4.6 million dog owners and 2.5 million cat owners believe their pet fell ill after consuming something poisonous, with one in nine pets being poisoned last year
On average vets treat 323 dogs and 56 cats for poisoning every day!
There are a number of human foods that your dogs should never eat, Some of the foods bad for dogs include, coffee, alcohol, and chocolate, and some of the lesser common ones include grapes, onions, avocados,
What Food is Bad for Dogs?
There are at least 22 Toxic Foods for Dogs Found in your Kitchen!
Dogs and people metabolize food at different rates. As a result, foods that are acceptable for humans to consume might be hazardous or even deadly for dogs! Below is a list of 22 foods found in your kitchen that could be toxic to your dog!
Alcohol
Dogs’ livers and brains can be affected by alcohol in much the same way as humans’.
Alcoholic beverages are frequently sweet attractions for dogs, yet they may result in fatal intoxication. Ataxia, excitation, depression, and progressive slow breathing rate can lead to cardiac arrest and even death.
VIDEO: 22 Toxic foods for dogs found in your kitchen
Avocado
Avocados include a poison called persin, which is harmful to certain species of animals. While dogs and cats are rarely poisoned by persin, avocado poisoning can be deadly to birds and large animals (such as cattle, goats, sheep).
The greater danger to dogs and cats is a foreign body obstruction in the esophagus, stomach, or intestine if an avocado seed is consumed.
Avocados can also induce pancreatitis (pancreas inflammation). Their high fat content is a possible reason. Vomiting and diarrhea are the most common symptoms.
Chocolate
Chocolate is a poisonous food for dogs, containing THEOBROMINE (as well as caffeine), a compound that is a cardiac stimulant and diuretic.
The most toxic form is dark chocolate. The amount of poisonous theobromine in chocolate varies with the kind.
The more bitter and darker the chocolate, the more harmful it is to dogs.
Baking chocolate and gourmet dark chocolate have a greater concentration of theobromine (130-450 mg per ounce). Milk chocolate has only about 44-58 mg of theobromine.
The most common symptoms are: hyperactivity, thirst, increased urination, vomiting, nausea, constipation, fast heart rate, arrhythmia (abnormal heartbeat), fits (seizures), and in some situations, death can occur.
You may assist your veterinarian in determining the potential risk by keeping an estimate of your dog’s weight and the amount of chocolate they consumed on hand.
If your veterinarian isn’t available, please contact the Pet Poison Helpline.
Corn on the cob
Corn on the cob has the potential to be harmful to your dog if eaten. Although dogs can digest corn, the cob may obstruct their intestines. The Corn itself is not toxic to dogs, but a cob can cause an obstruction that might result in intestinal rupture.
Vomiting, inappetence, lethargy, and pain are all symptoms of a stomach obstruction. If an owner has any doubts that their dog has eaten something it shouldn’t have, contact your vet as soon as possible.
Coffee
Like tea leaves and chocolate, coffee is harmful to dogs because of its caffeine content.
This goes for brewed, ground, and whole bean coffee. It’s also true of used coffee grounds, so be careful how you dispose of them.
Coffee contains dangerous components called Xanthenes which can cause nervous system or urinary system damage and heart muscle stimulation.
If you have a tiny dog, such as a Yorkshire Terrier, you’ll need to keep an eye on them closely since it will have a greater impact than if you had a larger dog like a German Shepherd.
Coffee grounds, if consumed by your dog, may result in severe poisoning since they contain a greater amount of caffeine.
If you believe your dog has ingested coffee or coffee-based products like beans or grounds, call your veterinarian right away.
Cooked bones
Giving your dog a raw, uncooked bone to chew on is fantastic, but avoid cooked bones at all costs. These can easily splinter and create constipation or worse, perforation of the gut that can be fatal.
Donuts
A dog’s stomach cannot break down the sugary sweet components found in a donut, just as a human’s stomach can.
Too much sugar and fat can induce dogs to get pancreatitis.
Donuts are harmful to dogs’ health since they lack nutritional value and cause weight issues when fed to them.
Some donuts may also include caffeine or chocolate, both of which can be deadly to dogs.
Dairy foods
Cottage cheese, for example, is high in fat and protein and can cause digestive issues, as well as allergic reactions in dogs.
Keep any dairy-containing foods away from your dog.
See our article on Dog allergies & symptoms-what to look for and how to treat them effectively
Fatty foods
The primary concern here is severe stomach upset and in some cases pancreatitis, this can be fatal in some pets and is almost always triggered by a high-fat meal such as bacon or even gravy!
Macadamia nuts
Macadamia nuts contain a toxin that can affect dogs’ digestive and neurological systems, as well as their muscles.
Paralysis may result from a small number of nuts or even some macadamia nut butter!
Moldy or spoiled food
Mycotoxins are formed by molds that grow in certain foods, such as cheese, pasta, fruit, and nuts.
If your dog steals food from the trash or compost pile, he may be exposed to mycotoxins.
Unfortunately, even small amounts of highly toxic food may harm your pet.
Vomiting and diarrhea are some of the clinical symptoms, as well as muscular tremors, incoordination, a higher temperature, excessive drooling, and liver damage.
Onion / garlic / chives
A toxic chemical present in onions, called thiosulphate, can cause anemia in dogs and even a single onion can do it – Fortunately, once dogs have stopped consuming the onions, they recover. Not everyone who is sick has symptoms that are apparent right away-some can appear days later.
It’s easy to miss these ingredients, as they’re often included in many pre-packaged foods or powders. Look out for dishes such as stuffing and mashed potatoes.
Raisins n grapes
As few as 6 grapes and raisins can cause acute kidney failure in some dogs!
The toxic component is still unknown, and there is currently no treatment.
They’re extremely dangerous to dogs and can lead to serious issues, including rapid kidney failure.
Even just one grape can cause a serious adverse reaction in your dog, so keep the grape bowls out of reach, and If you return home to find a straggly, empty grapevine on the floor near your dog, contact your veterinarian right away!
Sweets
Sweets are harmful to dogs since they contain a lot of sugar. However, you may not be aware that certain sweeteners such as xylitol, which can be found in many sweets, are quite poisonous. Dogs are susceptible to xylitol toxicity.
Xylitol has the potential to induce hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), seizures, and liver failure in dogs.
Yeast dough / uncooked bread
This will rise in your dog’s stomach causing severe gastrointestinal discomfort, symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea, bloating, and signs of alcohol toxicity may be present.
Xylitol
Xylitol is extremely toxic to dogs. Even small amounts of xylitol can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), seizures, liver failure, or even death in dogs!
It’s an artificial sweetener that may be found in sugar-free beverages like sodas, gum, as well as diet and sugar-free goods (including some peanut butter, so check the label first!).
If your dog consumes one of these sugared goods, it may fall into hypoglycemia, which is linked to liver failure and blood clotting problems. A sudden drop in glucose or blood sugar, known as an acute episode, might include poor coordination, collapse, and even seizures.
Apples, apricots, peaches, cherries and plums
The stem seed and leaves can be toxic-they contain a cyanide type compound. Signs of toxicity include apprehension, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, hyperventilation, and shock. remember it’s the seeds and stem and not the fruit that contains the toxin.
Potato peelings & green potatoes
Potatoes, especially green potatoes, contain solanine and other harmful alkaloids that can cause: drooling, severe stomach problems including vomiting and diarrhea, drowsiness, nervousness, depression, confusion, altered behavior patterns, dilated pupils (or eyes), and slowed heart rate if ingested in significant quantities.
Nutmeg
Nutmeg has a very dangerous effect on blood sugar levels, and high doses might be poisonous or even deadly. The toxicity of the substance is unknown, toxicity indicators include tremors, seizures, brain changes, and even death.
Tomato leaves & stems (green plants)
Tomato plants are poisonous because of their high levels of solanine, a chemical found in the green leaves.
It can induce significant gastrointestinal and central nervous system symptoms.
WHAT SHOULD I DO IF MY DOG HAS EATEN ANY OF THESE?
If your dog or cat is displaying serious clinical symptoms of poisoning, the first thing you should do is call your veterinarian, or contact the Animal Poison Control Center
The sooner a pet poisoning is addressed, the easier, less expensive, and safer it is to treat.
Your vet may induce vomiting, give activated charcoal by mouth or IV, and administer medications as necessary until the pet is stable.
Foods bad for dogs - the bottom line!
Some foods are safe and good for dogs to eat, while others are harmful and may even be deadly. All meals should be gradually incorporated into your dog’s diet so you can watch for negative responses such as allergic reactions. This might assist in the prevention of weight gain and other undesirable consequences too.
Did you know that a dog’s gut health has a significant influence on its overall health?
A recent scientific study reports that 70% to 80% of all illness begins in the gastrointestinal tract! discover why this supplement is vital for your dog’s immune system and overall health-Full Bucket’s Probiotic supplements
What to do next?
Make sure you know how to identify the symptoms that your dog is having an allergic reaction to food, the environment, or any other commonly encountered allergy. Read our blog on dog allergies and symptoms
References:
- msdvetmanual.com
- https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control
- www.akc.org
- vcahospitals.com
- ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
