There are a number of foods that should not be fed to dogs because they are dangerous. Some are more commonly known than others. Some of the foods that are dangerous to dogs are as follows:

Avocado

The leaves, fruit, bark and seeds of avocados have all been reported to be toxic. The toxic component in the avocado is “persin,” which is a fatty acid derivative. Symptoms of toxicity include difficulty breathing, abdominal enlargement, abnormal fluid accumulations in the chest, abdomen and sac around the heart. The amount that needs to be ingested to cause signs is unknown. Do not feed your pet any component of the avocado.

Beer

Hops, the plant used to make common beer, can cause malignant hyperthermia in dogs, usually with fatal results. Certain breeds seem particularly sensitive to hop toxicity, but hops should be kept away from all dogs. Even small amounts of hops can trigger a potentially deadly reaction, even if the hops are “spent” after use in brewing.

Chocolate

Chocolate contains theobromine, a cardiac stimulant and diuretic. Chocolate will make the dog hyperactive and due to the diuretic effect, will pass large volumes of urine and be unusually thirsty. Vomiting and diarrhoea are also common. The effect of theobromine on the heart is the most dangerous effect. Theobromine will increase the dog’s heart rate and cause the heart to beat irregularly. Death is quite possible, especially with exercise. After a dog eats the chocolate signs of sickness may not be seen for several hours, with death following within twenty-four hours. Cocoa powder and cooking chocolate are the most toxic forms. A 20lb dog can be seriously affected if it eats a half of a small block of cooking chocolate. These forms of chocolate contain ten times more theobromine than milk chocolate.

Coffee

Dogs that eat coffee grounds or beans can get “caffeine” toxicity. The symptoms are very similar to those of chocolate toxicity and can be just as or even more serious.

Dairy Products

Dairy products are not highly dangerous but can pose problems for two reasons. One is their high fat content and like other foods with high fat content, there is a risk of pancreatitis. The second reason is that pets poorly digest dairy products since they lack the enzyme required to digest lactose. This affects some pets more than others, and can cause gas to diarrhea. Small amounts of plain yogurt or cheese are tolerated by most dogs but it is probably safest to avoid dairy products altogether.

Fatty Foods

Rich and fatty food are favorites of dogs. They often get them as treats, leftovers or from getting into the trash. These fatty foods can cause pancreatitis. Signs of pancreatitis generally include an acute onset of vomiting, sometimes diarrhea and abdominal pain. Abdominal pain is often evidenced by hunched posture or “splinting” of the abdomen when picked up. The dog may become very sick quickly and often needs intensive fluid and antibiotic therapy.

Grapes and Raisins

It has recently been confirmed that grapes and raisins can cause acute renal (kidney) failure in dogs. The exact mechanism is not known, nor any means to determine the susceptibility of an individual dog. While as little as one raisin can be fatal to a susceptible ten pound dog, many other dogs have eaten as much as a pound of grapes or raisins at a time without ill effects. The dog usually vomits a few hours after consumption and begins showing signs of renal failure three to five days later.

Macadamia Nuts

The toxic compound isn’t yet known, but studies have linked macadamia nuts to locomotory difficulties. Dogs develop a tremor of the skeletal muscles, and weakness or paralysis of the hindquarters. Affected dogs are often unable to rise and are distressed, usually panting. Some affected dogs have swollen limbs and show pain when the limbs are manipulated. Dogs have been affected by eating as few as six macadamia nuts. The exact mechanism is not known. Most dogs recover with supportive care when the source of exposure is removed.

Onions and Garlic

Onions and garlic contain thiosulphate which is toxic to dogs. Onions contain more than garlic does. Thiosulphate causes haemolytic anaemia in dogs, where the red blood cells burst while circulating in its body. First symptoms are gastroenteritis with vomiting and diarrhoea. They will show no interest in food and will be dull and weak. The red pigment from the burst blood cells appears in an affected animal’s urine and it becomes breathless. The breathlessness occurs because the red blood cells that carry oxygen through the body are reduced in number. Poisoning occurs a few days after the pug has eaten onion. All forms of onion can be a problem including dehydrated,raw, and table scraps containing cooked onions and/or garlic. Left over pizza, Chinese dishes and commercial baby food containing onion, sometimes fed as a supplement, can cause illness. Onion poisoning can occur with a single ingestion of large quantities or even with repeated meals containing small amounts of onion. A single meal of 600 to 800 grams of raw onion can be dangerous whereas a 20lb dog, fed 150 grams of onion for several days, is also likely to develop anaemia. The condition improves once the dog is prevented from eating any further onion. While garlic also contains the toxic ingredient thiosulphate, it seems that garlic is less toxic and large amounts would need to be eaten to cause illness. Small puppies have died of hemolytic anemia after being fed baby food containing onion powder. Occasional exposure to small amounts is usually not a problem, but continuous exposure to even small amounts can be a serious threat.

Raw Egg whites

Contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin). This can lead to skin and hair coat problems. Raw yolks and cooked eggs are safe to feed.

Raw Tuna

Can result in a thiamine deficiency leading to loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, even death. More common if raw fish is fed regularly.

Raw Meat

This is a controversial one. Many people are feeding raw diets and feel it is the healthiest, safest, most natural and best option for their dogs. We do on occassion give raw marrow bones and scraps to our two babies. I’m not sure though… I do recommend doing -lots- of research both pro and con, and not just from one side of the arguement before making the difficult decision of what to feed to your dogs. Here’s an article I found very interesting.

Treat Ideas and good people foods

Small amounts of other fruits or vegetables that have had the seeds and pits removed from them, preferably in a raw state to avoid condensing sugars are great. Small amounts of healthy people food is general is accepted to be okay, recommending that it doesn’t exceed 10% of your dogs diet. We often give ours a little of our rice, cooked meats, and veggies and fruits as a taste treat from our meals after we’re done eating. Some of Iggy and Bella’s faves are raw carrots, and the peeled stems from broccoli, aspargus, cauliflower, apples, mandarins, strawberries, watermelon, and raw salmon when we’re eating sashimi. If your dog has occasional constipation or diarrhea, one of the things that might help is canned pumpkin. Pumpkin in its pureed form with no added sugar (NOT pumpkin pie filling) is a fantastic stool softener which makes it a good natural remedy for constipation. It often helps too with upset stomach or indigestion. It is very rich in fibre and adding just one or two teaspoonfuls to your pet’s food often gets the system moving in no time. On the opposite end of things is diarrhea. Since the dietary fibre in canned pumpkin absorbs water, it can be a great help to a dog that has diarrhea. Some pet owners report that it firms up their pet’s loose stools or diarrhea within a few hours. Again one to two teaspoonfuls is all that is needed.

Over all it’s you who makes the decisions as to what does or doesn’t go into your dogs bodies, they don’t have the ability to make educated decisions for themselves. They are prone to food related illnesses, like diabetes and obesity from too much sugar, just as people are, but unlike people don’t have the ability to realize the consequences of their actions when they eat something tasty. Most dogs enjoy healthy treats as much as they enjoy unhealthy people treats. Your dog doesn’t -need- to have a taste of your ice cream or cookie to be happy, they are just as happy with a cookie made specially for them, and they will be with you for a longer healthier happier life because of it.

You can also explore the treat recipe page and look into dog treat recipes online, buying a dog treat rescipe book, or purchase healthy treats made especially for your dog at your local pet store or online if you don’t have the time or inclination to bake for your babies. Be aware though that just because something is sold at the pet store doesn’t automatically make it safe and ideal for your dog. Many people are aware of the dangers of choking and bowel obstruction from rawhides, and recently the product ‘greenies’ have also been in the news as causing digestive blockage and problems resulting in the death of some dogs. For chewing, Kongs, pressed beef chews, and bully sticks are safer options. There are lots of other chewing products out there, make sure you are familiar with the risks, and when it doubt, leave it out.

XO
Iggy and Bella