It’s no secret that chocolate is bad for dogs – even deadly in some cases. But there are many other food items that your dog shouldn’t have, and some of them will probably come as a surprise. Protect your beloved pooch from these dangerous human edibles:
- Alcohol – never give your dog alcoholic beverages. It can cause digestive upset, respiratory problems, tremors, coma, or – in extreme cases – death.
- Avocado – even though it’s super healthy for humans, avocado (including the leaves and bark) contains a substance called persin, which is toxic to animals.
- Chocolate (or coffee and any caffeine) – these contain something called methylxanthines, substances present in cacao seeds. These can cause digestive upset, excessive thirst, abnormal heart rhythms, hyperactivity, seizures, and possibly death. Dark chocolate is more dangerous than milk chocolate but it’s best to take stringent measures to keep all chocolate out of reach of your dog (take extra care at Halloween, when candy seems to be all over the place).
- Citrus – the citric acid in all parts of citrus plants can cause central nervous system issues such as irritation and even CNS depression when consumed in large amounts. Don’t fret too much if your dog eats a piece of the actual fruit – it may upset his stomach but probably won’t hurt him.
- Coconut (or coconut oil) – when ingested in large amounts the oils in coconut can cause diarrhea and an upset stomach. A very small amount of coconut oil, however, administered once in a while, can help fight off skin irritations caused by fleas or eczema, as well as boost the immune system. Just use in moderation.
- Fat trimmings and bones – it’s instinct for some people to toss the meat scraps to their dogs. After all, canines’ natural diet is meat, right? Unfortunately the fat found on meats that humans eat can cause pancreatitis in dogs. The bones can break up into splinters and cause serious damage to your pet’s digestive tract.
- Macadamia nuts – these are exceptionally bad for dogs, causing vomiting, depression, tremors, and hyperthermia. You will usually notice symptoms within 12 hours of consumption, and they can last up to 3 days. Store macadamia nuts up high, out of reach of your precious pooch.
- Milk and dairy – these seem harmless enough but your furry friends do not have the lactase needed to break down the lactose contained in dairy products. This means that they can get an upset stomach or diarrhea from anything containing milk.
- Raisins or grapes – we don’t yet know enough about the toxic substance contained in this fruit, but we do know it can cause kidney failure. Better safe than sorry with dogs and grapes or raisins.
- Raw eggs – while dogs do have short tract digestive systems, which means that foods pass through them much more quickly than in humans and allows them to tolerate things we could not eat without harm – your dog can still get salmonella from raw eggs, just like you can. There is also a chemical in raw eggs that interferes with your pet’s ability to absorb one of the B vitamins.
- Xylitol – you probably wouldn’t think to be on the lookout for this sweetener, but even though it’s ok for humans, it can cause a release of insulin in your pet, which causes hypoglycemia and eventually liver failure. Symptoms may be vomiting, loss of coordination, and lethargy, progressing to seizures. Watch for this substance in candy, toothpaste, and gum.
There are many other foods that are bad for your dog, such as garlic and onions, nuts, and yeast dough. If you know – or suspect – that your pet has ingested one of the foods on this list, call your vet immediately or contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
