Human Foods Dogs Can’t Eat

As a pet owner, you could be tempted to feed your dog the food you’re eating. While this could seem harmless, it is wise to take a step back when it comes to sharing your food with dogs. In this article, we will list what human foods dogs cant eat.

Fruits

There are plenty of fruits that you can share with your pet. But not all fruits impact your dog positively with their nutritional value. Some can be hazardous for their health.

Knowing what fruits dogs cannot eat is essential. This way you can avoid putting your dog’s health and life at any risk.

Grapes and Raisins

They say that a single grape can cause your dog to drop dead. Grapes can be highly toxic for your dog. A single grape can be deadly for a Chihuahua but not so much for a Great Dane.

Grapes or dried grapes (raisins) shouldn’t be fed to dogs at all. It doesn’t matter if it is peeled, seedless, skinned, or dried, they should be avoided completely. Whether the grapes from the grocery store or the vineyard, they have the same devastating effect.

Scientifically, there is no explanation why this fruit causes an adverse reaction in dogs. However, you must ensure you never feed your dogs any kind of grapes because it can prove to be lethal.

If you’re wondering what’s the worst human food for dogs? Grapes are one of them. If your dog ingests too many grapes or raisins, it will lead to kidney failure within six to eight hours.

Read the full article on Can dogs eat grapes.

Apple Seeds

Apples themselves, when sliced and without seeds, are safe for your dogs. A common mistake dog owners usually make is feeding dogs the apple core along with seeds. However, these two parts are harmful to dogs.

Apple seeds contain cyanide that is released when your dog chews it. A few apple pips won’t be fatal, but you shouldn’t risk it.

A single apple contains approximately 8 to 10 seeds. For a 22-pound dog to be poisoned by consuming the fruit, it needs to ingest a total of 100 apple cores.

Dogs can get cyanide poisoning if they consume plenty of apple seeds or if they eat many apples at once. It can also occur when the poison accumulates in its system after regular consumption of the core and seeds.

As a pet owner you need to keep an eye out for dilated pupils, red mucus membranes, difficulty in breathing, and panting should you suspect your dog has ingested apples.

Read the full article on can dogs eat apples.

Avocados

This is a must-have if you are into healthy meals, but it is a different story for your dog.

Persin is a fungicidal toxin found in avocados. It can cause severe health conditions and even death.

Eating avocados can lead to some nasty gastrointestinal upset and pancreatitis in dogs.

Although dogs are capably resistant to persin, it is better to have them stay away from avocados. This fruit also has high-calorie content, so it can lead to your dog gaining some unwanted pounds on the sides.

Additionally, the avocado’s pit is a massive choking hazard. Your dog’s digestive system cannot process this well and may lead to a massive intestinal block. Your dog might need to undergo surgery if this happens.

Read the full article on can dogs eat avocado.

Persimmon and Plum Pits

The flesh of persimmons and plum is good for your dogs. However, despite the pits of persimmons and plums being good sources of vitamin A and C, they are poisonous.

Like apple seeds, the pits of persimmon and plums also contain cyanide. Also, when consumed in large amounts, they can be a challenge to your dog’s digestive system, particularly in the small intestines.

If your dog eats several persimmons, and plums with their pits and seeds, you have to watch out for the following symptoms: abdominal pain, dehydration, lethargy, loss of appetite, and vomiting.

Persimmon leaves make great tea. However, it is not recommended for you to feed them to your dog. They can cause your dog to have an upset stomach.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes have several components that can be harmful to your dog. Solanine, in particular, which can be found in the leaves and stems of the fruit, is dangerous. Young tomatoes also have higher doses of solanine.

When tomatoes are fully ripened, their solanine levels are reduced. If your dog gobbles up the whole fruit, then you might need to keep an eye for any signs of tomatine poisoning. Also, it can negatively impact your canine’s central nervous system.

A single tomato will not lead to your dog getting sick right away. It takes a large number of tomatoes with stems and leaves to be poisoned.

If you are growing tomatoes in your garden, make sure that area is not somewhere your dog has free access.

Read the full article on Can dogs eat tomatoes.

Rhubarb

The leaves of rhubarb can be particularly poisonous to your dogs. It takes a couple of rhubarb leaves for them to get sick. You have to be extra vigilant if you have rhubarb growing in your yard or when you take them for walks.

Rhubarb poisoning attacks the calcium levels of your dog. This is due to the calcium oxalate content of the plant that irritates the tissues that it comes in contact with.

And the tell-tale signs of rhubarb poisoning are unusual drooling, no appetite, tremors, and a different level of thirst and urination. All these symptoms lead to your dog’s kidney failure.

Lemons and Limes

The citric acid-based in lemons and limes can cause your dog’s digestive system to go haywire. It all depends upon the number of lemons ingested, the weight and size of your dog, and even the sensitivity levels of your dog’s digestive system.

Also, dogs don’t like the bitter taste of lemons and limes.

Never give any part of lemon or lime to your dog because it has essential oils and even chemical compounds that are hazardous to them.

Lemon juice is also a huge thumbs-down because it still has the same acidic acid and unnecessary sugar.

Pecans

Pecans are not the best snacks for your canine. You have to know that this nut contains a harmful toxin called juglone.

Pecans are also prone to mold, and when this happens, it grows tremorgenic mycotoxins that can impair your pet’s neurological system. The adverse effect can double if your dog has an existing nut allergy.

If your dog ingests some moldy pecans, keep an eye for symptoms like seizures and tremors. Chances are that your dog will be terrified during these moments.

Vegetables

Overall, vegetables might not be your dog’s favorite treats. For sure, they’d want something tastier on their palate. These are veggies dogs can’t eat.

Onions

If you want to know what’s the worst human food for dogs, then it is onion.

Onions have N-propyl disulfide, which is toxic for dogs. This is a chemical sulfur compound, and when it fastens to the oxygen molecules of your dog’s red blood cells, it leads to oxidative damage. When this happens, it stops the red blood cells from transporting oxygen throughout your dog’s body.

At the same time, it makes your dog’s red blood cells think that it is dangerous and will attack itself. This process is called hemolysis. When left unattended, it will escalate to hemolytic anemia and eventually death.

You have to know that every part of the onion is dangerous for dogs. The leaves, skins, flesh, and juice are all fatal, and cooking it doesn’t remove the least amount of the disulfide chemical.

Read the full article on Can dogs eat onions.

Chives

Chives belong to the allium species like the onion. And being part of this species means that it has a natural constraining compound aklenylcysteine sulfoxides.

These change into sulfur compounds, and when absorbed by your dog, toxicity damage takes place.

It is irrelevant if it is cooked or not because poisoning from chives would lead to any of the following:

• Oxidative hemolysis
• Formation of eccentrocytes
• Reduced blood oxygen levels
• Development of anemia
• Possible progress of methemoglobinemia.

When your dog ingests chives, the possible poisoning symptoms are vomiting, excessive drooling, diarrhea, irritation in the mouth area, very light gums, weakness, and collapse.

Remember that small amounts of chives would not necessarily harm your dog, but large amounts are lethal.

Garlic

The flavor of garlic is one you would appreciate anytime. Unfortunately, it is not the same for your dogs. Sure, they’ll eat it, but they shouldn’t because it is bad for their health.

This is another example of how different dogs metabolize food compared to humans. Garlic contains thiosulfate, which also causes oxidative damage to your dog’s red blood cells.

It has the same effect as onions and chives that can result in hemolytic anemia when consumed in large quantities. Some of the symptoms of garlic toxicity are gastrointestinal upset, loss of appetite, and dehydration.

Studies indicate, though, that for a dog to be poisoned with garlic, it takes about 15 to 30 grams of garlic for every kilogram of your dog’s body weight. So your dog would need a lot of garlic to be sick. But it all depends on your dog’s level of sensitivity.

Read the full article on Can dogs eat garlic.

Pickles

Pickles are a variety of cucumbers, and although cucumbers are suitable for dogs, you can’t say the same with pickles. Generally, pickles are semi-OK for your dogs, but it’s just how they are made that changes everything.

Note that pickles become what they are because they sit in vinegar and brine for a long time. Salt doesn’t have a place in your canine’s diet.

Too much sodium can potentially lead to sodium ion poisoning and increased thirstiness.

A pickle once in a while should not be poisonous as long as you don’t make it a habit. You have to be conscious of what’s at stake, like your dog experiencing depression, tremors, fevers, diarrhea, and vomiting.

Corn on the Cob

Never share your corn on the cob with your pet.

When removed off the cob, corn is good for them, but the corn on the cob is a choking disaster waiting to happen. If your pet does manage to let it pass through its digestive system, there is another risk of it blocking its intestines.

It is not suitable for dogs, especially small and medium-sized canines. If your dog is hungry enough, it will take on the task of munching every morsel and part of the corn, and before you know it, your dog will have vomiting and diarrhea episodes.

Expect your pet to get dehydrated and even lethargic because something is off in its digestive system.

Read the full article on Can dogs eat corn.

Pantry Items

These are the foods that you might always have in stock inside your pantry. They are sometimes your must-haves cooking ingredients. However, the food items mentioned below are not meant for your dog at all.

Fat Trimmings

You don’t believe in wasting food, so you usually give your meat trimmings – both the uncooked and cooked scraps – to your dog as treats.

Unfortunately, it can be fatal for them. The fat trimmed from meat is something you don’t give to your dog no matter how much they love it. This is another cause of pancreatitis.

These meat scraps are also too fatty that your dog’s digestive system may not be up to the challenge of processing them. When they are not able to digest it, it can cause gastrointestinal problems like vomiting and diarrhea.

This is also unhealthy fat that can add to your dog’s weight, and unwanted pounds are not healthy for your dogs.

No matter how good they are, beef and pork trimmings can be better used for something else. Keep your dog away from them.

Almonds

Almonds are another huge no-no for your dog. Sure, your dog might have had an almond or two in the past and was never sick, but why give your dog human food that can harm them?

These nuts are not toxic for dogs, but unfortunately, your dog’s digestive system doesn’t handle almonds too well.

They are also considered choking hazards, especially to the smaller breeds. Additionally, almonds sometimes attract the Aspergillus mold that has Aflatoxin in them. When the almonds have this kind of mold, it becomes poisonous to your dog.

Almonds also become toxic to them if they are salted and seasoned. Too much salt can lead to water retention, which triggers several heart conditions. Almonds also contain high phosphorus content which can cause bladder stones.

Cooked Bones

Never give your dog any kind of bones – cooked or uncooked.

It has been a mistake to grow up associating dogs and bones because although bones stimulate saliva enzymes and prevent plaque from building up, it can also be a death sentence for your dog.

Bones of varying sizes are entirely off-limits. When these bones break, it can cause injury to your dog’s gum and mouth. What’s worse is, once it’s broken, the splinters can get lodged in your dog’s digestive system. This can be a painful and deadly experience for your dog.

If you want to provide the same stimulating effects for oral health care, there are alternatives like dog treats shaped like a bone. The health benefits are not worth the scare and the risks of giving cooked bones to your pet.

Blue Cheese

You should ensure your dog stays away from blue cheese like stilton. The fungus used in making blue cheese has a component called roquefortine C, and dogs are highly sensitive to this substance.

The more considerable amount of roquefortine C that your dog ingests, the more they will be at risk of seizures, high temperatures, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal problems.

Also, keep this extremely away from your overweight dog. Blue cheese has high-fat content, so your goal for your dog is to make them lose a couple of pounds and not gain more.

Blue cheese is also a no-no for lactose intolerant dogs who can’t tolerate dairy and pups with highly sensitive tummies.

Meat

Raw Meat

Dogs can eat raw meat, but in no way does it mean that it is healthy for them. You might argue that this is the setup in the wilds, but you have to consider that your dog is very domesticated, and its body is not as adapted to the wilderness as its ancestors.

Raw meat is harder to digest for your dogs. They won’t be able to maximize the full potential of the nutrients in it.

What’s alarming is raw meat having a higher chance of containing E.Coli, Listeria, and Salmonella, which can be transmitted to your entire household. If your dog is infected, you and the rest of your family members are at risk of getting the bacteria when your dog licks your face or when you clean up your pet’s poop.

Bacon

Your dog can’t have bacon. Bacon is full of fats, and this can cause a significant case of pancreatitis. Additionally, bacon is also loaded with salt that can trigger an upset stomach.

This would lead your dog to drink too much water, which results in bloating. Feeding your dog bacon can turn into a life-threatening situation.

If you want to provide your dog some meat to treat them with healthier and safer meat alternatives like chicken.

Raw Fish

Raw fish is not something that you give your dog. It has a higher percentage of carrying harmful bacteria like Listeria and Salmonella. Not only is this a massive problem for your dog because it can make them sick, but it can also be a risk to you and your family. It is similar to the effects of raw eggs on your dogs.

Your kids, in particular, who are more exposed to your dog’s saliva, as well as immuno-compromised family members, can get sick with you giving raw fish to your dog.

Also, you don’t know the history of the raw fish you’re giving to your dog. It might have been contaminated with lead or even mercury, and these are toxins that can take years to clear out of your dog’s system.

Sweet Treats

Everybody has a sweet tooth and so does your pet dog. But can you give them sweet treats? No.

Artificial Sweetener or Xylitol

Found in almost all sweets, xylitol is used as a sugar substitute. Chemically, xylitol is sugar alcohol processed to look like regular white sugar. In some countries, it is used in oral care products and as a food additive.

Xylitol is as sweet as sucrose but with fewer calories. It also classifies low in the glycemic index, which makes it safe for diabetic people. It has many benefits for people, but it is highly toxic and fatal when it comes to dogs.

In dogs, xylitol causes the pancreas to release insulin at abnormal levels. The prolonged discharge can lead to the levels of your dog’s blood sugar decreasing dangerously.

The immediate negative impact of xylitol depends on the weight of your dog. You can follow the dosage of 50mg of xylitol per pound of your dog’s body weight. The higher xylitol is ingested, the more likely your dog will suffer from liver failure.

Chocolate

Chocolate should 100% be part of your “what human food can dogs eat and not eat” list. It should be highlighted and be part of the “not to eat” column. Chocolate is one of the human foods dogs cant eat because it can be lethal to them.

Chocolate ingestion can make your dog very sick, and this is due to theobromine and caffeine that’s usually part of a chocolate’s ingredients.

Theobromine, in particular, is something that dogs cannot metabolize. For humans, this is used as a heart stimulant, diuretic, muscle relaxant, and even a blood vessel dilator. These human effects don’t have the same aftermath to dogs.

Be mindful that the darker and more bitter the chocolate is, the more it can be fatal to your pet. Also, some chocolates have nuts in them, which can add to the elements that can make your dog sick.

Read the full article on Can dogs eat chocolate.

Candy

Candies in small amounts can be given as treats and should not pose a health threat to your dog.

You have to watch out for the ingredients in the candy that you give.

The threat in candy would be the ingredient xylitol which is common in almost all “sugar-free” candies.

As mentioned earlier, xylitol harms your dog’s digestive system. The side effects can kick in as early as an hour after they have xylitol-based candies.

Beverages

Coffee

Coffee is life but not to your dog. A sip or two might be fine, but not more than that.

And yes, this is all due to the caffeine found in coffee. Dogs are very sensitive to caffeine. Drinking a cup or more can be fatal. The symptoms will be felt by your dog in half an hour and can go on for the next 12 hours.

Smaller breeds will go through immense discomfort. Caffeine can damage your dog’s major organs like the central nervous system, heart, kidneys, liver, and lungs.

Caffeine toxicity is a serious matter when it comes to your pet.

Read the full article on Can dogs drink coffee.

Tea

Teas with caffeine on them should also be avoided and should not be given to your dog. It follows the same principle of why coffee is a huge no for your dog.

Caffeinated teas can cause your dog’s heart rate to elevate. There is no real need for them to drink tea. Water is and will always be the only kind of fluid that your dog is required to take for hydration.

Even herbal teas are not recommended because, again, some ingredients are incorporated to come up with these teas that can be harmful to your dog.

If your dog happened to have consumed more than 5 cups of tea, expect seizures, tremors, increased blood pressure, and abnormal heart rhythms to occur. The worst-case would be for your dog to just collapse from the caffeine poisoning triggered by the tea.

Read the full article on Can dogs drink tea.

Alcohol

If your dog consumes alcohol, it will be intoxicated. However, this situation will not simply mean a hangover.

Alcohol is highly toxic to your canine buddy. Even a small amount of these beverages – regardless of the alcohol content – can lead to alcohol poisoning.

NEVER feed these dangerous foods to dogs or cats 🚫🐶🐱:
● Alcohol
● Artificial sweetener Xylitol
● Bread dough
● Chocolate
● Garlic
● Grapes & raisins
● Macadamia nuts
● Onions

— PETA (@peta) May 30, 2018

This is due to ethanol, or the hallucinogenic agent found in wine, beer, and liquor, and hops which are primarily used in brewing the beer.

When your dog had a party of its own and drank himself silly, expect signs of intoxication like excessive panting, disorientation, vomiting, seizures, tremors, vomiting, and restlessness. Your dog’s temperature will also go up.

Read the full article on Can dogs drink alcohol.

Treatments for Food Poisoned Dogs

If your dog consumed toxic human food by chance or accident, you should know what to do to save their life.

The first thing you need is to calm yourself so that you can think rationally and clearly. This way you can quickly do what’s best for your dog.

After getting ahold of yourself, do the following:

Get In Touch With Your Vet

This is an emergency, and every minute and hour you lose while pacing and cuddling your dog will not save your precious one’s life. Your vet is the best chance of your dog’s survival.

If your animal doctor advises you to go to the clinic now, drop everything and go to the veterinary. If your vet does a home visit, then make sure to ask what you can do while waiting and what to watch out for.

Soothe Your Pet

There should always be someone that your dog trusts to be with them when they are feeling sick. Don’t let your dog down. Be there for your canine buddy!

Prepare a Sample

Store a sample of whatever your dog has ingested in a container and make sure that it is readily available for your vet to check or test.

Your veterinarian will provide the treatment plan for your dog. They might induce vomiting so your dog can release the substance that they have ingested and trigger the process of decontamination. You can also expect recommendations like your dog being provided IV fluids to control the risk of dehydration.

Your dog may be kept overnight for monitoring or as a preparation for surgery – whatever your vet would propose as the next best course of action to save your dog’s life.

Dog’s beg and whine for food they see on the table or one that you are eating. However, they should not eat something harmful to them.

So, make an effort to know the human foods that dogs can’t eat and educate everyone in your household. Your dog’s life is your responsibility, and not giving in to all their whines and cuteness can very well save their life.