As dog parents, we love treating our K9 friends, but did you know these five dangerous foods for dogs can harm or even kill them? While sharing food with your furry companion might be tempting, knowing which foods are safe – and which are not – is crucial!
Below are five common foods your dog should NEVER eat.
1. Chocolate
This classic and decadent treat contains substances called theobromine and caffeine, which dogs cannot properly metabolize. According to the VCA Animal Hospitals, “the darker and more bitter the chocolate, the more dangerous it is to dogs.”
Chocolate toxicity can lead to:
- Vomiting and diarrhea.
- Rapid breathing, increased heart rate, and blood pressure.
- Seizures and tremors.
- Pancreatitis.
So, keep all chocolate (including cocoa beans and powder, baking chocolate, and your stash of chocolaty goodies) high out of reach of curious dogs!
2. Grapes and Raisins
Although a healthy snack for us, grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs. All grapes, whether cooked, seedless, peeled, dried, fresh, or any color, are highly toxic to dogs, even in small amounts. So, it’s best to avoid sharing your trail mix, fruit salad, grape juice, jelly or jam with your furry best friend.
3. Onions
All parts of the onion plant contain compounds that can damage a dog’s red blood cells and cause anemia. This includes all kinds of onions, leeks, scallions, and chives. Whether raw, cooked, or even powdered, onions should stay out of your dog’s bowl! Also, avoid offering bites of your food that may contain onions, and check all labels of any commercial broths you may add to your dog’s food.
4. Xylitol
This widely used artificial sweetener (classified as a natural sugar alcohol) is extremely toxic to dogs, causing a rapid drop in blood sugar levels (hypoglycemia), liver failure, seizures, and worse.
Xylitol is found in 700+ products (at last count), including gum and candy, peanut butter, protein bars, cosmetics, vitamins, medications, toothpaste, mouthwash and floss, and even clothing! Read labels carefully to protect your canine.
Xylitol is also listed as:
- Birch sugar, birch bark extract, or wood sugar.
- Sugar alcohol.
- d-xylitol.
- xylite.
- xylitylglucoside.
- Zylatol.
- 1,4-anhydro-d-xylitol and more.
(NOTE: While hailed as a safer substitute for sugar for people,
recently, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) revealed
the increased risk of heart attack and stroke in people
with higher levels of xylitol in their blood.)
5. Bones
It may seem logical to offer your dog bones, even cooked ones. But never, EVER give a dog a cooked bone! Bones break down during cooking, baking, or BBQing and can splinter, especially with aggressive chewers! These splinters can cause:
- Choking.
- Internal Injuries.
- Intestinal blockages.
Stick to raw, non-brittle bones and always supervise your dog while chewing.
An Increasing Threat
In addition to the foods listed above, there is a growing risk following the legalization and popularity of cannabis (marijuana). Just a small amount of ingested cannabis can cause toxicity in dogs.
The symptoms of K9 toxicity/poisoning include:
- Incontinence.
- Disorientation and lethargy.
- A drunken gait, tremors, and shaking.
- Dilated pupils.
- Low heart rate.
As with the foods above, keep all forms of marijuana and human edibles entirely out of the reach of your always-curious dog to keep them safe.
Prevention is Key
While it’s tempting to share our favorite foods with our four-legged friends, always prioritize their health and safety first!
If you suspect your dog has ingested something toxic or harmful, immediately contact your veterinarian or a poison control hotline!
Prevention is key, so keep the goods above out of your dog’s reach and opt for dog-friendly treats and snacks instead. After all, a healthy dog is a happy dog!
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