Human Foods That
Can Poison Your Dog
Recent alerts about unsafe commercial pet foods sounded an alarm among pet owners. Unfortunately, this problem isn’t a first occurrence ore even extremely rare. Incidents similar to this occur from time to time. Perhaps this is one reason more and more pet owners are opting to “home cook” for their pets. However, in order to properly home cook for your pets , you should first have a basic knowledge of canine nutrition; and , even more importantly, a thorough knowledge of human foods that are harmful to dogs. Some foods which are safe for human consumption can be poisonous for our canine companions.
Harmful Foods and Products is a table of common human foods and products that are toxic to dogs. Of course, when in doubt, always check with your vet.
Here is a list to get you started:
1. Onions (both onions and garlic contain the toxic ingredient Thiosulphate.) But onions are more of a danger. Many dog biscuits contain small amounts of garlic-garlic contains less of this toxin so huge amounts would need to be consumed to be toxic. By the way, this poison builds up in the system-it can be toxic in one large dose or with repeated consumption of small amounts.
2. Chocolate(chocolate contains Theobromine) a compound that is a cardiac stimulant and a diuretic. This can be fatal to dogs.
3. Grapes (grapes are dangerous because of an unknown substance which is toxic to dogs, affects the canine’s kidneys.)
4. Raisins (see above)
5. Most fruit pits and seeds (contain Cyanogenic Glycosides) resulting in cyanide poisoning-though the fruit itself is o.k.
6. Macadamia Nuts ( macadamia nuts contain an unknown substance that is toxic to dogs.)
7. Bones (most bones should NOT be given(especially chicken bones)because they can splinter and cause laceration of the digestive system and /or become lodged in your pet’s throat, so they also pose a choking hazard.
8.Potato Peelings and Green Potatoes(contain Oxalates) which can affect the digestive, nervous and urinary systems.
9. Rhubarb leaves (see above)
10. Broccoli (broccoli is only toxic in large quantities.
11. Green parts of tomatoes or green potatoes (contain oxalates) which can affect the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems.
12. Yeast Dough (yeast dough can produce gas and swell in your pet’s stomach, leading to rupture of the digestive system.
13. Coffee, Coffee grounds, Tea, Soft drinks (coffee, tea and most soft drinks are dangerous due to the caffeine.)
14. Beer/Wine/alcohol of any kind ( alcohol of any kind could lead to coma or even death)
15. Human vitamins, especially those containing iron, can cause damage to the lining of the digestive system as well as cause kidney and liver damage)
16. Moldy or spoiled food ( I think this goes without saying)
17. Persimmons ( persimmons can cause intestinal blockage)
18. Raw eggs and raw fish ( raw eggs and some raw fish can cause Salmonella poisoning.)
19. Salt, Baking Soda, Baking Powder ( in large amounts these can cause an electrolyte imbalance, and sever electrolyte imbalances can lead to muscle spasm or even congestive heart failure.)
20. Mushrooms (mushrooms may contain toxins which could cause liver and kidney damage.)
21. Sugar Free Foods or candy ( sugar free foods and candy containing Xylitol have been found to cause liver failure in some dogs.)
22. Nutmeg ( nutmeg can cause tremors, seizures, and central nervous system damage.)
23. Excessive fatty foods (excessive fatty foods can cause Pancreatitis.)
24. Avocado ( all parts of the avocado and avocado tree are toxic to dogs.)
25. Dairy Products (dairy products don’t usually pose a great danger, but, many dairy products have high fat content . ( see number 23) and many pets are lactose intolerant, some pets more than others. Lactose intolerance leads to gas and diarrhea, though small amounts of yogurt and cheese are usually fairly well tolerated.
Keep these 25 foods in mind when cooking for your dog. There may be other foods that your dog cannot consume; so always ask your vet when you are unsure about anything concerning your pet, including being sure you include all ingredients necessary for proper pet nutrition.
Thank you and May God Bless