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Toxic Dog Food List: Dangerous Foods for Dogs

A list of fruits and vegetables with essential explanations why pet owners should never give some types of human food to canines. Check which human food dogs can eat.

TOXIC FOOD GUIDE FOR DOG OWNERS: Do you have a dog or pet at home? If so, take extra care on these seemingly ‘healthy and common’ people foods.

Some fruits and vegetables, which most humans relish, can be very toxic for dogs and animals. Feeding them to your pet pooch could be fatal.


List of Most Dangerous Foods for Dogs

The list of dangerous dog foods is essential for all animal lovers. It explains why you should only feed certain human food products in moderation.

The toxic dog food list also provides warnings about some edibles. There are a lot of foodstuffs you should never feed to your dog on any occasion.

This summation of killer foods applies to all our four legged friends. But, we accept some individual cases will vary. This would include the breed of dog, its weight, and certain other relevant factors.

Note: It would be a good idea to use this guide as a printable list of foods your dog should never eat!

Grapes, Currants, Raisins

Most grapes, raisins, and some currants are a nutritional human snack. But, they are one of the most dangerous and toxic of all people foods that small dogs can ingest.

Puppies consuming a handful of grapes or raisins can suffer irreversible kidney failure. It can also lead to liver damage within hours.

Typical symptoms of a poisoned dog include vomiting, uncontrollable diarrhea, and abdominal pain. You may also notice a stumble as they walk around.

Garlic, Onions, Chives

Your canine is likely to suffer serious health problems if you feed them even a teaspoon of powdered, raw, or cooked onions, garlic, or chives.

These human food products (also found in baby food) contain disulfides and sulfoxides. Eating them can destroy dogs’ blood cells and the outcome is even more serious for cats.

The result is anemia and irreparable kidney damage. Your dog may exhibit signs of tiredness, weakness, and breathlessness. Dogs also experience vomiting with bloody urine after consuming garlic or onions.

Avocado is a Toxic Dog Food

Avocados and guacamole contain Persin. Always keep this single-seeded berry far away from a pets’ digestive system. Avocado trees contain the toxin in their fruit, leaves, seed, and bark.

Avocado fruit is harmless to most humans. But, it can cause some dangerous side effects for dogs. It can cause diarrhea, vomiting, difficulty breathing, and heart congestion.

Mushrooms are Dangerous for Dogs

As most humans know certain types of wild mushrooms can be poisonous. In fact, consuming certain types of mushroom can be fatal. The same is true if they get consumed by dogs.

Dogs may exhibit symptoms such as changes in heartbeat, wheezing, and vomiting. Diarrhea is typical if they have eaten and ingested a toxic mushroom. The most dangerous mushrooms can induce seizures, comas, and some organ failure.

Potatoes are a Foodstuff Poisonous to Dogs

Neither humans nor dogs should eat and ingest raw potatoes if they are green or have a green rim. Raw and green potatoes may contain solanum alkaloids (solanine). This chemical can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and irregular heartbeats in dogs.

Like their relatives tomatoes, raw potatoes also contain harmful oxalates. They cause problems in the kidneys, digestive tract, and nervous system.

Peaches, Plums, Cherries, Apricots, Persimmons

Do not feed persimmon and pomegranate seeds (or corn kernels) to dogs. It may cause inflammation of the small intestine if consumed by canines.

Likewise, the seeds or pits in peaches, plums, apricots, and cherries contain cyanide. This poisonous chemical can cause intestinal obstruction (enteritis) and respiratory failure.

Apple seed casings are also toxic for dogs. That is because they contain a natural chemical called amygdalin. This can release cyanide after digestion by your pet. Citrus oil extracts may also cause vomiting.

Chocolate, Candy, Chewing Gum

The caffeine content found in chocolate and coffee may be high enough to harm your dog. That is because it contains theobromine and theophylline. These chemicals are toxic for some animals. It can cause vomiting, diarrhea, excessive panting, and heart or nervous system maladies.

Candy contains sugar and Xylitol. It may induce an over-release of insulin, kidney failure, and death. Too much sugar for a small puppy can lead to dental issues, obesity, and even diabetes. Xylitol is a sugar alcohol found in gum, candies, baked goods, and other sugar-substituted items.

A Toxic Dog Food List includes Alcohol, Beer, and Nuts

Hops is an ingredient found in beer that can be toxic for dogs. Alcohol causes animal intoxication, increased heart rate, fevers, and a lack of coordination. Keep an eye out for poor breathing and abnormal acidity.

The biological effects may cause coma or death for smaller animals. Macadamia nuts and walnuts contain a toxin which can inhibit locomotory activities. The result is panting, weakness, swollen limbs, and tremors. Worse cases may see possible damage to a dog’s digestive, nervous, and muscular systems.

Marijuana has an adverse effect on a puppy’s nervous system and heart rate. Too much salt can lead to an imbalance in electrolyte levels. This causes dehydration and will often lead to diarrhea.

The effect nicotine has on small dogs is far worse than it has on humans. Nicotine can damage a pup’s digestive and nervous system. This can result in an increased heart rate, make them pass out, and often results in death.

Rhubarb and Tomato Leaves

Like potatoes, rhubarb leaves also contain oxalates. This can cause problems with your pet’s kidneys, nervous system, and digestive tract. Rhubarb also reduces a dog’s calcium content. That is important because it causes renal failure and other health issues.

Take your pet immediately to an animal emergency clinic if this occurs. The vet will most likely induce vomiting and provide oxygen therapy. They may also begin a doggy blood transfusion.

Atropine and tomatine are also poisonous for some dogs. These substances are present in the stems, vines, and leaves of tomato plants. The resulting effect for your canine is seizures, coma, dilated pupils, and tremors. Watch out for dog diarrhea, vomiting, and drooling (along with death in some severe cases).

Consuming unripe tomatoes may cause gastronomical pain for small puppies. Large dogs will generally handle eating and ingesting red ripe tomatoes quite well as a rule.

Cat Food: In a List of Foods Poisonous to Dogs

Cat food contains proteins and fats – meant for a cat welfare. They are not healthy for a hound if they get eaten in high levels.

Dogs are lactose intolerant. It is one of the human traits that dogs share, to a degree. They rarely have enough lactase enzymes to properly digest dairy foods. Try to give dogs lactose-free dairy products instead.

Dog Foods Not Recommended

The following human food products receive cautionary advice from veterinarians. Dog experts suggest these items are not the best recommendation for dogs welfare.

  • Popcorn
  • Shrimp
  • Almonds
  • Celery
  • Cherries
  • Peppers
  • Corn on the cob
  • Marshmallow


Can Dogs Eat Human Food at All? Safe Human Dog Foods

The following food products that most people eat do not receive any specific warnings or cautionary advice from veterinarians. There seems to be no reason to avoid giving these human foods to dogs.

    Toxic Dog Food List: Dangerous Foods for Dogs

  • Rice
  • Lettuce
  • Bananas
  • Carrots
  • Pears
  • Cantaloupe
  • Peanut butter
  • Fish (except raw salmon and trout)
  • Spinach
  • Pumpkin
  • Meat (fat trimmings can cause pancreatitis)


Dog Foods Allowed in Moderation

The following human food products also receive a cautionary warning from veterinarians.

Dog experts suggest feeding these foodstuffs to dogs ‘in moderation‘.

  • Hot dogs
  • Pineapple
  • Potatoes
  • Watermelon
  • Cheese
  • Bread
  • Liver (in small amounts)
  • Apples
  • Strawberries
  • Blueberries
  • Tomatoes
  • Broccoli


Dog Vet: Keep Dogs Safe from Toxic Food

Always consider contacting a dog vet if your doggy acts stranger than normal. Minor symptoms of illness can be a sign of a worsening situation. Typical signs of an unwell canine are weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, and a lack of coordination.

Most dog owners soon recognize the signs and symptoms of abnormal doggy behavior. The best advice is to ask a veterinarian to check your dog immediately. Do not delay treatment if you have any suspicion that it was one of the foods harmful to dogs.

Waiting too long to seek professional advice is a common reason why some dogs suffer. In the worst cases it can also lead to the death of the dog.


Toxic Dog Food List and Foods Harmful to Dogs