Have you ever wondered if a food or medicine that is safe for you is poisonous to your dog?
Here is a list of things you should never give to your furry friend because they can be toxic to dogs.
Please note it is important that you consult a vet immediately if you know or suspect your dog has been exposed to a dangerous toxin. With any poisoning the quicker treatment is administered the better the outcome.
Chocolate
It is widely known that chocolate is not safe for dogs but just how much is lethal?
The answer is that even a small amount can make them sick, but it is rarely fatal.
Like toxins for all animals the bigger the dog the more they can tolerate. And the kind of chocolate makes a big difference.
White chocolate is not toxic since white chocolate isn’t really chocolate and doesn’t contain the toxic chemical found in dark chocolate. However, because it is so high in fat and sugar white chocolate is still not recommended.
Generally speaking the darker the chocolate the higher the danger to your dog.
The chemicals in chocolate that are toxic to dogs are theobromine and caffeine with caffeine being in lower concentration than theobromine. These chemicals are stimulants and are like dog ‘speed’ causing higher heart rate, restlessness, hyperactivity, tremors, and even seizures and death.
Cocoa powder is the most dangerous with bakers chocolate coming in second and milk chocolate lower still.
Here’s a link to Dog Chocolate Toxicity Meter where you can plug in your dog’s weight and the type and amount of chocolate to check for the level of toxicity.
If your dog gets into your chocolate stash you should contact your vet. They will want to know how much your dog weighs, how much they ate, when they ate it, and what type of chocolate was consumed.
Grapes
It is still not known what the toxin is but is well documented that even a small amount of grapes can cause kidney failure in dogs.
Any foods containing grapes or raisins should be avoided including grape juice, trail mix, and raisin cookies.
It is thought that the harmful chemical is in the flesh of the grape, so seedless grapes are no less dangerous.
If you believe your dog has eaten grapes you should contact your vet immediately. They may instruct you to induce vomiting if the dog is conscious and not exhibiting signs of stress or shock.
Some symptoms of poisoning from grapes are vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, lethargy, cessation of urine or passing small amounts of urine, tremors, seizures, and coma.
Alcohol
Even small amounts of alcohol consumed can be dangerous for dogs.
Unlike humans dogs are not equipped to metabolize alcohol and it can be life threatening. Giving your dog even a small sip of your bear or wine is not a good idea. Liquor having a higher alcohol content is even worse.
Some symptoms of alcohol poisoning in your dog are tiredness, loss of coordination, too low body temperature, vomiting, breathing problems, seizure, and death.
Some sources of potential accidental poisoning are spoiled and rotten fruit, some syrups and yeast dough.
It is important to note that dogs can also absorb alcohol through their skin so if they roll in compound spills like washer fluid, and auto coolants they can be exposed to the toxin.
Xylitol
Xylitol is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol found in small quantities in all fruits and vegetables.
It is used as a sugar substitute in many sugar free candies and gum. It is also found in other products such as peanut butter, toothpaste, mouthwash, vitamins, and cough syrup.
Xylitol in humans can have a laxative effect. Xylitol in dogs can be deadly. Even a small amount can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) while larger amounts can cause liver damage.
Onions
Of the items on this list so far, onions are the least dangerous but still toxic to dogs. All plants in the genus Allium including onions, garlic, shallots, scallions, and chives contain the chemical n-propyl disulfide which can damage the red blood cells of dogs.
A small bite of onion will generally cause little harm with the danger being a cumulative one and treatment recommendation being to stop feeding the dog onion and garlic.
Thankfully most dogs don’t like the taste of onion but they do often like other foods that are cooked with onion. So care should be taken to not feed your dog food from your table that has been cooked with onion.
NSAIDs – aspirin, acetaminophen, ibuprofen
Vets will sometimes OK aspirin for short-term pain relief but can cause harmful side effects in the long term.
Acetaminophen is the active ingredient in Tylenol and is sometimes given by vets to dogs for fever and pain but should not be administered to your pet without your vets instructions and should never be given to cats.
Ibuprofen, the active ingredient in Advil is a common source of poisoning in dogs after well meaning owners try to alleviate pain in their pooch. However ibuprofen is very toxic to dogs and even 100 mg given to a 25 lb. can be toxic.
The advice here is to never give your dog any medicine designed for humans without first checking with your vet.
There are safer alternatives designed specifically for dogs that your vet can prescribe to manage pain.
Other Foods That Can Be Harmful to Dogs
- Macadamia nuts – causes weakness in the back legs, vomiting and diarrhea.
- Dairy products – Dogs can become lactose intolerant too.
- The seeds of apples, apricots, cherries, peaches, pears, plumbs, and prunes contain a chemical that can transform into cyanide when chewed.
- Avocados contain persin, which dogs can tolerate better than some other animals but can still cause mild stomach upset in dogs.
It can be very difficult to resist those cute little begging puppy dog eyes but it will be better for your dog if you do not feed him or her from your table or dispense from your medicine cabinet.
Even if the food isn’t toxic it could contain too much fat or sugar or not have the proper nutrients which can cause a whole range of problems.
If you are ever unsure if a food or medicine is safe for your dog, do not give it to them until you have checked with your veterinarian.
