Skip to content

CLOSEOUT DEALS UP TO 50% OFF

Previous article
Now Reading:
16 Common foods that could harm your pup!

16 Foods That Could Harm Your Dog

We’ve all heard the tip that chocolate is poison to dogs. Unfortunately, it’s true! This delicious and ubiquitous treat doesn’t seem like it needs to be locked away from our pups, but if they accidentally get their paws on too much, it could prove fatal. It’s surprising to realize that such a delicious and commonplace food item is a danger, but that just leads to the question: what other common foods and products that we use on a day-to-day basis could harm our pets? Here’s a list of some of the most commonplace food items and products that could prove harmful if your pup gets their paws on them.


Foods to avoid feeding your dog

1. Avocado

Avocado meat itself isn’t terribly dangerous to dogs, but all other aspects of the Avocado plant, like the leaves, skin and bark, contain persin, a toxin. Additionally, the pit can be a choking hazard for dogs.

2. Dairy

Dairy isn’t terrible for dogs, however it can easily cause indigestion. If you plan to incorporate dairy into your dog’s diet, it’s best to try and introduce it in smaller amounts first to see what kind of effects, if any, it has on their digestion before giving them a full yogurt bowl or puppachino. If they do seem to be ok with dairy, our 5 Easy Greek Yogurt Dog Treat Recipes might be a hit!

3.Fruit pits/seeds


Besides being a choking hazard, these often contain toxins related to cyanide. While this toxin isn’t highly concentrated, if enough is ingested it can poison a pup.

    4. Sugar

    Similar to people, sugar mostly causes a variety of health problems ranging from mild to severe intensity. Typically, overconsumption of sugar in dogs leads to weight gain, dental issues and possibly even diabetes. This is one of the main Halloween Dangers for Dogs - make sure the trick or treating candy is safely out of harms way.

      5. Fat Trimmings and Bacon

      The occasional small piece of fatty meat is fine for dogs, and make sure to keep your dog’s size in mind. A small piece to a mastiff is quite different than it would be for a Chihuahua. If you consistently overfeed fatty meat to your dog, it could overload their digestive system and cause abdominal pain and eventually lead to pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas.

      6. Yeasted dough


      Bread isn’t an issue for dogs, but yeasted dough that hasn’t been cooked yet releases gas and expands. If a dog gets some in their stomach it can cause discomfort expanding and putting pressure on their organs. 

        7. Salt


        Dogs can become dehydrated incredibly quickly after eating salt. Salt poisoning can lead to dehydration, vomiting, tremors, diarrhea and seizures. They will also likely drink a lot of water to try and balance the issue which could lead to a continuously expanding range of issues down the road.

          8. Cinnamon

          While not toxic to dogs, Cinnamon can cause discomfort and minor health issues if your dog consumes it such as vomiting or diarrhea. Not fun to clean up!

           

          Foods that are dangerous or toxic to dogs

          The following foods are highly dangerous or toxic to dogs and so should never be given to them.

          9. Macadamia Nuts


          A bit of an unsuspecting entry on this list, Macadamia nuts are quite toxic to dogs and can even prove fatal. While there isn’t currently a consensus on what specifically is toxic to dogs in Macadamia nuts, steer clear of giving them to your dog.

            10. Chocolate

            As delicious as it is for people, chocolate is toxic to dogs. The most harmful thing for dogs in chocolate is theobromine, an alkaloid that provides the bitter taste in dark chocolate. Dogs can’t metabolize theobromine efficiently and are very susceptible to a buildup of it in their systems. Find out more in our post, Is Chocolate Really Poisonous for Dogs?

            11. Onions, garlic, chives, etc. - anything from the Allium family

            This family of plants, as delicious as they are, can be toxic to dogs. Ingesting an onion and the like can cause a dog’s red blood cells to breakdown faster than the dog’s body can make new ones causing anemia, or an insufficiency of red blood cells. It's best to serve food such as pasta plain, in order to avoid sauces that contain these toxic ingredients. Find more tips for serving your dog pasta and spaghetti in our post Can Dogs Eat Pasta? 

              12. Caffeine

              Caffeine can cause similar effects in dogs as it does in people, but the threshold for toxicity is much lower due to their size. If a dog ingests too much caffeine, they can quickly develop an irregular heartbeat, have a seizure or even pass away.

                13. Alcohol

                Dogs can experience alcohol poisoning along the same lines as people, however it’s much easier for them to unwittingly do so. They can take a few sips of a cocktail set on a low coffee table or clean up a spilled glass of wine and within half an hour experience alcohol poisoning. 

                14. Xylitol

                Xylitol: Everything You Need to Know
                This isn’t easy to catch since xylitol an artificial sweetener that can find its way into any product trying to look healthier in the “Nutrition Facts” label. The most common culprit is “healthy” low sugar peanut butter so make sure to check the ingredient list when you buy peanut butter you intend to feed your dog. 

                  15. Grapes and Raisins


                  Another mystery food, there is no consensus on what specifically in grapes and raisins is toxic to dogs. Whatever science ends up discovering, grapes and raisins are definitely toxic so don’t let your pup pop any in their mouth.

                    16. Tobacco or nicotine

                    Although not a food for people, dogs have never been too discriminate about what they put in their mouths. The nicotine in tobacco and other products like nicotine gum or patches is toxic to dogs. Even a smoked cigarette can have enough nicotine left to affect your pup, so make sure to clean up and keep any product with nicotine out of reach.

                      Dog drunk on couch

                      If your dog does ingest any of the substances on this list, do your best to estimate how much they ingested and call your vet immediately for advice. Your vet should be able to assess how much danger your dog is in using that information. If your dog exhibits any serious symptoms like tremors, seizures or vomiting, take them to an emergency clinic or the veterinarian’s office immediately.

                      Did you know...our dog shirts make great gifts for dog lovers. Head to our Find My Breed tool to browse by breed.

                      Dog shirts

                      5 comments on 16 Common foods that could harm your pup!

                      • Liz S.
                        Liz S.March 23, 2022

                        Luckily our current pup is a fussy eater. Our previous rescue, consumed anything that was not in a food “safe”. The food safe being our microwave or oven, Aztec could open peanut butter jars, peanut butter pretzel jars! Fortunately he never learned to open cabinet doors or the refrigerator. Aztec was such a pupper, despite his food issues.

                      • Elaine Donohue
                        Elaine DonohueMarch 23, 2022

                        Thank you for the well needed reminder. So important to keep our dog healthy and happy.

                      • Alice Hudson
                        Alice HudsonMarch 23, 2022

                        An easy to comprehend summary of many of the foods that should NOT be included in our dogs’ list of approved things to eat along with the reasons not to feed them to our pets!!

                      • Marleta
                        MarletaMarch 23, 2022

                        Thank you for giving us all this good information. I love the illustration that go with the information.

                      • Cindy Griffith
                        Cindy GriffithMarch 23, 2022

                        Thanks for the information!

                      Leave a comment

                      Your email address will not be published..

                      Halloween Cat Names: 30 Spookily Fun Name Ideas

                      We're not kitten around, these Halloween-themed names are pawsitively clawsome!

                      Read more
                      Foods That Are Toxic to Cats: What Your Feline Friend Shouldn't Eat

                      Did you know these common foods can be dangeous for our feline friends?

                      Read more
                      Why Do Dogs Like Ice Cubes?

                      Find out why this chilly treat is a often a pup-favorite in the summer!

                      Read more
                      American Pit Bull Terriers: What You Need to Know

                      Get to know the American Pit Bull Terrier with our handy guide.

                      Read more

                      Cart

                      Close

                      Your cart is currently empty.

                      Start Shopping

                      Select options

                      Close