whenever possible.

• Bones
• Cat Food
• Milk
• Dairy Products
• Fat Trimmings
• Persimmons
• Peaches
• Plums
• Raw Eggs
• Raw Fish
• Raw Meat
• Rhubarb leaves

Cats and Dogs Eating Grass

I can’t tell you how many times I hear, “My dog eats grass.” or “My cat eats grass. Is this okay?” The answer falls somewhere in the middle. Grass eating is normal for both dogs and cats. The big concern is not whether your cat or dog eats grass but is the grass treated with pesticides or other chemicals. If your lawn is untreated, then go ahead and let your adorable furry friend nibble away. If your grass is treated with chemicals, then purchase “cat grass” for your pet to graze on.

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