Let’s cut the fluff and get to the good stuff.
We all love to reward our dogs with delicious foods because I mean, why not?! We want them to taste how yummy food can be and show them there is more to food than just the same ol’ dried kibble. Although we love to spoil our fur babies, some foods are particularly dangerous to dogs and should be avoided at all costs.
The following list is not all-inclusive and is in no particular order:
1. GRAPES
Yep, you heard that right. These little delicious balls of goodness are toxic to dogs. That includes the dried-up version too (raisins). These foods "can cause kidney failure" in your pup (1). With all of the other delicious fruits available that dogs can eat, it should be pretty easy to avoid feeding them grapes or raisins.
2. AVOCADOS
Don’t we all just love a good avocado toast? Well, we might, but our dogs not so much. These green goddesses of a fruit contain something called persin. When dogs eat too much persin, it "might cause vomiting and diarrhea" (2). Another not so great thing about avocados and dogs is that the avocado seed can block their "intestines or stomach, and obstruction could be fatal" (3).
3. CHERRIES
Cherries can be all cute and what not, but what wouldn’t be cute is your dog eating them and getting cyanide poisoning. "Cherry plants contain cyanide and are toxic to dogs" (4). If your dog ate cherries, their blood cells may not get enough oxygen. Keep the cherries to yourself.
4. ONIONS
Onions may taste good to dogs, but they sure are dangerous for them. Onions can cause "anemia in your dog by killing their red blood cells" (5). Clearly, dogs need their blood red cells, so keep them from ingesting onions.
5. GARLIC
Garlic goes good with just about anything. Except for dogs. Garlic is just like onions; it can cause anemia from killing their red blood cells (6). Garlic may smell good to your pup, but make sure they stay far, far away from it.
6. ALCOHOL
Some people think it’s funny to see a dog drink up some beer, but in reality, it can cause some serious troubles for your dog. Alcohol can cause some serious health issues to include: "vomiting, diarrhea, decreased coordination, central nervous system, depression, difficulty breathing" and can even lead to death (7). Feel free to drink that glass of wine, just don’t give it to your pup.
7. NUTS (SOME)
Yummy salty goodness. Gotta love a good nut. As for dogs though, nuts should be off limits in your household. Dogs should not eat macadamia nuts, walnuts, pecans, or almonds. Macadamia nuts "can cause weakness, depression, vomiting, tremors and hyperthermia in dogs" (8). As for the other nuts listed, they contain large amounts of fats and oils that can lead to diarrhea and vomiting, and possibly even pancreatitis. Peanuts are safe for dogs as long as they are dry-roasted/raw and unsalted. Luckily, Humane & Hungry treats are made with homemade peanut butter based on dry-roasted, unsalted peanuts.
8. XYLITOL
Xylitol is a sneaky little ingredient as it can be hiding in various human foods such as candies, baked goodies, gums, and foods labeled “diet.” Xylitol "can cause your dog’s blood sugar to drop and can also cause liver failure" (9). Sugary foods should generally be avoided regardless because it can cause your dog to gain too much weight or develop diabetes. Just remember that xylitol is especially dangerous.
9. RAW MEAT/FISH
The new, fad thing to do is feed your dog a raw meat diet. Well, we should all know that fads are just that, a fad. It may seem cool at first, but just wait until your dog ingests a bacteria like Salmonella or E. coli, which won’t be so cool. Feeding your dog raw bones can be dangerous for a domesticated animal. Raw bones can cause a dog to choke or "sustain a grave injury" if the bone were to "splinter or become lodged in or puncture the pet’s digestive tract" (10). This fad is definitely not recommended. When you make decisions based on your dog's origin, try to remember that dogs are domesticated now and they have changed.
10. CHOCOLATE
Dogs and chocolate just don’t mix. Chocolate has "a very toxic substance called methylxanthines" (11). Methylxanthines can "stop a dogs metabolic process" and can lead to vomiting and diarrhea (12). If a dog eats a large amount of chocolate, this can lead to more serious health complications, which could include death.
If your dog has ingested any of these food items, you should take your dog to the vet as soon as possible. Click on the links throughout the article to view the source of information.
*This list is not all-inclusive. This is not medical or legal advice, and you should always consult with your veterinarian. This post was originally written on June 23, 2023 on our original website. We've migrated over to Shopify and are re-posting this article.
Sources:
(1), (2), (3), (9): Sachdev, Poonam. (2022). "Slideshow: Foods Your Dog Should Never Eat," Fetch by WebMD, https://www.webmd.com/pets/dogs/ss/slideshow-foods-your-dog-should-never-eat. Last accessed June 23, 2023.
(4): AKC Staff. (2021). "Fruits and Vegetables Dogs Can or Can’t Eat," American Kennel Club, https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/fruits-vegetables-dogs-can-and-cant-eat/. Last accessed June 23, 2023.
(5), (6), (11), (12): Shallowford Animal Hospital. (Unknown Date Published). "10 Foods Your Dog Should Never Eat," Shallowford Vet, https://shallowfordvet.com/10-foods-dog-never-eat/. Last accessed June 23, 2023.
(7), (8), (10): ASPCA. (Unknown Date Published). "People Foods to Avoid Feeding Your Pets," ASPCA, https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/people-foods-avoid-feeding-your-pets. Last accessed June 23, 2023.