25 Toxic Foods to avoid feeding your dog

Be adware that this list is not intended to be medical advice.  If your pet consumes anything in the list below you should consult with your veterinarian. Your veterinarian can make the appropriate recommendations and treat your dog.

As a dog owner myself, I know it can be tempting to give your dog a treat for good behavior.  Sometimes dogs will help themselves to treats.  This could be food left on the table or something that fell on the floor.  If you have small children, I am sure food drops on the floor all the time.  The list below shows us toxic foods to avoid feeding your dog.  Some of them are much more harmful then others.  These are 25 common foods that your dog can’t eat.

25 foods to avoid feeding your dog

Alcohol – All Forms

Ethanol, isopropanol, and methanol are all toxic to dogs.  Ethanol is found in alcoholic beverages intended for human consumption.  Isopropanol alcohol is found in many common household items like nail polish remover, shaving cream, lotions, rubbing alcohol and some pet products like flea control spray.  It’s important to note that Isopropanol alcohol is about 2 times as toxic as Ethanol.  Lastly, we have Methanol which is used commonly in antifreeze for cars.  Both alcoholic beverages and antifreeze is considered tasty to dogs, and they will voluntarily drink them.

The most common issue caused by ingestion of alcohol is kidney failure which can lead to death.  

Common side effects:

• vomiting
• diarrhea
• seizures
• excess salivation
• disorientation
• slowed breathing. 

Dogs should not be allowed to consume any alcohol! Alcohol is one of the top foods to avoid feeding your dog.  

Apple Seeds

While apples can be a tasty treat for your dog, the seeds are toxic.   The apple seeds contain a substance called amygdalin which is composed of cyanide and sugar.  When this substance gets digested it breaks down into a toxic chemical called Hydrogen Cyanide.  A lethal dose can kill a dog very quickly.

The good news is, it would take a very large number of seeds to cause a fatality.  The seeds also have to be chewed up to break down the other shell for the toxin to be release.  Unchewed seeds will just pass through the digestive system unscathed.  So while they do contain toxins, there is very little risk a dog could consume enough to reach toxic levels.  An average sized dog would have to eat 100+ apples to get enough seeds to be toxic.  So don’t panic if your dog eats an apple or two. 

Apricot Kernel

The First hazard with the Apricot Kernel pit is that it is very Hard. The pit  is prone to break into sharp pieces if it gets chewed.  Chewing the pit can also result in the dog breaking a tooth.    The outer shell can cause a choking risk and also can cause a GI blockage.  

These kernels contain the same toxic substance as apple seeds, cherry pits, peach kernels.  The kernel has Amygdalin which eventually breaks down to Hydrogen Cyanide.  Consuming these kernels has caused hospitalization for children.

Its best to avoid letting a dog eat the whole apricots due to the hazards of the pit.  You can however feed the dogs slices of apricot, they are nontoxic. 

Common Side Effects:

• vomiting
• diarrhea
• slowed breathing
• seizures
• possibly death if left untreated

Apricot kernels should not be feed to your dog.  

Avocados

Most parts of the avocado plant are toxic to dogs.  The most toxic parts are the skin, the leaves, and the pit of the fruit.  They contain a chemical compound called Persin.   It is not known how much Persin is fatal to dogs.   

Common Side Effects:

• diarrhea
• vomiting
• damage to the heart.   

That leaves the last part of the avocado – the flesh.  While the flesh itself is not entirely toxic to dogs, its best not to feed it to them.  According to the AKC, Dogs are less effected by the toxin in avocado then many animals.  The avocado flesh has a very high fat content which is not easy for dogs to process.  Eating too much fat can cause other health issues in dogs.   High fat diets can cause an inflammation of the pancreas which is called pancreatitis.  It is best to avoid feeding your dog avocados.  

Cherry Pits

These pits are like apple seeds, peach pits and any other fruit in the prunus genus.  They contain amygdalin which breaks down into toxic Hydrogen Cyanide in the dog’s digestive tract.  You should not be concerned if your dog ingests a few cherries.  There is not enough toxin in a few to harm the dog.  However, if your dog does consume a lot of them, it might experience some health issues.  If your pet consumed too many cherries, you would see the same complications that many of the other toxic foods cause.    

Common Side Effects:

• vomiting
• diarrhea
• slowed breathing
• seizures, 
• possibly death if left untreated

This toxin would only be present if the dog was chewing the cherry pits until they broke open.  

Chocolate

Chocolate contains two substances that are toxic to dogs.  Most people know chocolate has caffeine in it, which is toxic to dogs.  The other substance is called theobromine.  Dogs do not have the ability to quickly digest this chemical.  If enough is consumed the chemical builds up in the dog’s body.  This build up causes toxicity.   

Common Side Effects:

• vomiting
• diarrhea
• Death can occur with consumption of a large quantity

There is a calculator available on this website to help determine if your pet ate a toxic level of chocolate.  From using the tool it’s easy to see the difference between a safe amount and a fatal amount is not very much.  Chocolate should be avoided for dogs. A 50 lb. dog can have a fatal outcome if it ingests only 5.5 oz of bakers’ chocolate.   Since most dogs do like the taste of chocolate, it should not be left out.  This is in the top 5 foods to avoid feeding your dog.  

Chives

As part of the allium family, chives are poisonous to dogs.  The toxic substance inside chives is called aklenylcysteine sulfoxide.  The main issue is that consumption of chives causes a breakdown of the cell wall in red blood cells.  This can cause anemia (low red blood cell count). 

Common Side Effects:

• kidney damage
• elevated heart rate
• red gums
• red urine
• consumption can be lethal

Avoid allowing your dog to eat chives do to the potential lethal side effects. 

Coffee

Coffee has caffeine which is a stimulant that your dog should not consume.  Dogs that consume caffeine can have similar side effects that humans get. 

Common Side Effects:

• Increased pulse
• faster breathing
• excitability
• loss of muscle control can occur
• GI tract Issues – vomiting and diarrhea

Its best to avoid letting your dog have any coffee. 

Garlic

Garlic is part of the Allium family that is commonly found in the kitchen.  This plant has the same side effects as eating chives, onions, or leaks.  Excessive consumption destroys red blood cells which can lead to fatal complications.  The destruction of the blood cells is called anemia. 

It turns out that in order for a dog to experience this issue, they have to consume a very high amount of garlic cloves.  I am talking multiple bulbs per day if the dog is over 40 lbs.  If they do somehow manage to eat 4 or 5 full bulbs in a day you could see the below side effects.  

Common Side Effects of garlic toxicity:

• kidney damage
• elevated heart rate
• red gums
• red urine
• difficulty breathing
• cardiac arrest

Do not let your dog eat excessive amounts of garlic!

Grapes & Raisins

Use caution if you have small children that like to eat grapes or raisins.  They can easily fall on the floor and roll to somewhere out of sight.  Some dogs will avoid eating them while other dogs will consume them immediately.  It is still unknow what in a grape is toxic to a dog. It is known that consuming grapes or raisins can cause severe issues and fatalities.

 The size of the dog and breed can dictate how toxic grapes are to dogs.  Smaller dogs can have a fatal outcome from eating just one grape.    Ingestion of grapes usually leads to an onset of symptoms after a few hours. 

Common Side Effects:

• vomiting
• diarrhea

Secondary Symptoms:

• lethargy
• excessive drinking
• inability to pass urine
• kidney failure

 Grapes and Raisins are both toxic to dogs, if your dog has consumed any of these please contact your veterinarian.  

Green Tomatoes

While a ripe tomato can be a nice snack for your dog.  Your pet should be kept from eating green tomatoes or any foliage.  They have toxic effects if enough is consumed by the dog.  Tomatoes are part of the nightshade family.  They contain solanine which is the chemical compound that is toxic to dogs.   

Common Side Effects:

• drooling
• vomiting
• GI issues – diarrhea
• sudden loss of appetite
• lethargy
• confusion
• reduced heart rate

Eating green tomatoes can be fatal to dogs. Often is not fatal depending on how much is consumed.  Avoid allowing your dog to eat unripe tomatoes or plants in your garden. These are not on the list of safe foods for dogs.  

Leeks

Leeks are part of the Allium family that is commonly found in the kitchen.  This plant has the same side effects as eating chives, onions, or garlic.  Consumption destroys red blood cells which can lead to fatal complications.  

Common Side Effects:

• kidney damage
• elevated heart rate
• red gums
• red urine
• difficulty breathing
• cardiac arrest

Prevent your dog from eating leeks.

Macadamia nuts

Macadamia nuts have an unknow toxin to dogs.  Scientists do know that eating relatively small number of nuts can cause toxicity.  If a large quantity of macadamia nuts is consumed it can prove to be fatal.  

Macadamia toxicity in dogs causing the following issues.

Common Side Effects:

• vomiting
• weakness with muscle tremors
• temperature exceeding 102.5 also known as hyperthermia can occur in some dogs

 

  Most dogs recover from the toxic effects after 24 hours.  However, some may need medical intervention to control body temperature.   Its best to seek a veterinarian’s advice if you suspect your dog ate macadamia nuts. 

Moldy foods

As shocking as it may be, mold is harmful for dogs to eat. While dogs can handle a wide variety of bacteria, they do not digest mold well.   It contains a mycotoxin which is most likely Penitrem A, produced by Penicillium spores. There are quite a few other types of molds to watch out for as well.  They all have similar side effects from toxicity.  

Common Side Effects:

• tremors
• vomiting
• fever
• fatal in large quantity 

The important thing to consider is the source of the mold does not have to be people food.  Leaf and grass piles along with vegetable compost out in your garden can have an abundance of mold on them.  There are many other sources of mold that can lead to issues if your dog ingests it. 

Mushrooms

There are many common mushrooms out in the yard that are toxic to dogs.  Your best bet with mushrooms is to not allow your dog to touch or eat any of them that grow wildly.  You should operate under the assumption they all wild mushrooms are toxic to your dog until proven otherwise.  If you would like to know more about which common mushrooms are toxic to dogs, please check out my other can dogs eat mushrooms. 

The symptoms of toxicity from mushrooms in dogs vary greatly with the variety of mushroom.  Most of the time the symptoms start before the 12-hour mark, sometimes it starts in just 6 hours.  Some wild mushrooms can be so toxic that eating just 1 can kill a healthy dog in 12 hours. 

The main symptoms:

• vomiting
• diarrhea
• lethargy
• seizure,
• coma
• tremors
• excessive drinking
• kidney failure
• liver failure.

Wild mushrooms are one of the top foods to avoid feeding your dog.  If you want your pet to survive the ingestion, it is highly recommended you go immediately to the vet.  If you can get a sample of the mushroom bag, it with some damp napkins.  Do not touch it with your bare skin.  This could help identify what the dog ate. 

 I would like to point out that dogs can eat some store-bought mushrooms.  The common white button, or portabella are both edible to dogs.  Some dogs will suffer from upset GI tracts even if they are not toxic.  To get any of the benefits from the store bought ones, they need to be cooked first. 

Mustard Seeds

Mustard and the mustard seeds that they are created from are toxic to dogs.  If your dog eats a large amount of mustard, it will cause gastrointestinal issues.  If the dog only consumed a small amount, they should be fine. 

Side Effects include(larger amounts):

• vomiting
• diarrhea
• It can also lead to an inflammation of the stomach and intestinal tract. 

 

Most of the time the complications are not fatal.  If your dog eats a large amount of mustard, you should take it to the vet to be safe. 

Nutmeg

This is one of the dangerous spices for dogs.  It contains a chemical called myricitrin.  This chemical can affect a dogs central nervous system resulting in series side effects. 

More common symptoms of nutmeg toxicity:

• vomiting
• diarrhea
• stomach pain
• seizures and loss of consciousness

 

Nutmeg ranks up there in toxicity.  If your dog happens to consume baked goods containing nutmeg, it is highly unlikely to cause much harm.  The risk of harm is much greater if the dog gets into the spice drawer or is exposed to nutmeg essential oil. 

Onions

Onions are toxic to dogs just like garlic, leaks, and chives.   Eating an onion can cause damage to the cell walls of your dogs red blood cells.  Almost all the plants in the allium family cause the same issues.  Some are more sever then others.  Onions are not as toxic as garlic.   You should still avoid feeding onions to your dog. 

Common Side Effects:

• kidney damage
• elevated heart rate
• red gums
• red urine
• difficulty breathing
• cardiac arrest

If your dog has eaten any onions you should seek advice from your veterinarian.  

Peach pits

There are two main concerns with peach pits.  The size of the pit can cause internal blockages which result in death.  The second issue with the peach pit is the kernel has Amygdalin which eventually breaks down to Hydrogen Cyanide.   Its best to avoid letting a dog eat the whole peaches due to the hazards of the pit.  You can however feed the dogs slices of peaches, they are nontoxic. 

Common Side Effects:

• vomiting
• diarrhea
• slowed breathing
• seizures
• suffocation due to size of pit
• GI blockage
• death can occur if untreated

Do not let your dog consume peach pits!

Rhubarb leaves

The leaves of the rhubarb plant are very toxic to dogs.  They contain oxalic crystals which will bind to calcium in your dog’s body. 

Common Side Effects:

• salivation due to irritation of the mouth
• tremors
• eventually kidney failure
• You can also expect to see vomiting and diarrhea

This is one or the more serious toxins.  You should consult a veterinarian if your dog ate rhubarb leaves. 

Salt

While salt is an essential mineral in almost all mammals, too much of it can kill a dog.  For a large breed dog, it only takes a few tablespoons to reach a toxic level.  Salt does not have to come from just table salt.  This could be from rock salt used to melt ice, baking soda and other household items. 

Common Side Effects:

• vomiting
• diarrhea
• seizures
• excessive drinking
• urination

Too much salt can kill your dog.  This is in the top 5 foods to avoid feeding your dog.  Salt should never be left out where an dog can easily access it. 

Tea

Any teas that contain caffeine are toxic to dogs.  Dogs that consume caffeine can have similar side effects to humans.  Increased pulse, faster breathing, excitability and sometimes loss of muscle control can occur.  The caffeine in tea can also impact your dog’s GI tract.  It can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

Walnuts

There are some types of walnuts that are safe to eat but most of them are toxic to dogs.  The black walnut that grows in the northeastern USA is highly toxic to dogs.  The main reason why the walnuts are toxic to dogs is the mold that easily grows on them.  The nuts fall on the ground and over time the husk rots off allowing for mold growth.  There are not any toxic chemicals in the walnut.  Even if they do not have the toxic mold, they can cause mild irritation in the GI tract due to the high fat content. 

Xylitol

This is a common sugarless sweetener that is now found in many foods, chewing gum and toothpaste in the USA.  Xylitol is highly toxic to dogs and most canines.  When ingested by a dog, xylitol causes insulin to be released.  This insulin release can cause hypoglycemia.  It only takes around 1/2 a gram per 1 KG of the dogs weight to cause acute liver failure.   

Complications include:

• seizure
• coma
• hypoglycemia
• liver failure
• death

Be sure to keep your chewing gum and toothpaste out of reach of dogs.  Your dog should never eat anything that contains Xylitol.