10 Most Dangerous Foods for Dogs: It’s not just chocolate you need to watch out for!

As a nation of dog lovers, it is often said that they rule the house, and you would not be shamed for occasionally feeding your four-legged friend some of your own favourite foods simply to inflict joy upon them.

However, with so much information out there on what is and isn’t harmful to dogs, it can seem overwhelming, especially for first-time pet owners.

Johanna Buitelaar-Warden, Founder and Managing Director of Lords & Labradors, the luxury pet product company, said, “Foods that humans consider healthy and good can often be harmful to our beloved dogs and cause serious illness and even fatalities. It is best practise to feed your dog specific dog-friendly food, or a specific vet recommended diet. Should you wish to feed human food it is highly recommended that you prepare the food yourself to ensure no harmful ingredients have slipped in.”

To help first-time dog owners, Lords & Labradors have created a simple infographic of the 10 most harmful foods for dogs.

1 Chocolate

Chocolate, the most well–known poisonous food for dogs, contains a stimulant called theobromine — a bit like caffeine — that’s poisonous to dogs.  Theobromine mainly affects the guts, heart, central nervous system, and kidneys and signs of theobromine poisoning will occur between four and 24 hours after a dog has eaten chocolate. This can result in vomiting, diarrhoea, restlessness, hyperactivity, and seizures.

2 Onions, garlic, and chives

The onion family, whether dry, raw, or cooked, is particularly toxic to dogs and can cause gastrointestinal irritation and red blood cell damage. Eating these vegetables and herbs can cause stomach and gut irritation and potentially lead to red blood cell damage and anaemia. These ingredients are particularly popular in takeaway food therefore it is good practise to never feed your dog human food you haven’t prepared yourself.

3 Alcohol

Alcohol has a huge impact on dogs even in small doses. The drink not only causes intoxication as it does in humans, but it can lead to sickness, diarrhoea and even central nervous system damage.

4 Grapes & Raisins

The active ingredient which causes the toxin is unknown however, both grapes and raisins may cause severe liver damage and kidney failure Dogs that already have underlying health problems are at greatest risk and just one raisin can be severely toxic. Experts agree that there is no “safe” dose of grapes and raisins.

5 Corn on the Cob

Corn on the cob may seem like a healthy table scrap to give your dog, but unlike most vegetables, it does not digest well in a dog’s stomach. Signs to look out for are vomiting, loss of appetite or reduced appetite, absence of faeces or diarrhoea and abdominal discomfort.

6 Macadamia Nuts

Macadamia nuts contain a toxin that can affect a dog’s muscles and nervous system. Within 12 hours of ingestion, macadamia nuts can cause dogs to experience weakness, depression, tremors, vomiting and increased body temperature. 

7 Avocado

A more unknown dangerous food for dogs is avocados. The avocado plants contain a substance called Persin which is in its leaves, fruit and seed and can cause vomiting and diarrhoea in dogs. If you grow avocados at home, keep your dog away from the plants.

8 Cooked bones

Giving your dog a raw uncooked bone to chew can be great, but the advice is to be sure to keep an eye on them while they tuck in and avoid giving cooked bones. These can easily splinter and in large quantities cause constipation or at worst, perforation of the gut which can be fatal.

9 Artificial Sweetener

The artificial sweetener xylitol is found in many foods including some sugar-free gums, diabetic cakes, and diet foods. It causes insulin release in many species (but not in humans) leading to potentially fatal hypoglycemia (lowered sugar levels). This sugar can also be found in some peanut butters so always check the label.

10 Caffeine

Like chocolate, caffeine is a stimulant. A couple of laps of tea or coffee are unlikely to do any harm, but if your dog swallows a handful of coffee beans or tea bags they could be in danger.