When I got my first dog – I did not know exactly that foods dogs cannot eat. Some of the foods that are safe and nutritious for humans are not suitable for dogs at all. We all understand how important it is to feed our dogs high quality foods that is suitable for them.
If you are unsure about whether something is suitable for your dog, it is best to avoid it. You can always re-introduce the food when you find out if it is safe for you dog.
Here are some surprising human foods that dogs cannot eat.
Can dogs eat Grapes?
Dogs cannot eat grapes. Recent studies have found that grapes can be seriously harmful to a dog’s kidneys. The exact reason behind why grapes effect dogs’ kidneys is not fully understood yet.
Some dogs can tolerate grapes – so this does not affect every dog. If your dog eats some grapes and then shows signs of vomiting, fatigue or diarrhea – it is time to take him to the vet.
Can dogs eat raisins?
Dogs cannot eat raisins. Raisin’s are made by drying grapes – and consuming raisin’s have the same effect on dogs as consuming grapes.
Dogs cannot eat Currants either (sometimes currants are called dried Corinth grapes). These are also in the same family as grapes and raisins and should not be given for dogs.
Can dogs eat Nuts?
Dogs cannot eat nuts. We Humans consider nuts health food – but for dogs nuts can be seriously toxic. Dogs did not consume nuts at any point during their evolution. So, their digestive systems are simply not equipped to metabolize nuts.
All kinds of nuts are bad for dogs, including almonds, pecans, walnuts, and macadamia nuts. The only exception is peanuts and peanut butter. Dogs can digest peanut butter easier than peanuts. So we recommend peanut butter over peanuts for dogs. Although peanut butter is safe for dogs, it is best to control portion sizes. Smaller portions will ensure that there won’t be any digestive problems.
Most dogs can ingest one or two nuts and still be fine. But, if your dog consumes nuts in larger quantities, it is very likely that you will have to take him to the vet. Watch for symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea.
Macadamia nuts are the worst for dogs. According to the ASPCA, “Macadamia nuts can cause weakness, depression, vomiting, tremors and hyperthermia in dogs. Signs usually appear within 12 hours of ingestion and can last approximately 12 to 48 hours.”
Can dogs eat onions?
Dogs cannot eat onions. Onions are toxic to dogs. Onion contain a compound called N-propyl disulfide. This compound is harmless for humans but it damages the dog’s red blood cells. This can lead to serious conditions like anemia. It also causes gastrointestinal irritation for most dogs. Other vegetables in the onion family, such as garlic and chives are also toxic for dogs.
If your dog consumes a small amount of onion – he will probably be fine. But at larger doses, onion can be very harmful to dogs.
Can dogs eat garlic?
Onions and Garlic belong in the same plant family. But Garlic is even more dangerous than onions for dogs. Garlic contains chemicals called Thiosulfates. These compounds damage dog’s red blood cells and lead to anemia.
Symptoms of Garlic poisoning include vomiting and diarrhea.
Can dogs eat salt and salty foods?
Dogs can eat salt only in small amounts.
Although salt makes human foods delicious, salt causes dehydration for dogs. If you dogs eats too much salt – look for signs of dehydration. Often this can mean excessive urination or thirst.
Can dogs eat avocados?
Dogs cannot eat avocados. Avocados should not be give to dogs in any amount. Avocados contain something called persin. Persin is very poisonous to dogs.
If a dog consumes avocados, it may lead to accumulation of fluids in their chest and lungs. This fluid accumulation can lead to breathing difficulties and lack of oxygen. At high enough amounts this can become lethal.
Can dogs eat chocolate?
Dogs cannot eat chocolate because chocolate contains methylxanthines, theobromine and caffeine. A dog’s stomach cannot metabolize any of these compunds well.
Chocolate is made from Cacao seeds, which is also the source of coffee. Like coffee, the caffeine in chocolate harms dogs.
Symptoms of chocolate poisoning include panting, vomiting, diarrhea, panting, excessive urination. The caffeine in chocolate can act as a stimulant. This leads to hyperactivity, abnormal heart beats, and even seizures.
The higher the concentration for Cocoa in chocolate the worse it is for dogs. Raw cocoa powder is most dangerous for dogs. Dark chocolates that contain high percentage of cocoa is poisonous for dogs. Sweeter varieties of chocolates, such as milk chocolates have less cocoa. So milk chocolates are less dangerous for dogs.
Can dogs drink tea and coffee?
Coffee and tea are dangerous for dogs to consume due to their caffeine contents.
Caffeine stimulates a dog’s nervous system. This can lead to multiple symptoms, including hyperactivity, vomiting, and diarrhea. At higher doses it can also cause elevated heart rate, seizures and tremors.
Can dogs eat Marijuana?
Whether its buds, edibles or second-hand smoke, marijuana is not good for dogs. Your furry companion will not enjoy marijuana in a way that humans do. If a dog eats marijuana – yes, it will get high. But, if it ingests too much pot – it could even die.
Unfortunately, a lot of dog parents celebrated legalization with their canine companions. This was not a good idea.
Look for signs of paranoia, such as panting or pacing if your dog gets high. Other symptoms include lethargy, low blood pressure, and loss of balance. Marijuana can also cause excessive urination and breathing problems.
CBD oil, a form oil made from the marijuana plant however, is safe for dogs. CBD oil does not contain THC, the psychoactive compound that creates the feeling of getting high.
Can dogs eat Tobacco?
Tobacco in large enough amounts is very toxic to dogs. Nicotine is the main ingredient that makes dogs sick if ingested. A dog will get sick if it ingests 1 mg of nicotine per pound its body weight. One cigarette contains 10 to 20 mg of nicotine. Which means, eating 1 cigarette can make a 20-pound dog sick. For the same 20 pound dog, 4 to 8 cigarettes could be lethal. For a 40 pound dog, a lethal dose would be double that.
Dogs are not usually attracted to cigarettes. But chewing tobacco or nicotine gum (used for quitting smoking) can be pretty enticing to dogs. Often these are flavored or sweetened, which attracts the dogs. If you have any tobacco in your household, it is best to keep them somewhere inaccessible by dogs.
If you think your dog may have ingested nicotine, call the vet right away.
Can dogs drink beer?
Dogs cannot drink beer or any other kind of alcoholic beverage. Even small amounts of alcohol is toxic to dogs. Alcohol consumption causes ethanol poisoning in dogs. Dogs’ livers cannot process alcohol the same way humans do.
If your dog accidentally consumes alcohol, look for “drunk” symptoms. Common symptoms include vomiting, lack of coordination, tiredness, and diarrhea. Too much alcohol can lead to lung failure, heart attack or even death.
It is best to make sure that your dog cannot get to anything that contains alcohol, such and perfumes, mouthwash or after-share lotions.
Can Dogs Eat Raw Yeast Dough?
Dogs cannot eat raw yeast dough.
Like alcohol, raw yeast dough can cause ethanol poisoning in dogs. The yeast cells produce alcohol when they ferment. Dogs can get drunk from this alcohol. Also, the dough can expand in a dog’s stomach which can cause bloating. The bloating causes difficulty breathing and weakness.
If your dog ingests raw yeast dough look for symptoms like lack of coordination and vomiting.
Because of these reasons, it is extremely unsafe for a dog to consume raw yeast dough.
Can dogs eat mushrooms?
Dogs should not eat mushrooms. Store bought mushrooms that we consume are considered safe for dogs. But any kind of wil mushroom should be completely avoided. Wild mushrooms can often be poisonous to dogs and can cause damage to live and kidneys. Consumption of wild mushrooms can also cause digestive or neurological problems.
To be on safe side, it is better to not give your dogs mushrooms at all.
Can dogs eat xylitol (sweetener)?
Xylitol is used as a calorie free sweetener for many human foods. Gum, candy, and toothpaste can contain xylitol. Xylitol is among the most toxic foods for dogs.
When a dog consumes xylitol, he may experience a quick drop in blood sugar level. This can result in conditions like muscle weakness.
If a dog has xylitol poisoning, they can experience sudden liver failure. In some cases, it can appear within days of consuming xylitol.
If your dog ingests xylitol, it’s best to take him to the vet. Watch for symptoms that include vomiting, lethargy, poor co-ordination and even seizures.
Can dogs eat gum?
Dogs cannot eat gum.
Sugar free gum is worse for dogs than gum that contains sugar.
If your dog eats gum containing sugar, he might experience some digestive problems.
But, for Sugar free gums symptoms will be more serious. Sugar free gums often contain xylitol. Xylitol is toxic to dogs and can cause rapid drop in blood sugar levels.
If you have small dog, even a small amount of gum can be very dangerous. If a small dog consumes even one or two sticks of sugar-free gum, you may need to go to the vet.
Can dogs eat pomegranate?
Dogs cannot eat pomegranate.
According to most vets, dogs should not eat pomegranate in any amount. Dogs cannot digest the seeds of a pomegranate. The seeds often cause stomach issues and diarrhea.
Pomegranate also contains something called tanins in very large quantities. Tanins are not good for dogs. When the dogs metabolic process tries to digest tanins, it causes stomach ache and vomiting.
Can dogs eat Lemons and Limes?
Dogs cannot eat lemons or limes. In fact, these can be quite toxic to dogs.
Lemon skin contains a compound called psoralen. Psoralen causes digestive problems in dogs. Look for symptoms like vomiting if your dog consumes lemons. If your dog consumes a large amount of lemons or limes, watch out for more serious symptoms like difficulty walking or Tremors. If this happens, take your dog to the vet immediately. At high enough amounts lemons can cause liver failure in dogs.
Conclusion
This is the list of all the human foods that can be dangerous for a dog. Let us know if we missed anything and we will add it to the list.
Now that you know what dogs cannot eat – check out our list of what dogs should eat for optimal health. Also, check out our list of best dog food brands that don’t add any harmful chemicals in their products.