Like all of us, dogs love a good meal. But our furry family members are a lot less discriminating than we are – and will eat most anything offered to them from the dinner table. And while we love to spoil our pets, there are some foods which can be quite dangerous for them.
As we move into the holiday season, prudent dog owners should be aware of this list of toxic foods which could make your dog very sick, or worse, prove fatal.
Some of these foods may be familiar to you as dangerous, others may surprise you. Some of these foods you may give your dog, but keep in mind that your dog may also “get into” these foods on his own. Therefore it is always important to keep all of these items well out of reach of your dog.
Get to Know these Toxic Foods
- Chocolate: You have probably heard about the dangers of chocolate to your canine. Chocolate contains theobromine, a stimulant which is similar to caffeine. The substance is poisonous to dogs, and because different types of chocolate contain different levels of theobromine, it is difficult to know how much you are giving your dog. Theobromine negatively affects the heart, central nervous system and kidneys of your dog, and signs of poisoning will manifest between four and 24 hours after your dog has eaten chocolate.
- Caffeine: As mentioned above, caffeine is also a danger to your dogs and signs of poisoning are very similar to that of chocolate. Dogs are more sensitive to the stimulating effects of caffeine than people are; and although a few sips of coffee is not likely to harm them, eating a tea bag or chowing down on coffee beans could be cause for alarm.
- Alcohol: Even small amounts of alcohol can cause vomiting, diarrhea, decreased coordination, central nervous system depression, difficulty breathing, tremors, blood changes, coma and even death for your canine. Because people often leave drinks around the home, it is especially important to be careful in this regards.
- Onions and Garlic: Your dog eating these vegetables can result in gut irritation, and can possibly lead to red blood cell damage and anemia. All forms of these toxic foods can cause issues, and the symptoms may take 3 or 4 days to appear. Poisoning can occur from cooked or raw onions and garlic, as well as powders, sauces or other foods which contain them.
- Grapes and Raisins: These are among the foods you may not realize could possibly hurt your dog, but they can result in a lot of health concerns. Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure, especially in dogs that already have underlying health issues. Experts agree that there is no safe amount of grapes or raisins for your dog to ingest. In fact, just one raisin can cause medical poisoning.
- Macadamia Nuts: Within 12 hours of eating macadamia nuts, dogs may begin to experience weakness, depression, tremors, vomiting and raised body temperature. While these symptoms generally last for 12 to 48 hours and are rarely fatal, you should call your vet and bring your dog in to be checked if your suspect a problem.
- Bones: Most of us have saved the juicy steak bones for our dogs, but bones can wreak havoc on a dog’s system. Dogs may choke on bones, experience intestinal obstructions, damage their teeth, or sustain punctures in their digestive tract.
While we do love making our dogs happy, giving them “people food” can be dangerous and deadly. Remember these toxic foods as you enter the holiday season, and keep your dog safe.
Gulf Coast K9 Dog Training provides obedience training and play care for Sarasota and Bradenton dogs. If you need help or assistance in training your dog and teaching basic commands, let us know. We are here to help.
