Common Poisonous Foods for Dogs

Many dog owners give their pets tidbits of human food. While veterinarians frequently complain about this, but most owners cannot resist. However, many foods are toxic to dogs. Here is a list of the most common poisonous foods for dogs. The list is not exhaustive, but does contain the ten most common foods that cause problems for your dog. A full list can be seen on the HSUS website.

1) Chocolate, Coffee, Caffine. Any of these substances are bad for your dog. They contain compounds called methylxanthines. These are found in the seeds of the cacao plant, the fruit of the plant used to make coffee, and a nut extract found in many colas. Methylxanthines can cause vomiting and diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst and urination, hyperactivity, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors, seizures and even death in dogs

2) Alcohol. No beer for the dog. Alcohol causes vomiting, diarrhea, decreased coordination, central nervous system depression, difficulty breathing, tremors, abnormal blood acidity, coma and even death in dogs .

3) Avocado. No guacamole for the dog. The leaves, fruit, seeds and bark of avocados contain Persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. If enough is ingested, it can even kill the dog.

4) Macadamia nuts. These nuts are popular in cookies and candies. However, they make dogs really sick. Within twelve hours of eating these nuts, dogs suffer from weakness, depression, vomiting, tremors and hyperthermia. These symptoms last 12 to 48 hours.

5) Grapes and raisins. No one knows what the toxic substance is in grapes and raisins, but they can cause kidney failure in dogs. Grape vines should be monitored and the grapes kept from the dogs, who will eat them when they get ripe if humans do not intervene and remove them first.

6) Xylitol is a sweetener used in many candies, gums, and other foods. Xylitol causes a huge release of insulin. In the short term, this causes a drop in blood sugar that can lead to loss of coordination, vomiting, and lethargy. Shortly after this, the liver fails and the dog dies.

7) Onions, garlic, chives. These foods can cause hemolytic anemia, where the red blood cells burst. Generally, the dog dies of a stroke or pulmonary embolism within a short time of acquiring hemolytic anemia.

8) Milk. Dogs do not possess the enzyme that breaks down the milk sugar lactose, so milk can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

9) Salt. While every creature needs salt, too much is toxic. Feeding dogs salty chips can lead to a sodium imbalance and even sodium ion poisoning. Dogs who have too much salt show vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, elevated body temperature, seizures and even death

10) Raw or undercooked meat, eggs, and bones. Raw meat, bones, and eggs can contain Salmonella or E. coli that can make your pets sick. In addition, raw eggs contain an enzyme called avidin that decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin), which can lead to skin and coat problems.