Toxic to Dogs - Things dogs shouldn't eat, poisonous to dogs, chocolate, grapes, plants

Things Dogs Shouldn’t Eat

The following describes different foods, plants, and chemicals that dogs shouldn’t eat because of possible adverse reactions. You will also learn what exactly is in the items described, what the symptoms of poisoning are and what you can do to help your pooch.

Foods

There are certain foods that we can eat without a problem but which can cause illness or death if fed to our furry companions. The reason being is that the physiology of a human is different from that of a dog, and in some cases humans will have enzymes that allow them to eat foods without a problem while these same enzymes are absent in dogs and making it so that certain compounds build up to toxic levels and begin to interfere with normal body functions.

Of course even amongst dogs, physiology will vary making it so that some dogs have high tolerance of certain foods and others are affected much easier. There are cases of dogs eating a considerable amount of chocolate and have no signs of being adversely affected conversely there have been cases of dogs eating only a small amount of chocolate and developing signs of poisoning. Another factor whether your particular dog will exhibit signs of poisoning is the dosage, very small dosages are usually harmless for the majority of dogs. For this reason I will abstain from posting what some call “toxic doses” as this can vary from dog to dog and is highly debatable. High dosages of just about anything can lead to problems, this doesn’t necessarily lend to the idea that this particular item is hazardous. However you know your dog the best, and if after eating something you notice that your pooch is acting strangely, a visit to the vet may be required.

For those that argue that something on the list isn’t necessarily poisonous because they have been able to give it to their dog, one should always keep in mind what was said above about differing body chemistries. Not only this but also, unless there are benefits that one can outweigh with the risks, then it is best to avoid those foods for our dogs all together. After all, dogs don’t need these things nor should we anthropomorphize them to believe that they ‘get bored’ with what they have to eat and need the variation. Of course it is rare to find someone that doesn’t occasionally feed their dogs tidbits from their plates and that’s ok, provided that it is fed in moderation and that it doesn’t constitute more than 10% of their diet the occasional treats should be just fine. Let us remember that dogs get most of what they need from the foods we feed them.

The following table gives a list of foods dogs should not be fed, the toxic compound they contain, the symptoms that may be shown, and possible things you can do to help. Note that your dog may not exhibit all the symptoms; they are listed from generally common to least common.

Note: The quicker you seek out veterinary attention the better the chances are that your dog will be ok after eating any of the following. Also if anything below was ingested just recently (mostly within an hour) the chances that inducing vomiting will be effective increase; however, it is useless to induce vomiting if the dog ate this a while back and has already began being absorbed by the body.

Note: Vomiting: Induce vomiting using either 3% hydrogen peroxide (1-2tbs every 15-20 mins) or Ipecac (about 1-2tbs once). The Ipecac should really be reserved as last alternative as it may be toxic and is suggested to be given only under veterinarian supervision. Do not induce vomiting if the dog has already starting doing so on their own or if they ingested anything more than 2 hours ago. If they seem weak and unable to stand inducing vomiting is a bad idea. Also after ingestion of hazardous chemicals such as bleach, it is recommended not to induce vomiting because the chemical may burn the dog's throat and mouth.

Note: Activated Charcoal: Feed activated charcoal (1tbs mixture of water and activated charcoal for dogs less than 25 lbs and 2tbs for dogs 25lbs or more) in order to absorb any poison that wasn’t expelled. It is advisable to call your vet as soon as possible as they can give you correct doses for your particular case.

Note: The following list does not include foods that would obviously not be wise to feed your dog or allow him to eat such as moldy foods, mushrooms, bones that may splinter easily, and foods high in sodium/sugar. Also take in mind that some essential oils (such as citrus oils) may be harmful if not toxic to your dog.

Food	Compound	Symptoms	Notes	What to Do
Chocolate, Coffee, Caffeinated Tea	Methylxanthines (i.e. theobromine, caffeine, theophylline)	Tremors, hyperactivity, restlessness, diarrhea, excessive panting, increased/decreased heart rate, vomiting, abdominal pain, arrhythmia (irregular heart rhythm), bloody urine, excessive urination, bloating, increased drinking, ataxia (inability to control muscles), increased body temperature, staggering, seizures, coma, death.	Dogs lack the enzymes to break down the methlxanthines, they eventually accumulate in the dog’s body and begin to stimulate the cardiac and central nervous system. The amount of methylxanthines in chocolate vary, the following lists chocolates from least to greatest: white chocolate, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, and bakers chocolate.	If the pooch recently ingested the chocolate (less than 2 hours ago) it may be possible to get it out before it is absorbed completely into the body by inducing vomiting and also feeding activated charcoal to absorb poisons. Seek veterinary help.
Onions	Thiosulphates	Vomiting, diarrhea, discolored urine, labored breathing, weakness, pale gums, gas, gastrointestinal pain, distress, asthmatic attacks, anemia	When taken in large doses, the thiosulphates build up in the dog and cause Heinz Bodies which in turn causes Hemolytic Anemia. Because damaged red blood cells are being removed from circulation, a dog that has ingested enough quantities of onions to cause Heinz Bodies will have red-ish or very dark urine.	Induce vomiting if ingestion was recent and contact a vet to monitor the dog and watch for signs of anemia.
Macadamia Nut	Unknown	Tremors, vomiting, abdominal pain, stiffness, lameness, weakness, difficulty walking, depression, hyperthermia, hind limb paresis (weakness or inability to move), ataxia (inability to control muscles), pale gums, elevated heart rate, distress, panting.	Unfortunately it is unknown what is in the macadamia nut that affects a dog; however it has been noted that clinical signs may occur ~12 hours after ingestion, if not fatal the symptoms may go away 24-48 hours after they appear.	Induce vomiting if ingested less than an hour ago; seek veterinary help.
Grapes and Raisins	Unknown	Kidney damage/failure (elevated blood chemistries), vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, lack of appetite, lethargy	Not much is known as to why dogs react negatively to grapes and raisins; it is thought to be a problem with the skin of the grape. Some reports show that dogs that ingest grapes have elevated blood calcium, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and phosphorous levels and a few days after these would continue to climb until death occurred. Even dogs that had received veterinarian attention early had to be put to sleep.	Induce vomiting and seek veterinary help.
Sugarless Candy	Xylitol	Liver damage/failure, hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), weakness, loss of coordination, collapse, and seizures	Xylitol is found in many sugarless gums and is sometimes also used in chewable vitamins, toothpaste and an ingredient for cooking. This compound causes the pancreas to secrete insulin which in turn causes the dog’s blood sugar to drop dangerously low. Sometimes the dose is toxic enough to adversely affect the liver which sometimes may cause the dog’s death.	Induce vomiting if possible and contact your vet as they can treat the hypoglycemia with intravenous dextrose.
Pits/seeds, leaves, or stems of apples, cherries, apricots, peaches, plums, and avocados.	Cyanogenic Glycosides (i.e. cyanide compound); Persin in avocados	Vomiting, labored breathing, skin irritation, diarrhea, decreased heart rate, seizures, coma	The effect that these can have on a dog is varied, however one should not only be careful about the toxic effects of these but also the possible choke hazards they pose. Avocados are also high in fat/oil so they can sometimes cause gastric upset.	Contact vet immediately if your dog has had a negative reaction after eating these. May not be safe to induce vomiting if a dog has swallowed a large fruit pit as it may cause more damage; once again seek veterinary guidance to help you.
Yeast Dough and Alcohol	Ethanol Alcohol	Decreased breathing rate, staggering, weakness, depression, hypothermia, hyper urination, disorientation, seizures, cardiac arrest, coma.	Remember that yeast dough expands and ferments in warm moist environments, this expanding not only puts the dog in danger of the possibility that the stomach or intestines might rupture but also it causes alcohol (ethanol) poisoning. The effects of alcoholic drinks on a dog may be serious and the staggering or disorientation (which might be viewed as some as the dog being “drunk”) is never a laughing matter. According to Jenna Stregowski, RVT, under special supervision alcohol is sometimes used by vets as a curative for antifreeze poisoning.	Because the alcohol is absorbed into the body rather quickly, inducing vomiting may not be too effective unless done right after ingestion. Seek veterinarian attention immediately.
Fatty Foods	N/A	Causes pancreatitis, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, arched back.	Dogs will naturally be attracted by fatty foods, which might include turkey skins, fat trimmings, etc. While a very small amount might not be bad for a dog, too much can cause painful pancreatitis. According to Dog-First-Aid-101 toy poodles, cocker spaniels, and miniature schnauzers may be more prone to this condition, so if at all possible avoid giving these smaller breeds any food that is high in fat content. Some dogs may get this malady by going through trash cans and eating foods with too much fat, so keep a close eye on your dog and make sure that trash is not accessible to them.	If your dog shows any signs of pancreatitis contact a vet immediately.

Plants

The following list of plants is taken from the book Dog Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook, each name should have a link to a picture of that plant*. If you have many ornamental plants around the house of which you don’t know the name it would be beneficial to take a look through some of the pictures. I was personally surprised to note that around our household there were a few of the plants mentioned here. If you have any of the following plants at home around your dogs, it doesn’t mean you should get rid of the plant, simply that one needs to be careful where it is placed; preferably in places out of reach for a dog, especially a curious puppy. Most dogs however won’t go around chewing on any plant, but it’s good to know which plants to be wary of. If your dog ingest any of these plants and becomes ill contact your vet or Animal Poison Control Center immediately.

Indoor Plants

Houseplants that cause a skin reaction after contact with skin or mouth:

Irritating plants, some of which contain oxalic acid, which causes mouth swelling, difficulty swallowing, respiratory problems and gastrointestinal upsets:

Plants that contain wide variety of poisons, most cause vomiting and acutely painful abdomen and cramps; some cause tremors, heart and respiratory and/or kidney problems:

Outdoor Plants

Outdoor plants that can produce vomiting and diarrhea:

Trees and shrubs that may produce vomiting, painful abdomen and diarrhea:

-Bird of Paradise Bush

-Western Black Locust Yew

Outdoor plants with varied toxic effects:

-Dologeton

-Moonweed

-Sunburnt Potatoes

Hallucinogens:

Outdoor plants that produce convulsions:

-Moodweed

*All credit for pictures goes to the site to which each name is linked.

-Steven L.

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