Can you relate to the parenting of a canine friend like that of a toddler at home? Most pet owners imbibe the responsibility of relating to their pet’s emotions and taking care of their health wisely. Food contributes to the majority of illnesses and diseases in 80% of dog cases.
Preventing it is possible by pinning down this handy list of dangerous foods to keep an eye on and restricting your doggy from munching on it! Canines are prone to food poisoning as they tend to eat many human-friendly foods or the ones not apt for their guts. This results in a life-threatening situation at times.
Taking them to a vet and confirming foods are safe for them is one option. Till then, refer to this vet-reviewed list below and ensure sound health for your four-legged companion.
Which are the Poisonous Food Items for Dogs? – List Unveiled
- Chocolate
Chocolates comprise three dangerous components for dogs, namely methylxanthines, theobromine, and caffeine. These can result in accidental ingesting and problematic git for them. Exposure to dark chocolate can worsen their health.
Methylxanthine interrupts the CNS function of dogs and might cause cardiac arrhythmias. Keep an eye on symptoms like hyperactivity, GI distress, thirst, and vomiting if they accidentally happen to take a bite of chocolates somewhere!
- Raisins and Grapes
The tartaric acid content in grapes and raisins can be an alarming sign for the intake of dogs. It surges up the toxicity level, and its ingestion might also result in kidney failure or liver damage.
Intake of grapes or raisins might cause weakness, tremors, lethargy, or kidney failure within 72 hours of intake. This might raise a need for initiating the pet’s euthanasia.
- Citrus Fruits
Any fruit with high citrus content is toxic and poisonous for your canine buddy. It is prevalent that foods like lemons, oranges, or grapefruits can raise the citrus acid level in pets, which also contributes to increased pH levels in food.
Immediately after the intake, these foods can cause irritability to your pup, sicken them, line up their digestive system, and impair their central nervous system. It is a must-avoid to your list.
- Starfruits
Though it comes under the category of exotic tropical fruits, your dog is unable to ingest this on a good node. The starfruit belongs to Southeast Asia and is a healthy alternative for humans as it is delectable and has a low sugar content.
However, it can’t be your pick for dogs, and some humans are allergic to it. Intake of starfruit can be problematic for dogs with pre-existing kidney problems. This food can result in issues like nausea or confusion for dogs, and they might need a vet to see them.
- Fruit Pits
Other toxic fruit pits for your pup include cherries, apricots, apples, and peaches, as they are high in amygdalin chemicals. Chewing of the fruit pits mentioned above can aggravate some kind of a reaction in dogs.
It might also be due to the release of cyanide causing potentially fatal issues. Common problems in dogs associated with the ingestion of these fruit pits are vomiting, respiratory disease, weakness, or even death resulting from loss of oxygen.
- Foods containing high Oxalic Acid
As per animal experts and vets, oxalic acid-rich foods are poisonous to dogs’ health. This includes items high in nutrition, such as spinach, tofu, and almonds. As these foods bind with calcium or magnesium, they can convert into oxalate crystals and can cause a severe drop of minerals in your doggy. Potential kidney damage is a highly probable issue resulting from such types of foods.
- Green Onions, Leeks, Garlic and Chives
The next category of dangerous foods that can worsen your dog’s situation includes veggies containing sulfoxides and aliphatic sulfides. Such chemicals can result in distortion of red blood cells, leading to Heinz’s body anemia. Even 15g of these foods can be poisonous for your dogs, so avoiding garlic and onion is an ideal thing.
- Avocado
Avocado hones a huge pit and is high in fat levels. It is considered a highly safe and healthy food for humans, but the results vary for animals. Dogs and their various breeds might pose different sensitivities to the content of Avocado and a persistent chemical in it, person.
The ingestion of this chemical can aggravate vomiting or nausea, which can potentially cause heart damage. Sorting this is possible by avoiding its intake for the doggies.
- Mustard
Prepared from the ground seeds of various plants, Mustard is the next dangerous food to keep your canines aware of. The furry friend might intake the chemical compound called isothiocyanate, which can result in severe vomiting and acute abdominal pain.
This compound is highly found in various cruciferous veggies like the broccoli or the kale. It can trigger issues like gastroenteritis and upset stomachs in dogs.
- Bones
Does that sound absurd? Everyone relates to that classic image of a dog happily chewing its top bones and wagging its tail in happiness. However, the real bones aren’t a treat for the dog’s health at all.
It can trigger the issue of splinters in them and potentially damage their teeth over time. Intake of pieces and shards can also lead to substantial gastrointestinal blockages, resulting in a medical emergency. So, prevent your pup from chewing the bones no matter how fond they are!
- Highly Spicy Foods
It is pretty evident that dogs’ guts are not designed to intake high-level spices in any form. Keep anything that’s spicy away from them completely. The heat quotient of such foods is derived from the capsaicin chemical that’s bound to shoot up the pain responses in pups.
Spicy stuff might also surge their heart rate, causing fatal issues. So, prevent them from any sort of spicy foods.
- Cinnamon & Nutmeg
These spices are toxic to dogs in large amounts. Ingesting cinnamon can lead to respiratory distress, vomiting, and low blood pressure. Nutmeg has the opposite effects from a chemical called myristicin. A small bit can cause nausea.
However, it can also lead to high blood pressure, disorientation, and hallucinations. The effects can last up to 48 hours.
- Baked Products
Again, baked foods might prove toxic for your dog as they comprise of many spices that can cause issues to their gut. Such products are also high in fat and sugar content, causing further risks of diabetes or heart issues. Avoiding donuts and bread for your dog is mandatory to prevent them from potential illnesses.
- Gums and Candies
Do you read down the content while buying tasty delights for your pup? Canines are fond of sweet gummies and candies, and it lures them to do any activity. Many of them consist of Xylitol, which is a natural sweetener observed in various products.
It can be toxic to your dog’s health, resulting in liver failure or damage. This element also spikes up the insulin level and drops the blood sugar levels. As a result, the pet might get a seizure attack or puke it out. Here, the vet intervention is required!
- Macadamia Nuts
Many vet-reviewed lists of dangerous food items for dogs suggest that macadamia nuts are hazardous items. Its ingestion can result in vomiting in them within 12 hours of intake. The recovery might also be critical as they might require IV drips and vet care to be out of danger.
- Salty Snacks
Never give too much of a salty diet to your dogs in food. Such items contain sodium content, leading to high salt levels. Such type of salty food results in toxicosis if your doggie does not immediately receive fresh water. In case your pup accidentally munches any salty stuff, look for signs like vomiting, GI distress, or seizure issues. Take to the expert if required.
- Alcohol
Intake of alcohol in any form can transfer the ethanol toxicosis to your dog, which can instantly trigger their central nervous system. Four-legged companions are very sensitive to this component.
Alcohol intake in any form might cause GI distress, lethargy, or vomiting issues in them. This can also cause breathing issues and even cause death. Beware of the liquor content, as it’s poisonous for your dogs.
- Caffeine Beverages
Any beverage with caffeine content induces methylxanthine, a chemical that is a crucial part of chocolate making. This is poisonous for the pet’s health as it triggers diarrhea and vomiting in them. It might also disrupt their heart function and result in severe effects like coordination loss or seizures.
- Dairy Products
The moment you intake dairy products, the body begins to capture the lactase enzyme that eventually breaks into sugars. This pattern is also applicable to your canine friends.
Compared to humans, dogs are more prone to become lactose-intolerant and ingest any sort of dairy product that might aggravate vomiting issues, abdominal pain, or diarrhea.
- Raw Food
The majority of the dogs pay a visit to vets due to foodborne diseases. Any sort of undercooked food can infect the digestive system of the dogs. It releases the salmonella bacteria, which is a primary cause of food-related diseases in them.
As per the official guidelines from the FDA and the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), it is imperative to avoid any sort of raw food items for your pets.
- Moldy Foods
Dogs have a very specific appetite when it comes to eating meals. They cannot ingest anything unfavorable to them. Intake of moldy food items can expose your pet to the harmful mycotoxins that result in tremorgenic mycotoxicosis.
It is an acute fungal condition that might cause tremors or vomiting problems within a few hours of intake. Treating this condition is also tricky, and pets might catch up with a lifetime problem after this!
- Toxic Plants
A few dangerous plants also pose a threat to your dog’s health. There are several toxic plants consisting of toxic substances referred to as oxalates. They also comprise the Pothos chemical referred to as peace lilies, calla lilies, and the pothos.
If you are gardening these plants in your backyard, be careful that your pet doesn’t munch on them. Confirming the pet toxicity to the plants you grow at home is advisable in this case.
- Medicines for Cold with Pseudoephedrine Content
Pets, especially dogs, must be given medicines very cautiously. Many drug content might cause severe harm to their health and alleviate a host of allergic reactions, proving fatal for dogs.
This can impact their nervous system, resulting in tremors, restlessness, and panting issues. It worsens when ignored and demands immediate vet attention.
- Acetaminophen
Is your pup in pain, and you are looking for an immediate treatment for it? Avoid giving them acetaminophen in this case, as it can result in paw swelling or facial swelling in them. This chemical in painkiller drugs aggravates methemoglobinemia in dogs.
It is a persistent condition that impairs the red blood cells and minimizes their ability to deliver oxygen. Potential liver damage or any organ dysfunction are other issues related to this drug.
- Ibuprofen
Dogs are not comfortable with the intake of ibuprofen as it again results in potential issues to their health. Problems like GI Distress and vomiting are commonly observed if dogs ingest ibuprofen in any form. Keep an eye out if your pup pukes, followed by seizure or weakness issues. This type of issue demands immediate medical care.
Now, you have a clear head on what’s harmful or poisonous for your dog’s health and the foods you must prevent to keep them safe from health hazards!
What are the good foods for your pup to Eat?
There is a list of several foods from which your dogs can receive a good amount of calories in their meals. Such pet-safe snacks are a great addition to keep your canine friendly shining with health and happiness.
Go for toxin-free food items advisable for your dog’,s health like celery, cooked pumpkin, carrot, popcorn, apple, cauliflower, Bananas, cucumbers, cheese, or strawberries.
Any type of treats, delights, and snacks for your pups must be safe for them and easy on their digestive system. It helps in restoring their gut health and prevents them from any type of neurological or gastrointestinal problems.
Bottom Line- Deal with Your Dog’s Food Cautiously!
Pet parents need to stay vigilant about their pet’s health and take complete precautions in treating them with love. Any kind of dangerous intake of food or snacks might lead to crucial health conditions in cute pups.
If any such situation occurs, contact your veterinarian immediately and ask for quick responses. This prevents them from poisoning issues and aids in restoring good health for them. Dogs are curious creatures and tend to experiment with anything around them. You must nurture them with care and pick pet-safe items for them.
Keeping these dangerous foods out of their reach can curtail half of the stress, ensuring their sound health. Be prepared for an emergency vet visit if canines plunge into some toxic substances. Take care, and enjoy a good time with your pet buddy.
Happy Pet Parenting!!
