Join For Free And Start Earning Money Now!

Common Foods That Are Toxic To Dogs

  • 18/02/2014

Most people don't realize how many every day things their dog can eat that could make them very ill. I'll start by going over some average human foods that you should not allow your dog to get their paws on. If you suspect poisoning and any symptoms occur you should immediately contact your vet!

  • Caffeine - With caffeine your job is to make sure you don't leave your coffee cup on a low table, or leave tea bags or coffee grounds in the trash where they might get to it. Don't let them lap up your spilled soda or energy drinks.

  • Alcohol - pretty straight forward here. Alcohol poisoning will be most likely to occur from directly ingesting alcoholic beverages, but it can also result from ingesting yeast dough - next on the list. Ethanol is the component that will do the damage.

  • Yeast dough - If ingested, uncooked dough can lead to alcohol (ethanol) poisoning. Once in the stomach, the yeast is given the proper environment to ferment sugars and create ethanol, which will be directly absorbed through the GI tract. Secondly, it can lead to obstructive issues as it ferments in the stomach and continues to rise. As it rises the dough can compress blood vessels and restrict blood flow to the gastric wall, possibly leading to gastric dilation and also gastric rupture.

  • Chocolate - OK, most everyone love's chocolate (ladies!), it's a sweet treat but unfortunately not for our dogs. Derived from theobroma cacao, chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine. Both are dangerous for our furry buddies and most people already know this one. Although, you may not realize that baking chocolate is the worst, containing the highest levels of these toxins.

  • Sugar/xylitol - sugar can have the same effects on dogs as it can for humans if over-consumed. Usually we are not offering our pets overly sweet table foods anyhow. It is the sugar substitute xylitol, that can be very toxic. Many processed products such as candy, gum, and toothpaste contain xylitol. When ingested it cause the body to release insulin, which will result in your dog having a decrease in their blood glucose level. Symptoms may either be immediate or very delayed.

  • Milk/Dairy - As with humans, it can be very difficult for our dogs to digest dairy products. Many dogs are lactose intolerant and simply cannot produce the required enzymes to break down the sugars in dairy products, lactose being the sugar. Dairy also has a high fat content.

  • Salt - Ingesting too much salt can result in sodium ion poisoning. Sources include table salt, ocean water, and ice melting products. The composition of the ice melting products we use for winter can also include some other chemicals as well, road salt is worse than table salt.

  • Raw eggs - An interesting topic indeed. Opinions vary when it comes to raw eggs. The issue with raw eggs is first the possibility that they can contain E. Coli or Salmonella bacteria which could make your dog sick. Although, a dog is more adapted to process the raw food than we are, putting up a better fight against these bacteria. The second issue is that eggs contain an enzyme called avidin that can interfere with the absorption of the B vitamin biotin that is crucial to maintain healthy skin and coat. So it seems, it's generally not a problem for your dog to have a raw egg occasionally, I've had people tell me that they feed one a week for a healthy coat. But It wouldn't be good practice to feed raw eggs on a daily basis. Over time, this could lead to negative effects on the skin and coat.

-E. Coli infection can cause Colibacillosis. This is most common in puppies and may not be a result of ingestion, this bacteria already exists in the stomach but is primarily dormant. Colibacillosis can result in blood poisoning.

Raw meat or fish - OK, raw meat can be god or bad. The worry with it is the same as the raw egg, it could be a source for salmonella infection. See symptoms above for salmonellosis. On the other hand, if you absolutely want to feed your dog raw meat or put them on a raw diet, the best thing to do is make sure you get it from a clean and reputable source, like a local butcher who you know well.

As for fish, it is not recommended to feed raw. Consumption of raw fish can lead to salmon poisoning disease, or fish disease. Anadromous fish who swim upstream to breed, like salmon, can be infected with a parasite called nanophyetus salmincola. This parasite by itself is harmless, but this parasite can be infected with a microorganism called neorickettsia helmintheoca that causes salmon poisoning disease.

  • Fat trimmings - Giving your dog uneaten fat trimmings off of your dinner plate is a bad habit. If given too much it can lead to pancreatitis.

  • Avocado - avocado contains persin, which is toxic to dogs.

  • Garlic and Onions (leeks, chives) - Garlic and onions contain thiosulphate. If enough is ingested by your dog it can be very toxic. Leeks and chives are also included in this category.

  • Grapes and raisins - Very toxic! The actual toxin in the grape is unidentified, but if your dog gets their paws on grapes or raisins they can be in big trouble.

  • Peaches, persimmons, plums, apricots, cherries, apples, pears - The pits of these fruits are the problem. Aside from an obvious choking hazard, the pits or seeds contain cyanide. Also, they can cause intestinal obstruction.

  • Nuts: Almonds, Black Walnuts, English Walnuts, Japanese Walnuts, Macadamia nuts, Hickory nuts, Pistachios, and Pecans - These nuts are not a good treat for your ball of fur, The effects and symptoms vary slightly but are similar enough to be in the same category.

  • Spices: Mace, Nutmeg, Paprika, Turmeric - avoid spicy treats for your dog. Although not the worst of the bunch, certain spices could indeed be deadly. Some spices contain volatile oils that can have psychological effects and affect the central nervous system. Others can contain irritants affecting the skin, GI tract, and mucous membranes.

Please do not stop you're research here, This is not a complete list of all foods that could possibly harm your dog. Best wishes for you and your dog!

You can view our full range of Dog Food Recipe and Dog Nutrition eBooks here ...

Please Help Us

We've got a small favour to ask. More people are reading IrishDogs.ie than ever, but far fewer are paying for it.

IrishDogs.ie takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce. But we do it because we believe our perspective matters because it might well be your perspective, too.

Our future could be much more secure with your help. Please SUPPORT us by clicking on the Donate Button at the Top Right of your screen.

Comments (0)

Post a Comment
* Your Name:
* Your Email:
(not publicly displayed)
Reply Notification:
Approval Notification:
Website:
* Security Image:
Security Image Generate new
Copy the numbers and letters from the security image:
* Message:

Email to Friend

Fill in the form below to send this dog blog to a friend:

Email to Friend
* Your Name:
* Your Email:
* Friend's Name:
* Friend's Email:
* Security Image:
Security Image Generate new
Copy the numbers and letters from the security image
* Message: