Dogs should be fed food that meets the needs of their body and lifestyle. But your dog might get a little taste of your food when you’re eating or basic cooking ingredients from time to time. You must then take into account that some foods can make your dog sick and some are even poisonous to dogs. That’s why it’s important to know what foods they might eat are harmful for them. Bozitas nutritionist Cecilia Hjelm is qualified in pet agronomy with specialist nutrition knowledge and can help you understand more.
WHAT IS DANGEROUS FOR DOGS TO EAT
Unfortunately, there are a lot of foods and substances that are on the list of things that are harmful or even toxic to dogs. Many people know that it’s absolutely forbidden to give dogs chocolate and onions. Often our food contains a lot of salt and fat which can be harmful to your dog. But do you know about the rest?
DOGS AND CHOCOLATE – WHAT DOGS SHOULD NOT EAT
Chocolate, or actually cocoa, is toxic to the dog as it contains theobromine. How your dog reacts depends on how much it has ingested in proportion to its size and whether it was light or dark chocolate. But the basic rule is – make sure that your dog does not eat chocolate at all. Symptoms of poisoning are palpitations, muscle tremors, diarrhea and the dog urinating more than usual.
CAN DOGS EAT GRAPES?
A single grape is not dangerous for your dog, but too many grapes can be harmful and cause kidney failure in dogs. Although some dogs are less susceptible than others, avoid giving any dog grapes. This applies to both white, green or red and grapes, with or without seeds.
IS IT DANGEROUS FOR DOGS TO EAT POTATOES?
It is not dangerous for dogs to eat boiled potatoes. However, you should never give your dog raw potatoes as dogs, just like humans, have a hard time digesting uncooked potatoes. Green potatoes can also contain elevated amounts of solanine which is not good for dogs. If your dog has ingested raw potatoes, the symptoms can include vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness and cramps.
IS AVOCADO DANGEROUS FOR DOGS?
Be careful with avocado as it contains persin, a substance that can affect the dog’s mammary glands and heart. So yes, avocado is dangerous for dogs. The substance is harmless to humans, but toxic to almost all pet animals. Symptoms of poisoning include shortness of breath, diarrhea, vomiting and coughing.
TOXIC AND HARMFUL FOOD FOR DOGS – A LIST
Search for the foods you are concerned about in the list below, containing both toxic and dangerous foods for dogs. If you suspect that your dog has ingested something toxic, or if your dog is showing any symptoms, you should always contact your veterinarian immediately. Keep in mind that there are foods that are clearly not good for your dog, but might not necessarily be found on the list – these are, for example, chips, peanut rings, cakes and other delicacies, sugary foods, spicy food including chilli or jalapeno, fried foods and all meals that are too salty or fatty. If you feel uncertain about a certain food, you should always avoid giving it to your dog.
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- Apricots – see fruits with stones.
- Avocado – contains persin that can affect the dog’s mammary glands and heart.
- Baking powder – contains sodium bicarbonate that in large quantities can cause muscle cramps and heart failure.
- Broccoli raw – boiled broccoli is fine, but eating it raw can upset your dog’s thyroid.
- Chocolate and cocoa – contains theobromine that is toxic to your dog.
- Citrus fruits – can lead to allergies and gastrointestinal problems. Smaller amounts are not dangerous.
- Dough – fermenting dough is harmful for your dog.
- Acorn – contains tannin that can be fatal if ingested in large quantities. Even smaller amounts can cause symptoms of poisoning.
- Glycol – it may seem strange, but it’s sweet, and your dog may very well lick it if you spill it. It is highly toxic even in small amounts.
- Chives – see onion plants.
- Blue cheese – contains roquefortin which is a poisonous mould.
- Cocoa – see chocolate.
- Cinnamon – is not toxic, but may cause irritation of the mouth and gastrointestinal tract.
- Caffeine and coffee
- Cherries – see stone fruits.
- Onion plants, such as onions, garlic and chives, are highly toxic to your dog. Applies to both raw and cooked onions. Contains alicin which is toxic to dogs.
- Corn cobs – the cob itself is bad – corn kernels are great food. Don’t let your dog chew the cob. If the cob gets stuck in the intestine, your dog may need emergency surgery.
- Nuts – avoid nuts of all types such as peanuts, macadamia nuts and walnuts.
- Plums – see stone fruits.
- Potatoes raw – contains solanine that dogs may be sensitive to. Applies to raw potatoes only.
- Rhubarb – contains several substances that are detrimental for your dog.
- Raisins – can cause acute kidney failure in dogs.
- Saffron – can cause milder symptoms of poisoning.
- Salt – also salt water and foods with a lot of salt, such as bacon.
- Stone fruits – for example apricot, cherry and plum. The kernel contains amygdalin.
- Spinach – is not toxic but should be avoided.
- Mushrooms – toxic mushrooms are dangerous to both you and your dog.
- Tomatoes – avoid giving your dog green tomatoes as they may contain small amounts of tomatine that can be harmful to dogs.
- Grapes – can cause kidney failure. A single grape is not dangerous, but in large quantities they are.
- Garlic – see onion plants.
- Pain killers with paracetamol or acetylsalicylic acid and other medicines.
- Xylitol – sweetener found in toothpaste, chewing gum and sugar-free sweets.
- Egg white – raw – contains avidin. Boiled or fried egg whites are harmless to the dog.
“If you suspect that your dog has been poisoned – always contact a veterinarian.”
