Toxic for Dogs: Bad Food for Dogs

United States ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: (888) 426-4435

The items listed below are known to be toxic for dogs.

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Acorns

Alcoholic beverages: can cause intoxication, coma, and death.

Avocado: Leaves, seeds, fruit, and bark contain persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

Baking Soda - a leavening agent that, taken in large quantities, can cause spasms and even congestive heart failure

Cooked Bones from fish, poultry, or other meat can cause obstruction or laceration of the digestive system should they splinter. Raw bones are more pliable, therefore less dangerous but dogs should be supervised whenever eating raw bones as well.

Chocolate, coffee, tea, and other caffeine: Contain caffeine, theobromine, or theophylline, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea and be toxic to the heart and nervous systems.

Citrus oil extracts: cause vomiting.

Corn on the cob: Dogs gulp this down and if taken intact, it can clog the digestive system and cause obstructions. Many dogs are allergic to corn as well.

Dough (from yeast): Can expand and produce gas in the digestive system, causing pain and possible rupture of the stomach or intestines.

Fat trimmings: Can cause pancreatitis.

Garlic: less toxic than onions but hazardous nevertheless.

Grapes, raisins and currants Contains an unknown toxin, which can damage the kidneys. The exact amount of raisins or grapes it takes to put a dog into kidney failure is unclear but it is thought to depend on the size of the dog. Seek veterinary assistance immediately.

Hops: Unknown compound causes panting, increased heart rate, elevated temperature, seizures, and death.

Liver: Vitamin A toxicity, affecting muscles and bones.

Macadamia nuts: Contain an unknown toxin, which can affect the digestive and nervous systems and muscle.

Margarine: Can cause persistent vomiting and diarrhea.

Marijuana: Can depress the nervous system, cause vomiting, and changes in the heart rate.

Milk and other dairy products: Some adult dogs and cats may develop diarrhea if given large amounts of dairy products

Moldy or spoiled food: Safeguard access to any garbage to avoid exposure to toxin like salmonella.

Mushrooms: May contain toxins, which may affect systems in the body, causing shock.

Pitted Fruits: Apples, Apricots, Cherries, Peaches and Plums. These fruits are not toxic on their own but dog owners should know that they can contain a type of cyanide compound that can poison a dog when pits, stems or leaves are consumed.

Nutmeg: High levels of nutmeg can result in his death. Symptoms include seizures, tremors, central nervous system problems, and death.

Onions (raw, cooked, or powder) Contain sulfoxides and disulfides, which damage red blood cells and cause anemia.

Persimmon Seeds: cause intestinal obstruction and enteritis.

Raw eggs: Contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin). This can lead to skin and hair coat problems. Salmonella poisoning is also a possibility.

Raw meat: May contain bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

Raw Potatoes: Potatoes contain oxalates, the same substance found in rhubarb, causing the same side-effects as consuming rhubarb.

Rhubarb leaves: Contain oxalates, which can affect the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems.

Salt: Consumed in large quantities, it may lead to electrolyte imbalances.

Salmon: Some salmon from the west coast may contain the Nanophyetus salmincola, a parasite which is infected with an organism called Neorickettsia helminthoeca. This can cause weakness, lymph node swelling, fever and diarrhea and can be fatal.

Sugary foods: May lead to obesity, dental problems, and possibly diabetes mellitus.

Tobacco: Contains nicotine, which affects the digestive and nervous systems. Can result in rapid heart beat, collapse, coma, and death.

Tomato and potato leaves and stems (can cause systemic problems)

Vitamin supplements (human) containing iron can damage the lining of the digestive system and be toxic to the other organs including the liver and kidneys.

Walnuts: cause gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting and diarrhea, as well as respiratory issues such as sneezing, breathing and coughing.

Xylitol (artificial sweetener) Can cause very low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), which can result in vomiting, weakness and collapse. In high doses can cause liver failure.