9 Dangerous Foods for Dogs

We can’t ignore the fact that most of us treat our dogs the way we treat our own kids. The same love, the same care and concern.

We want the best for our furbabies. Hence, we take great care of their diet, making sure that all their dietary needs are met.

However, there are times that we may loosen the rules a bit pertaining to their food habits; especially during the holiday season.

After all, who doesn’t like a little treat every now and then? It is okay to give some of the yummy goodies you eat during the holidays.

However there are some foods that you must absolutely not allow your little darling to consume, no matter how much they want to.

Stated below are nine foods your dog should never eat—

1. Chocolate.

Almost all chocolates contain stimulants such as caffeine and theobromine. Dogs do not possess the metabolism to process these compounds efficiently.

And so, if a dog consumes chocolate, it can cause severe reactions such as diarrhea, vomiting, stomach ache and dehydration.

If a small or medium-sized dog ingests a large piece of chocolate, it can cause adverse effects such as internal bleeding, heart attacks, seizures, muscle tremors and even death.

Hence, when it comes to human foods that can be fatal to dogs, chocolate stands at the top of the list.

The severity of the side effects of chocolate depends on the size of the dog and the type and amount of chocolate the dog eats.

Remember, the darker and less sweet the chocolate is, the more toxic it is to your dog.

2. Grapes and raisins.

Unfortunately, not many people know this; grapes and raisins (dried grapes) are extremely toxic to dogs.  

So much so that just a few raisins can potentially harm dogs of any size or breed. So, ingestion of any quantity needs to be taken very seriously.

Within a timeframe of 24-72 hours, the dog who consumes raisins can face total kidney failure and eventually, die.

So, if your dog ingests raisins or grapes accidentally, it is best to rush her to the emergency room at the vet.

Remember that any type of grapes and raisins are harmful foods for dogs; whether it has been consumed raw or as an ingredient (in cakes, cookies and other snacks).

If you suspect that your dog has eaten grapes or raisins by mistake, you can keep an eye out for the following symptoms— fatigue, excessive thirst, vomiting, reduction in urination, diarrhea and depression.

3. Avocado.

In a list of poisonous foods for dogs, avocado is a BIG one. As healthy as it is for you, it is equally bad for your dog.

Avocados contain a toxin called persin which is safe for humans to ingest but extremely poisonous to dogs.

In fact, no matter which part of avocado your dog consumes— the fruit, leaves, seed or bark— each and every part of the avocado plant is poisonous to your dog.

It can lead to such adverse effects in dogs that it could be very hard for you to save them.

If a dog consumes a piece of avocado, fluid may get accumulated in various organs (lungs, chest, abdomen and heart) and ultimately cause her death.

And if a dog swallows an avocado seed accidentally, it can make the dog choke and die.

It can also create a blockage in the digestive system and lead to further health complications.

4. Caffeine.

Caffeine is one of the most dangerous foods for dogs.

Caffeine can be found naturally in tea, coffee, cocoa and guarana. Artificially, it is added to soft drinks, energy drinks and certain medications.

Caffeine is very dangerous to dogs as a dog’s body absorbs caffeine super quickly.

If a dog consumes as little caffeine as 20 mg per kg of her weight, it can lead to mild side effects.

However, if a dog consumes about 60 mg per kg of her weight (or more), it can lead to horrible seizures.

Other severe side effects of caffeine are vomiting, abnormally high heart rate, diarrhea, losing bladder control, excessive thirst and lung failure.

There have been numerous cases where dogs have died after (accidentally) consuming drinks with caffeine in them.

One cup of brewed coffee contains about 95 mg of caffeine.

Hence, it is no surprise that within a short time (2-4 hrs.) of consuming anything with caffeine, dogs start showing the negative health effects she faces.

But there’s a little hope left.

If you are able to get your dog to a veterinary doctor for immediate medical treatment, then you may be able to save your dog from the adverse effects of caffeine poisoning.            

5. Xylitol.

A lot of people don’t worry much about sweet stuff (candy, baked goods, chewing gum etc.) when it comes to foods that can be poisonous to dogs.

However, sweet foods such as candies, chewing gum, certain cookies and cakes contain a substance called xylitol, which is a natural sugar alcohol.

The foods that claim to be sugar-free or low-calorie are especially dangerous for your dogs; as these are mostly the ones that contain xylitol.

Though food products with xylitol are thought to be safe for humans to consume, it can cause death in dogs.

If a dog consumes any food with xylitol in it, it can lead to a sudden drop in the dog’s blood sugar levels.

In fact, this drop in blood sugar levels can be so extreme that it can cause instant death of the dog, without giving much time to save her.

Xylitol can also cause liver damage which can lead to the dog’s death.

The negative effects of xylitol are so severe that the symptoms start showing as soon as 30 minutes after consumption and cause death soon after.

The symptoms of xylitol poisoning in dogs include weakness, vomiting, depression, seizures, difficulty moving and coma.  

6. Cooked bones.

Cooked bones are number 1 hazardous foods for dogs. But most pet-parents are not aware of this fact.

Cooked bones are brittle. They can break and splinter off into sharp shards when a dog tries to eat them.

These splinters can cause various health complications such as choking and blockages.

The splinters can also cause internal injuries to a dog’s mouth, throat, stomach, esophagus and intestines.

If not treated on time, these injuries and health complications can prove to be deadly.

There have been countless cases where consuming cooked bones have ended in the dogs needing life-saving surgeries.

7. Garlic.

When it comes to foods poisonous to dogs, garlic may not be the most harmful one. But, garlic is still quite toxic to dogs.

Eating a small amount of garlic (raw or cooked) one time might not be that dangerous to your doggo.

However, if that same small amount of garlic is being consumed frequently, over a period of time, it can prove to be toxic to your dog.

Also, if your pet consumes a large quantity of garlic at once, even when consumed just one time, it can be super toxic to her.

Garlic toxicity can cause red blood cell damage and gastrointestinal irritation in your dogs.

8. Alcohol.

Alcohol is one of the most poisonous foods for dogs.

Alcohol is used as raw material for a number of different products such as paint, perfumes, varnish, mouthwash, several cleaning products and various alcoholic beverages.

Even though alcohol is deemed safe for consumption by humans, it is extremely poisonous to dogs.

Dogs cannot tolerate alcohol even in small quantities.

Symptoms of alcohol poisoning in dogs start appearing as soon as within an hour of consumption.

The symptoms of alcohol poisoning in dogs include tiredness, difficulty in breathing, depression, vomiting, loss of muscle coordination, diarrhea and abnormally low body temperature.

In instances where a dog had consumed too much alcohol, it had led to seizures, lung failure, coma, and eventually, death.

No responsible pet parent allows their dog to consume alcohol.

Hence, most cases of alcohol poisoning in dogs have been accidental; where the dog consumes an alcoholic beverage without the pet parent’s knowledge or permission.

9.  Onions and leeks.

Onions and leeks are from a group of plants called alliums, which are toxic to dogs and other pet animals. In fact, they fall under the most common toxic foods for dogs.

Alliums contain toxins named thiosulfinates and disulphides. These are known to cause significant damage to red blood cells, which can ultimately lead to anaemia.

In some cases, consumption of onions and leeks has caused the death of dogs.

Symptoms of poisoning caused by onions and leeks include reduced appetite, diarrhoea and vomiting.

Toxic Foods for Dogs FAQs

What is the most toxic fruit to dogs?

Grape is the most toxic fruit to dogs. Grapes and raisins contain tartaric acid. Dogs’ bodies are not able to process tartaric acid.

As a result, exposure to tartaric acid (by consuming grapes) can lead to kidney damage in dogs.

So, make sure that you never let your dog eat any grapes or raisins.

Why can't dogs have cooked carrots?

It is okay for dogs to have cooked carrots in most forms— boiled, steamed and baked. Dogs can also have raw carrots.

However, it is not safe for dogs to eat canned carrots as they may have added salt.

Too much salt is very bad for dogs. It causes salt toxicity. The symptoms of salt toxicity include vomiting, severe dehydration, diarrhea, shivering, seizures and coma.

Salt toxicity can even cause death in some dogs.

Also, don’t give your dog high-sugar and high-fat treats such as carrot cakes and muffins as consuming these can lead to a host of health complications.

Those health complications include diabetes, dental problems, pancreatitis, vomiting and diarrhea.

Additionally, the raisins and spices in carrot cakes can lead to other health issues in dogs such as kidney failure, choking and gastrointestinal upset.      

Why can't dogs eat apples?

Apple cores, especially the seeds contain cyanide. Cyanide is super toxic to dogs (and humans).

If your dog chews or eats a large number of apple seeds, it can kill her or make her severely sick.

If your dog eats a large piece of apple without chewing it properly, it can get stuck in her throat and lead to death by choking.  

Why can't dogs eat blueberries?

Blueberries are usually not bad for dogs. In fact, blueberries are considered to be a healthy treat for dogs when consumed occasionally.

However, if too many blueberries are had too often, blueberries can lead to digestive upset in dogs.

Blueberries are also a choking hazard for some dogs.

What is the healthiest vegetable for a dog?

Spinach is the healthiest vegetable for dogs. Packed with vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, manganese, potassium, iron, calcium and magnesium.

Spinach also contains fibre and antioxidants. It provides protection from cancer. It is also good for your dog’s bones, eyes, heart and skin.

What is the #1 cause of death in dogs?

Cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs.  

It has been found that as many as 1 out of 3 domestic dogs get cancer; with more than 50% of dogs over the age of 10 yrs developing it.

The most common types of cancers in dogs are melanomas, lymphomas, mast cell tumors, bone cancers (osteosarcoma) and mammary tumors.

What disease kills dogs fast?

The top 5 dangerous dog diseases include distemper, rabies, parvovirus, lyme disease and leptospirosis.

If your dog is vomiting, having diarrhea, sleeping more than usual, having a fever, or behaving differently than usual, you need to take your dog to the vet immediately.

Any or all of these symptoms can be a sign of your dog’s deteriorating health.

What is most poisonous to a dog?

Antifreeze (Ethylene glycol) is very toxic to dogs. It has a sweet taste. Which means that most dogs won’t think twice before drinking it.

All it takes is about 2 ½ teaspoon of antifreeze to kill a medium-sized dog. Also, it is a slow painful death that takes about 2-3 days.

So, if you see your dog consuming any antifreeze, take them to the vet immediately.

As toxic as antifreeze is, timely medical intervention can potentially save your dog.

In most cases, dogs who die from consuming antifreeze is because their owners (read pawrents) did not know that their dog had drunk antifreeze.

What are common household poisons for dogs?

Other than antifreeze, there are many chemicals in households that can be poisonous to dogs; in most cases, even fatal.

Products such as pesticides, fertilisers, nicotine, dryer sheets, essential oils, laundry detergents and human medicines are very toxic for dogs.