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Top 10 Dangerous Foods for Dogs

Updated on October 6, 2014

The type of food that you feed your dog determines the health and the life span of your furry friend. Just like humans, the diet that you give to your dog has a direct effect on its health. To ensure that your dog is healthy and lives for a long time, you need to give it a healthy diet. You can opt to purchase dog food or you can choose to make your own dog food for your dog. Choosing to make your own dog food can be a great idea and it can also be a dangerous thing to do especially if you are a new dog owner. The danger is in choosing the right ingredients for your dog’s food. Some of the human foods that are tasty and nutritious can be harmful to your dog. It is thus important for you to be cautious when choosing the ingredients to include in your dog’s food. Here are some foods that should never be taken by your dog.

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1) Avocado

Avocados are nutritious to human beings but can be harmful to animals. In some animals such rabbits, avocados can cause serious harm which can even result to death. In dogs avocados may not produce serious signs of illness; however, ingestion of large quantities of avocado can result to mild stomach upset and obstruction in the gastrointestinal tract which might require immediate veterinary care. Avocados contain a noxious component known as persin which causes mild stomach upset and obstruction in the gastrointestinal tract in dogs and cats.

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2) Milk and Other Dairy Products

Any milk and daily products are harmful to dogs. Consumption of milk or any of its products could cause diarrhea and other digestive upset and food allergies to your dog.

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3) Bread Dough with Yeast

Dogs are close friends to human and most of the time they follow us everywhere we go. When in the kitchen with your dog and your are making some bread dough and a piece of dough drop and your dog rushes to pick it be sure to pick it first before your furry friend takes it since it might cause serious health problems to your dog. When yeast dough is ingested by your dog, the warm, moist environment of the stomach create an ideal environment for the yeast to multiply, resulting in an expanding mass of dough in the stomach which may lead to pressing the diaphragm thus causing breathing problems. When the yeast multiplies, it produces alcohol that is then absorbed into the body causing alcohol intoxication. The dog can attempt to vomit and show signs of lack of coordination, disorientation or stupor which might result to death of the dog.

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4) Chocolate

Chocolate intoxication is a common dog problem especially during holidays such as valentines, Christmas and Easter. During this holidays dog get easy access to chocolate and foods that contain chocolate such as chocolate candies, cookies and other chocolate baking foods. Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine that cause intoxication in dogs. The signs and symptoms of chocolate intoxication are dependent of the type and amount of chocolate ingested by the dog. Dark chocolate has very high levels of methylxanthines unlike white chocolate. Signs of chocolate intoxication include vomiting, increased thirst, abdominal discomfort, muscle tremors, irregular heart rhythm, high body temperature, seizures and death in severe cases.

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5) Persimmons, Peaches, and Plums

Fruits are nutritious and healthy for dog; however fruits such as persimmons, peaches and plums can be highly dangerous for dogs. One of the things that make these fruits dangerous is their seeds. When the fruits are ingested by the dog together with the seeds, the seeds can cause inflammation of the small intestine thus resulting in intestinal obstruction. Another reason why these fruits are dangerous to be taken by dogs is because the pit from a peach or plum contains cyanide which is toxic.

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6) Ethanol/Alcohol

Dogs are highly sensitive to ethanol and any such alcoholic components. Even a small amount of alcohol ingested by your dog could cause so much harm to your dog’s health. Alcohol ingestion can cause alcohol intoxication which causes vomiting, loss of coordination, disorientation and stupor. Dogs that have ingested alcohol should be given the veterinarian care immediately.

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7) Coffee, Tea, and Other Caffeine

Any caffeine whether in tea, coffee, chocolate or any other caffeine stimulated drinks is very dangerous for dogs. The symptoms of caffeine poisoning in dogs include; rapid breathing, heart palpitations, restlessness, bleeding and muscle tremors.

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8) Grapes and Raisins

Grapes and raisins are dangerous when ingested by dogs. This fruits cause kidney failure in dogs. There is no clear information of the exact component found in raisins and grapes that cause kidney failure in dogs. Kidney failure can result to death of your dog within three to four days. Some of the symptoms associated with grapes or raisin intoxication include vomiting, weariness or diarrhea within 12 hours of ingestion which is later followed by decreased or absent urination.

9) Macadamia Nuts

Macadamia nuts ingestion causes intoxication in dogs. Some of the effects of macadamia nuts ingestion in dogs include; weakness in the rear legs, tremors and low grade fever. The effects of macadamia ingestion in dogs may not be so severe and can subside within 48 hours. If the symptoms are severe, veterinary care should be give immediately.

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10) Onions and Garlic

Onions and garlic contain harmful compounds that cause damage of the dogs’ red blood cells. Damage of the red blood cells due to onion or garlic ingestion does not have immediate effects on the dog but after three to five days after the day of ingestion the dog may show signs of weakness, reluctant to move, orange-tinged to dark red urine. Veterinarian examination may be necessary in case of severe reaction.


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The foods above can cause serious effects on your dog’s health and can even result to the death of your dog. To avoid this, you need to ensure that your dog does not ingest any of the above foods.

External Resources

Dog Chocolate Poisoning - PetMD

Foods That Are Hazardous to Dogs - ASPCA

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