Foods That Are Poisonous to Dogs: What Every Dog Owner Should Know
Sharing snacks with your dog might seem harmless, but many foods that are safe for humans can be dangerous—even deadly—for your canine companion. Understanding which foods are toxic helps you keep your pet healthy and safe from accidental poisoning.
The Most Dangerous Foods for Dogs
Some of the most common household foods are surprisingly harmful to dogs. Here’s a rundown of the worst offenders:
- Avocados: Contain persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea. The pit is a choking hazard and may block the intestines.
- Cherries: Stems, leaves, and pits have cyanide—a chemical that interferes with oxygen use in cells. Even the flesh is risky due to choking hazards.
- Grapes and Raisins: Highly toxic; even a few can cause sudden kidney failure.
- Tomatoes: The green parts contain solanine, which is toxic; ripe tomatoes are safer but best avoided.
- Mushrooms: Many wild varieties are deadly; it’s hard to tell safe from unsafe types.
- Onions (and Alliums): Damage red blood cells and cause anemia. This includes onion powder, garlic, leeks, and chives.
- Garlic: The most toxic allium for dogs—can rupture red blood cells even in small amounts.
- Wild Berries: Many are poisonous; don’t feed them to your dog.
- Rhubarb: Contains oxalate crystals that may lead to kidney failure if ingested in large quantities.
- Xylitol (in sugar-free candy/gum): An artificial sweetener causing rapid insulin release, hypoglycemia, seizures, liver failure, and death.
- Certain Nut Butters: Some peanut butters contain xylitol—always check labels before sharing.
- Flavored Waters & Ice Cream: May contain xylitol or chocolate; plus most dogs can’t digest lactose well.
- Chocolate: Contains theobromine and caffeine—both dangerous for dogs’ hearts and nervous systems. Dark chocolate is especially risky.
- Pudding Snacks & Baked Goods: Often have chocolate or xylitol—keep away from pets.
- Coffee/Tea/Soda/Energy Drinks: Caffeine is toxic even in small amounts; dispose of grounds or tea bags safely.
- Alcohol: Causes vomiting, diarrhea, depression, loss of coordination, tremors, coma—or death in severe cases.
- Macadamia Nuts: Just a few can trigger weakness, vomiting, tremors, fever—and sometimes more serious complications.
- Raw or Undercooked Meat/Dough/Eggs: May harbor bacteria like Salmonella or E. coli; yeast dough expands in the stomach causing bloating or alcohol poisoning from fermentation.
- Bones (cooked or raw): Can break teeth or splinter inside the digestive tract causing injury or blockages; also a choking hazard.
- Moldy Food: Contains mycotoxins like aflatoxin—can cause seizures or liver failure quickly after ingestion.
- Dairy Products (Milk/Cheese/Ice Cream): Most dogs are lactose intolerant; these foods often cause stomach upset and diarrhea.
- Sodium (Salt): Excessive salt leads to vomiting, diarrhea, tremors—even death if consumed in large amounts over time.
- Nuts (especially macadamia): Besides macadamias being especially toxic, other nuts can cause digestive issues or pancreatitis due to high fat content.
- Certain Fruits (Apricots/Star Fruit): Apricot seeds contain cyanide; star fruit contains calcium oxalate that causes kidney issues and digestive upset.
The Hidden Dangers: Additives & Everyday Foods
You might not realize how many processed foods contain ingredients like xylitol or caffeine. Always check ingredient lists before sharing anything with your dog. Baked goods often sneak in chocolate chips or nuts without obvious warning. Even some flavored waters marketed as healthy for people may hide xylitol on their labels. When in doubt—don’t share it with your pet!
Toxicity Symptoms: How Do You Know If Your Dog Ate Something Poisonous?
If your dog eats something toxic you might notice symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea (sometimes bloody), loss of appetite, lethargy or hyperactivity. More severe signs include seizures, tremors, unsteadiness on their feet—or sudden collapse. Some toxins act very fast (like xylitol) while others take hours or days (like grapes/raisins) before symptoms appear. If you see any of these signs after suspect food exposure call your vet immediately—it could save your dog’s life!
If Your Dog Eats Something Poisonous: What To Do Next?
- If you suspect ingestion of any harmful food call your veterinarian right away—don’t wait for symptoms to worsen!
- If it’s outside regular hours contact an emergency animal clinic or animal poison control center by phone for immediate advice on next steps based on what was eaten and how much time has passed since ingestion.
Avoiding Accidental Poisoning: Prevention Tips
- Avoid feeding table scraps unless you’re certain they’re safe for dogs (plain carrots or apples without seeds are good examples).
- Keeps all food wrappers/packages out of reach—including purses where gum/candy might hide!
Your dog should get almost all calories from their regular diet—not human snacks. Safe treats include plain carrots, celery sticks, cooked pumpkin/cauliflower/popcorn (no butter), bananas/cucumbers/strawberries/mangoes/xylitol-free peanut butter/cheese—but only as occasional rewards making up less than ten percent of daily calories. Too much fat/sugar leads to obesity and pancreatitis even if the food isn’t outright poisonous!
