In the average home, there are dozens of foods and similar items that are hazardous and potentially deadly to dogs. Some foods, like chocolate, are well-known as a food that is toxic to dogs, while others are not quite as well-known.
According to Dr. Michael Levine, DVM, the following food-related items are among the most common poisonous foods for dogs.
Poisonous Foods for Dogs – How Much is a Toxic Dose?
Notably, just like any toxin, there are variables, like the size of the dog, the quantity of toxic food that the dog has ingested, the dog's overall health conditions and underlying food allergies or sensitivities.
For these reasons, it's impossible to say how much of a particular food constitutes a toxic dose. If a large dog eats one grape or one M&M, it's unlikely he'll suffer any ill effects. On the other hand, a fairly small dose of xylitol from a few pieces of sugar-free gum can be deadly to a large dog. The same goes for foods like peanuts; if a dog who's allergic to peanuts smells a peanut, he could suffer a deadly allergic reaction. The dog's health condition also plays a role in what constitutes a toxic dose; a dog who has suffered at bout of pancreatitis in recent months could have a deadly relapse, triggered by eating a small amount of cat food, nuts or another fatty food.
In short, many dog owners may say, 'Hey, my dog has eaten that before and he lived." That does not mean a particular food is safe! It means the dog was lucky; he ingested a less-than-lethal dose of the toxin. Further, many of the effects of toxic foods — like organ damage — are not visible to the untrained eye, but that does not mean the dog is unscathed.
Toxic Foods for a Dog – Chocolate
Chocolate is toxic to dogs, though a toxic dose will vary depending on factors like whether the dog ate the chocolate on an empty stomach, if the dog is particularly sensitive to chocolate, and the type of chocolate, since dark chocolate is more toxic, whereas milk chocolate less so, and white chocolate must be consumed in extremely large quantities to cause a serious problem.
Theobromine is the toxic ingredient in chocolate. Theobromine serves to stimulate the central nervous system, resulting in rapid heart rate, seizures, tremors, vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, panting and extremely fast pulse.
Poisonous Foods for Dogs – Grapes and Raisins
Grapes and raisins are toxic for dogs. Grapes and raisins (which are dried grapes) will trigger acute renal (kidney) failure. They kidneys act as filters for toxins in the dog’s body, therefore, when the kidneys are not functioning properly, toxins accumulate in the body and lead to death due to toxins. Urine production will also slow significantly or cease in cases of grape or raising toxicity in dogs, so this can suggest a very serious problem if observed in an animal who may have accessed grapes or raisins.
Onions and Garlic are Toxic Foods for Dogs
Onions and garlic can trigger a form of anemia where the body’s red blood cells burst. This results in poor oxygen supply to the vital organs and tissues. When fed regularly in small doses, serious and potentially deadly nutritional deficiencies can also result. So dog owners should always check ingredients of prepared foods before offering these foods to pets. Baby food very often contains onion powder. So French onion soup and other food items containing onions and garlic should be crossed off the list of dog-safe foods.
Toxic Foods for Pets – Avocado
Avocado fruit, pits, leaves and the actual plant are all potentially poisonous to dogs, along with other pets like cats, mice, rats, birds, rabbits, horses, cattle and goats, among others. Avocados will trigger fluid accumulation in the lungs and chest, leading to difficulty breathing and death due to oxygen deprivation. Fluid accumulation can also occur in the heart, pancreas and abdomen.
Tomatoes, Potatoes and Rhubarb are Toxic to Pets
Tomatoes, potatoes and rhubarb contain oxalates, which trigger abnormalities with the nervous system, kidneys and digestive tract. Especially toxic are green tomatoes, green potatoes, potato skins, and tomato leaves and plants, can trigger tremors, seizure and heart arrhythimia, so tomatoes should never be given to dogs.
Cat Food Can be Toxic to Dogs
Cat food is very high in fats and protein and when ingested by a dog, particularly in large amounts or on a regular basis, the cat food can cause a bout of potentially deadly pancreatitis. It should be noted that all high-fat foods – particularly ham and bacon - have the ability to trigger pancreatitis, therefore pet owners should also use caution when offering table scraps that are high in fats.
Alcohol as a Poisonous Food for Pets
Dogs cannot tolerate alcohol, even in small amounts. And the hops in beer are also potentially toxic to dogs. Alcohol ingestion by dogs can result in intoxication, liver failure, coma, seizures and death.
Foods that can Poison a Dog – Nuts
Macadamia nuts and walnuts are toxic to dogs, and these foods can also trigger pancreatitis because they're high in fats.
Peanuts can trigger a deadly allergic reaction in dogs who are allergic (just like humans, some dogs are allergic to peanuts; others are not.) And like humans, a dog who is acutely allergic to peanuts could suffer a reaction by just smelling the peanuts or peanut butter.
Poisonous Foods for Dogs – Mushrooms
Mushrooms contain toxins that will trigger numerous organ systems, including the kidneys, liver and brain. Nervous system abnormalities, seizure, coma, vomiting, and death can all result when a dog ingests mushrooms.
Other miscellaneous foods that are toxic to dogs include: raw eggs and egg whites, raw fish, nutmeg, salt, tobacco, trash items, persimmons, yeast and dough containing yeast, liver, marijuana, hops, human iron supplements and xylitol, which is contained in chewing gum and candies.
In the event of an emergency involving a pet who may have ingested a toxic food or other potentially deadly substance, pet owners should contact a veterinarian and/or an animal poison control hotline, such as the ASPCA Poison Control Center, which can be contacted by calling 888-426-4435.
Related Reading:
Visit the Pet Poisoning Resources Page for more information on what items in the home are toxic to dogs and cats, what plants are toxic to pets, learn about common toxins like chocolate and xylitol.
Mia Carter - Mia Carter - Journalist, Producer/Editor & Web Writer. Carter's work has appeared on CBS and CNN.com.
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