Watch Out Now: Toxic Foods for Dogs!

Dogs depend on us. Don’t you agree that it’s crucial we protect their wellbeing and safety by keeping tabs on potential Toxic Foods for Dogs that exist in our environment? I’m sure you do. Our canine friends don’t have nine lives and they don’t always know what’s best for them. They really like tasty things even if they might harm or injure them in some way. As guardians of our loving companions it’s our duty to keep them happy, healthy and safe through proper care and wholesome nutrition.

You might be wondering “What are toxic foods for dogs and how can I protect my dog?” Well there are a lot of poisonous foods for dogs out there. I’ll give you the 411 on dog poisons in this discussion.

There are also many environmental toxins that can harm your pooch. I’m saving those for another article. Make sure you sign up to our Dog Newsletter so you don’t miss it!

The thought of unintentionally upsetting or poisoning our beautiful Halle with an unknown toxic food for dogs is absolutely horrifying to us! I’m sure you’ve heard of many sad and unfortunate stories with the popular could of, would of, should of responses from owners. Sometimes it’s too late.

Take charge because prevention is your best defense. Dog poison is a very scary topic that must be discussed by every single responsible dog owner out there. The potential risks and side effects of poisonous foods for dogs are in most cases preventable and sometimes deadly.

I highly recommend you memorize both the key toxic ingredients and their high risk effects in case you suspect your dog might have eaten something harmful. Knowing the specific symptoms is very important because it could lead you back to the potential toxic food your dog could have ingested in the first place. It kind of works both ways.

You’ll find many toxic foods for dogs lists online. Many aren’t complete and some are outdated and lacking potentially important material that could save your dog’s life. There is obviously no “One Perfect List” because we cannot be ahead of science. For that reason, my toxic dog food compilation is a work in progress which I will continually be updating. I also highly encourage you to comment at the bottom of this page with some of your personal dog experiences. Also share this HBD toxic foods for dogs list with all your dog friends so that we don’t lose any more BDFs.

I’m going to try to keep this highly informative with as many potential side effects as I could find. I’m a naturally inquisitive person and I like to know the why as much as I want to know the what. Not every single contender in this list is inherently toxic to your dog but might be depending on quantities consumed versus dog size. It’s your job to use better judgment when serving your dog.

You also want to use better judgment when feeding your dog, we highly recommend going with an organic or holistic dog food diet for a very happy healthy pup.

Our poisonous foods for dogs list contains potential side effects from various toxic foods. What I mean is that not all dogs will experience similar symptoms. These are just examples of easily detected behaviors, exhibited by your dog after eating something dangerous.

Now, on with the list…

Rawhides & Cowhides

Rawhides, sometimes called cowhides, are probably one of the most popular and widely available dog chew toys. They’re recognizable, generally white-ish and transformed into a bone-like form or rolled into sticks or other novel shapes. Grocery stores, pet shops and even the local dollar store carry them in abundance. Rawhides are basically the skin of a food animal – generally a cow. Rawhides are cheap and extremely dangerous toxic foods for dogs. They carry a host of risky bacteria, arsenic, insecticides, pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, lead and sometimes dead animal remains. Eeeww! Enough said!

There’s a reason the packaging recommends properly washing your hands after each use – right! Watch out for vomiting, lack of appetite, lethargy, dizziness, avoidance, lack of energy, excessive drooling, diarrhea, high fever, depression and dehydration. We can tell you this from our own personal experience with rawhides.

A couple of years ago we thought we were going to lose Halle. We innocently gave her a rawhide (not her first) to play with one evening. The next 48 hours were a complete nightmare. It started with her refusing her breakfast and the rest was awful. She displayed every symptom I mentioned and she even had bloody loose stools. We got so scared, our poor little darling (9 months at the time) was bumping into walls for support. We thought she was dying. To make a long story short, the vets didn’t help much so we decided to take matters into our own hands. From that day we changed her food, treats and even her veterinarian. We took the holistic approach, our best decision ever. She is a transformed happy energetic dog. Bottom line, don’t buy this poisonous garbage for your dog or any other dog – ever!

Alcohol

Although imagining your dog intoxicated could be potentially hilarious, all types of alcoholic beverages are very dangerous. They could lead to coma even death, especially in the case of beer consumption. Maybe best to just imagine eh!

Baby Food

Baby food is tasty to humans and dogs but it’s for human babies only, not our four legged ones. Plus baby food may contain onion powder which is potentially toxic to the pooch.

Xylitol

Xylitol is a sugar substitute sweetener. Here are some products that may contain Xylitol: sugar-free gums, mints, jellies, chewable vitamins (Flinstones for kids), jams, certain candy, baked goods like cake mixes and sugar-free sweeteners. A good example of products that contain Xylitol are Orbit and Trident brand gums. Keep in mind, all Crest White Strips and the majority of toothpaste also contain this sweetener. If consumed by your dog in very high dosage (500 to 1000 mg/kg per kilogram of bodyweight), it can result in a seizure and death in as little as 30 minutes. Keep your dogs out of the medicine cabinets and purses guys! Plus don’t let your dog lick or pick up used gum on the sidewalk. Stay alert for that when walking your dog.

For more information on the dangers please read the following great Report on the Effects of Xylitol Ingestion on Dogs.

Chocolate, Tea, Acai Berries, Cola Drinks, Caffeine & Coffee

Chocolate might be one of your péché mignons but I suggest you keep it very far away from your dog. Yes, you’ve probably heard this one many times before. Chocolate, tea, acai berries, caffeinated sodas like Coca-Cola, coffee and chocolate all contain the following chemical compounds: theobromine (dogs metabolize this one very slowly), theophylline or caffeine. They can be highly toxic foods for dogs and affect the heart and nervous system. Your dog might experience hallucinations, internal bleeding, epileptic seizures as well as many more bodily side effects.

“Chocolate smells great but doesn’t seem to taste too good. I swallowed an entire Hershey Kiss once but didn’t taste a thing! Maybe cause of the wrapping?” } Halle

I will give you an example with chocolate because dogs have a loving penchant for sweets. We were playing ball with Halle last Christmas and the ball accidently bounced off the dining table and over tumbled a bowl filled with Hershey Kisses – we love’ em. Of course our little sugar-addict got to them first and swallowed an entire Kiss with the wrapping. Silly girl! Luckily the chocolate went through her healthy system with no problems. But some dogs aren’t so lucky. For the average small dog, 50 grams of chocolate (the size of an average chocolate bar) can cause serious complications. For larger dogs it’s roughly 400 grams (average 6-8 chocolate bars). The symptoms of theobromine poisoning are dehydration, excitability, restlessness, slow heart rate, seizures and death. Milk chocolate is of lower risk than dark chocolate and baking chocolate contains the most toxic amounts.

Grapes & Raisins

You might be familiar with this one, it’s one of the most known poisonous foods for dogs. Grapes and raisins contain an unknown toxin to dogs that causes acute kidney failure. The amount of raisins or grapes swallowed depends on each individual dog and its size. Some small dogs get sick from consuming as little as one grape. Best to keep those grapes to yourself.

Most Fruit Pits & Seeds

Be very mindful when cutting up certain fruits in the presence of your dog. The fruits themselves are not toxic but their seeds and pits are very toxic. The most dangerous pits and seeds to watch out for would be from apples, peaches, pears, plums, cherries, apricots, crabapples and persimmons. Your dog has to chew the pits or seeds for them to release their toxic chemical. Swallowing them will not release the toxin but may cause choking. The wilting leaves of these various rosy trees are also very dangerous if swallowed. Not only can the pits and seeds cause obstructions when swallowed by your dog, but also inflammation of the intestine. Plus they contain cyanogenic glycosides (the plant’s protective chemical) which results in cyanide poisoning causing seizures, coma and even death.

Strawberries, raspberries and blackberries are also part of the rosy tree family. However, I haven’t heard anything about them being foods toxic for dogs. I would recommend keeping any berry dosage other than blueberries which are very safe to a minimal.

“I love Frozen Blueberries!” } Halle

Oxalate Dense Veggies

Spinach, Swiss chard, beet greens, collards, okra, parsley, leeks and quinoa are the vegetables that contain the highest concentration of oxalates. Oxalates are naturally-occurring substances found in the leaves of plants, which can affect the digestive, nervous, and urinary system of your dog. Your dog might come in contact with them especially if you have a garden. One thing you could do is teach your dog to never dig and roam around the garden or put up a small seasonal removable fence for more security.

Broccoli (one of Halle’s most faves!)

The only information I’ve read about broccoli being potentially toxic to dogs is if the dog consumes a very large quantity of it. My guess is the high fiber content might irritate their stomachs. Other than that, broccoli is a great add-on to your dog’s diets. It’s filled with powerful antioxidants and goodness.

Mushrooms

If you have any wild mushrooms growing in your yard, I suggest you destroy them if you have a dog and/or children running around. Some dogs like grazing on grass and will accidentally eat the fungi. Just coming in contact with a mushroom can cause some tummy troubles or severe toxic symptoms especially if the mushroom is poisonous. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea and complete liver failure. Keep your eyes open.

Avocado

Great in a salad, not so great for the dog! The seed is potentially toxic to some dogs. A dog may encounter gastrointestinal irritation including vomiting, respiratory difficulties, bodily fluid accumulations and diarrhea if he consumes the avocados’ fruit, seed, leaves or branches in large quantities.

Garlic, Onions & Chives

Halle eats garlic on occasion. Well, she mostly plays with it (like a cat) for a good part of the day and then surrenders. For dogs, I believe garlic’s benefits overpower its toxicity. Your dog would have to eat a lot of garlic before he gets any harmful side effects. The general rule is 1 small garlic clove per 25 lbs dog. If you stay in that range you should have no problems. Onions on the other hand are very toxic foods for dogs. They contain Sulfoxides and Disulfides (chemical compounds) which can damage red blood cells causing Anemia. Same goes for chives. Garlic is much less toxic than onions.

Spices

Salt and salty products are unnatural for your dog. He definitely won’t find salty chips while hunting in the wild. Some good signs that your dog has consumed way too much salty foods are diarrhea, vomiting, depression, high body temperature, seizures or possibly death. Better keep those chips to yourself. Another spice to watch out for would be nutmeg. It is not recommended for dogs. Symptoms of nutmeg ingestion can include seizures, tremors, central nervous system problems, and death. Another spice that you might be familiar with are mustard seeds, the side effects are similar to nutmeg.

Yeast Dough

Do not feed your dog rising yeast, especially products that made up of mostly yeast. It’s very dangerous and it can expand and produce gas in the digestive system causing pain and possible rupture of your dog’s stomach or intestines. Once the dough is cooked the potential dangers diminish. As a general rule don’t give your dog too much bread at one time. A few pieces here and there are fine. Don’t get confused with the yeast used as a leaven in baking, it’s very different from nutritional yeast. Large-flake torula (nutritional) yeast is used as a flavoring agent in homemade dog food preparations which is highly recommended.

Lead

Lead Poisoning happens more often than you think. One of the most common contacts occur with canned dog food, especially when the can’s components migrate into the prepared dog food. The harmful metal will affect your dog’s blood and nervous system with similar symptoms to mercury-laden fish. We recommend your serve your dog canned dog food only occasionally. Canned dog foods can also contain high numbers of fluoride.

Macadamia Nuts & Walnuts

Macadamia nuts are delicious for humans but when ingested by your dog can cause macadamia nut toxicosis. Your dog will show signs of weakness and lethargy, affecting the muscles and may have difficulties standing for a period of time but will recover within 12 to 48 hours after ingesting the nut. Some studies have shown macadamia nut toxicosis in dogs ingesting anywhere from 6 to 40 nuts. All parts of the walnut tree are offensive to dogs, including the bark, hulls, roots and nuts. Some symptoms of walnut poisoning include vomiting, trembling, loss of appetite, lack of coordination, lethargy, drooling, bloody stools and diarrhea. It can take a few days for the symptoms to appear after ingesting the nut so again, be very careful with these.

Fat Trimmings & Leftovers

Be very mindful about what you give your dog to eat. He’s not a one way garbage disposal. Sometimes dogs are such gluttons for tasty foods. Leftovers are generally good, all depending on what’s left on the half-eaten plate. Dogs will eat almost anything at any time. Stay away from hot and spicy foods. Dogs are not used to them. Fat trimmings are huge no-nos. They can cause pancreatitis, especially if the trimmings are cooked.

Animal Liver

I think I know what you might be thinking. What about those yummy dog favorite liver treats eh? Don’t panic, liver is the Grand Prix of treats but it can also become potentially dangerous if given in large amounts. It can cause toxic doses of Vitamin A, inducing bone weakness and muscle abnormalities. But don’t worry about those liver treats. Your dog has to consume very large amounts (dependant on dog and dog size) to have any side effects. Just be mindful.

Fish & Fish by-products

Certain types of fish may contain ridiculously high levels of mercury, like raw trout, salmon and tuna being the most polluted. Mercury poisoning can damage the nervous system. Symptoms include tremors, anxiety, loss of appetite, sleeping difficulties, lethargy, loss of coordination, vomiting, constipation, irritability, kidney damage and more.

Milk & Most Dairy Products

Cow’s milk is not meant to be consumed by dogs. Dogs have a hard time digesting milk and certain milk products, which are not fatal but can certainly cause stomach upsets or diarrhea. Milk offers a host of problems for humans as well, from allergies to osteoporosis. The only animal that’s supposed to benefit from cow’s milk is the baby calf. Do your research on milk. It’s more dangerous to humans than you think. The only dairy we give Halle everyday is yogurt to replenish her healthy flora. Yogurt has more positives than negatives, so in my book, it’s ok.

Moldy & Spoiled Foods

Moldy and spoiled foods only belong in one place, the garbage. Don’t give your dog any foods that are past their expiry date. Why would you do that anyway? The poor dog can suffer severe vomiting, diarrhea and the stuff can potentially affect several other organs in the body.

Fluoride

Fluoride is found in the majority of our public water supplies and also in the food chain in high numbers. It’s very poisonous when consumed in large dosages. Fluoride as a dog poison depends on the overall dosage from all sources your dog consumes. It goes something like this: livestock drinks contaminated water, goes to slaughter and is processed into dog food, (canned is worst because it has more water content) then your companion eats it. Your dog ends up with the worst result – all that gradually stored fluoride builds up in his body. Scary when you think about it. Exposure to fluoride can cause a host of serious problems like kidney and bladder disorders, arthritis, bronchitis, weakened immune system and genetic damages. Your best bet is to give your dog fresh filtered drinking water several times a day in a clean stainless steel bowl or container.

Toxic Foods for Dogs Quick Recap

Rawhides & Cowhides
Alcohol
Baby Food
Xylitol
Chocolate
Tea
Acai Berries
Cola Drinks
Coffee & Caffeine
Grapes & Raisins
Most Fruit Pits & Seeds
Oxalate Dense Veggies
Broccoli in large quantities
Mushrooms
Avocado
Garlic, Onions & Chives
Spices
Yeast Dough
Lead
Macadamia Nuts & Walnuts
Fat Trimmings & Certain Leftovers
Animal Liver in large quantities
Most Fish & Fish by-products
Milk & Most Dairy Products
Moldy & Spoiled Foods
Fluoride

I know it’s a long list but better to be safe than sorry! Read the above list over several times so that you can remember as many potential toxic foods for dogs as you can. Read my Super Dog Diet Power-Ups article for my recommendations on boosting your dog’s daily food intake.

Like I said earlier, we will be adding to the list. In the mean time we would love to hear your thoughts and stories on poisonous foods for dogs. Also if you have any suggestions on some foods we could add or questions on particular toxic foods, please comment below. We love hearing from you! The more we share and talk about this topic the more problems can be avoided and dog lives saved.