11 Foods You Should Never Feed Your Dog

There is no doubt that it can be super tempting to share our food with our canine companions. Whether that be leftovers, or a small snack every so often. While some human foods are ok for dogs to eat as an occasional treat, there are some foods which are toxic to our canine companions.

In the unfortunate circumstance that your dog ingests any of the following foods, your first action should be to contact your local veterinarian immediately. Let’s take a look at some of the foods you should prevent your dog from ingesting at all costs.

Chocolate

We’re sure you’ll agree, chocolate is a firm favorite amongst humans, but did you know it is toxic to dogs? It contains a stimulant called theobromine, and it’s this ingredient that is poisonous. Theobromine is found in higher amounts in dark chocolate and cocoa solids, but milk chocolate can also be dangerous.

White chocolate usually contains negligible amounts of theobromine. However, it may contain other ingredients, such as cocoa butter, which can also contain the toxin.

Theobromine mainly affects the guts, heart, kidneys, and nervous system. Signs you may see include vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, hyperactivity, rapid breathing, and seizures. It could be 4-24 hours before you notice any signs. As soon as you think your dog has eaten chocolate of any kind, contact your vet or a pet poison helpline.

Chocolate poisoning in dogs is dependent on the weight of your pet, the type of chocolate they’ve eaten, and how much of it they’ve eaten. Some dogs may be more sensitive to it than others. If you’re advised that your dog needs an appointment, your vet will also find it helpful for you to bring the wrapper/packaging to the appointment, too.

Although we should always take precaution, be extra careful around Easter and Christmas. These are holidays where we tend to have more chocolate in the house.

Grapes, Raisins, Sultanas & Currants

Grapes (and their dried forms raisins, sultanas and currants) all pose a toxic danger to dogs. The exact compound which is toxic has not been confirmed. Some recent research has suggested that it could be a substance called tartaric acid.

As we aren’t certain of this, and we have no way of measuring how much tartaric acid is in grapes, we are therefore uncertain of a toxic dose. There may be individual variations in sensitivity as well. Some dogs get ill from hardly anything, while others have been fed them for years with no consequences.

Because grape poisoning in dogs is so unpredictable, experts have concluded there is no safe dose of these foods. Eating one grape could prove fatal, even to a giant breed dog, so we can’t take any chances.

Signs you may see after grape or raisin/sultana/currant ingestion can include vomiting, diarrhea, drinking more than normal, urinating more than normal, drooling and/or not wanting to eat.

However, you may not see these signs for a couple of days. So, it is best to contact your veterinarian as soon as possible if you think your dog has eaten grapes or raisins/sultanas/currants. These foods can cause kidney failure. This means dogs with underlying health problems are at a greater risk of the effects of the toxin.

As with chocolate, the chances of our dogs eating these foods increases at Easter and Christmas, with the availability of hot cross buns and mince pies, so be extra vigilant during these times of year.

Onions, Garlic, and Chives

Onions, garlic and chives (aka ‘alliums’) are commonly found in a variety of foods, ranging from pizza to pie, and take-outs to quiches – they’re also in a lot of sauces, so we need to be especially vigilant. They are toxic to dogs in all forms (raw, cooked, powder etc.).

Eating alliums can cause irritation to your dog’s stomach and intestines and could lead to them becoming anemic (too few red blood cells). Onion and garlic poisoning is subtle, meaning many people don’t believe it exists, but the effects are also cumulative. This means feeding small amounts of alliums regularly could be as dangerous as your dog scoffing a whole onion at once.

Macadamia Nuts

It is not known why macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs, and although ingestion is not often fatal, they can cause some really unpleasant signs within 12 hours of eating them and these can last up to 48 hours. These signs can include weakness, uncoordinated walking, vomiting, depression and tremors.

Xylitol

Xylitol is an artificial sweetener, used as a substitute for sugar. It may also be known as ‘birch sugar’ or E967. Often, it’ll be xylitol that is used in sugar-free products, including chewing gum, diet foods, toothpaste, and peanut butter (which is why it’s important to use ‘dog peanut butter’ as a treat, and not the human version!).

Even small quantities of xylitol can be dangerous, and signs following ingestion can include lethargy, vomiting, and uncoordinated walking. It causes insulin release, which can lead to fatal hypoglycemia (low sugar levels), so be sure to contact your vet as soon as you know, or think, your dog has ingested food containing xylitol.

Moldy Foods

Moldy foods and moldy plant materials, such as compost or decaying organic matter in gardens, may contain toxins known as ‘tremorgenic mycotoxins’. Dogs are most likely to come into contact with these foods by raiding bins or being inquisitive while out and about on a nature walk.

These toxins can make your dog poorly very quickly (within the hour). You may see signs such as vomiting, uncoordinated walking, tremors, agitation, panting, or hyperactivity. Signs could last for several days. Ingestion can sadly be fatal, so you should contact your vet immediately if you’re worried or think your dog has been in contact with moldy foods and/or plant materials.

Bones

Nick nack paddy whack, give a dog a bone… as the children’s song goes! But it’s actually not such a good idea. Bones can cause a multitude of problems. Some problems include obstructions in the intestines, damage to teeth, gums and/or tongue, constipation, and even the potential of choking.

Cooked bones are even more dangerous, as they splinter more easily. The splintered pieces can also puncture your dog’s digestive tract as it passes through, which can make dogs seriously ill.

Bread Dough and Other Yeast Doughs

Your dog’s stomach is a warm and moist environment. This is the ideal place for the yeast within raw dough to replicate. This causes the dough to expand, which can cause their stomach to distend and rotate (a condition called gastric dilation and volvulus, or ‘GDV’), and this in itself is a painful and life-threatening condition. Also, as the yeast ferments, ethanol is produced, and this is absorbed into the bloodstream, leading to some imbalances and ethanol intoxication too.

Signs that you may see if your dog has ingested raw dough include unproductive retching, abdominal distension, lethargy, and disorientation. You should always avoid feeding raw dough to your dogs and keep any proving dough out of reach of greedy furry pals!

Corn on the Cob

The corn itself is not toxic to dogs – it is the cob which is the problem! Swallowing the cob can result in a blockage in the intestines. Signs to keep an eye out for include vomiting, not willing to eat, not passing feces and abdominal pain.

Corn on the cobs is in season in late summer and is a common barbeque food. Be sure to not leave cobs lying around at barbecues during summer months. Even more so if you use a metal skewer to eat them with!

Blue Cheese

Dairy products don’t much agree with dogs, as they don’t have the right enzymes to break them down during digestion. This is one reason why cheese isn’t a good idea in large amounts, but blue cheeses, such as stilton, pose an extra risk.

Most blue cheeses contain roquefortine C, which dogs are sensitive to. Some blue cheeses are moldy, too! Ingestion of blue cheese can cause vomiting, diarrhea and twitching.

Caffeine

Caffeine is a stimulant and is most commonly found in coffee, tea and energy drinks. We may enjoy a cup of coffee or tea to kick-start the day, but dogs are a lot more sensitive to caffeine effects than we are.

Toxicity can occur if your dog ingests a moderate amount of coffee grounds or tea bags, or even 1-2 diet pills (as these contain caffeine too). Within 1-2 hours, you may see signs such as restlessness/hyperactivity, vomiting or tremors.