Treat or Toxic? Foods to Keep Away from Your Pooch!

May 12, 2016

Everyone knows that when you’re eating your favorite treats, your dog suddenly adopts the saddest “I’m so hungry!” face on the planet and while we’ve all given in to our dogs every now and again, but here are some foods that we should never give our furry family members. Even if you don’t intentionally give these items to your pet as a treat, your dog may get into the trash and eat coffee grounds or snatch cherry pits from a bowl – both of which can be toxic in large quantities, so make sure you have a veterinarian you can see in an emergency.

Here is a list of more common toxic foods for dogs:

• Alcohol: Can impair coordination and breathing; consumption may result in coma or death.
• Apple Seeds: Release a cyanide compound when digested. It would take a lot of apple seeds to affect a dog, but it is best to avoid them.
• Apricot Pits: Source of the toxin cyanide.
• Avocados: Contain persin, which is somewhat toxic; may cause vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, or pancreatitis.
• Bread Dough and Pizza Dough, Raw: Unbaked yeast dough can expand in a dog’s stomach, causing bloating. Symptoms include drooling, retching, distended belly, increased heart rate, and, in rare instances, death caused by gastrointestinal rupture.
• Caffeine: Large amounts of caffeine can result in a fast pulse, hyperactivity, increased blood pressure, tremors, seizures, and even death. Seek veterinary help right away if your dog has consumed coffee grounds.
• Cherry Pits: Source of the toxin cyanide.
• Chocolate: Contains caffeine, but the real problem comes from the poison methylxanthine. Symptoms may not show up for hours. Ingestion can cause hyperactivity, vomiting, elevated pulse, tremors, fever, pancreatitis, seizures, and, in rare cases, death.
• Cooked Bones: Can splinter when chewed or can be swallowed in too-large pieces. This can cause choking, internal bleeding, or digestive blockages that could result in serious illness or death.
• Corn on the Cob: Dogs can easily chew and swallow the cob itself. Bits of cob can cause digestive blockages, a serious condition indicated by vomiting and diarrhea. If unresolved, a total blockage is fatal.
• Fish, Raw: Raw salmon and trout are toxic if they harbor the bacteria Neorickettsia helminthoeca, which can be fatal to dogs if untreated. Symptoms generally appear 5 to 7 days after consumption and include fever, vomiting, yellow diarrhea, and discharge from the nose. Cooked fish of all kinds is fine.
• Grapes and Raisins: Contain a toxin that can cause liver damage, kidney failure, and sometimes death. Symptoms can occur from as little as one cup.
• Liver, in Excess: Contains high levels of vitamin A. Too much liver can lead to excessive bone growth of the spine and joints, weight loss, and disinterest in eating.
• Macadamia Nuts and Macadamia Butters: Can cause fever, rapid heartbeat, tremors, distress, and weakness.
• Onions and Chives: Contain sulfoxides and disulfides, both of which can cause anemia and damage red blood cells. A large quantity of food containing onions can cause hemolytic anemia. Symptoms include weakness, loss of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, shortness of breath, and darkened urine.
• Pits and Seeds: Including peach and plum pits and persimmon seeds. These are a source of the toxin cyanide.
• Processed Foods: Likely to contain ingredients dangerous to dogs. Chips often contain onion powder and excess salt; diet foods often contain Xylitol; cookies or granola bars contain raisins or chocolate; and pizza contains onions.
• Xylitol: Commonly found in chewing gum, breath mints, and sugar-free foods. Even small quantities of Xylitol can lead to insulin overproduction, kidney failure, and death.

This may seem like a lot to watch our for, but really it’s just common sense so always use your best judgment when giving your dog a piece of human food. The absolute best thing to do is get in the habit of having different kinds of dog treats available to treat your dog when he does something good and then you can maybe cut out some of the begging dogs tend to do…maybe! At Petland Kennesaw, we have a ton of different kinds of treats no matter what your dog’s preference may be and in all different price ranges as well. Swing by and let one of our Pet Counselors help you pick out some good stuff for the four-legged family member in your life! Thanks for reading our blog and see you next time!