Chocolate in Any Form
Here’s something that might shock you – that innocent piece of chocolate you dropped near your pet’s food area could be a death sentence for your furry friend. The problem in chocolate is theobromine, which makes chocolate one of the most toxic foods for dogs. Smaller dogs face greater risk of chocolate toxicity than larger ones because it takes less chocolate to affect them negatively – a small dog weighing under 10 pounds can only tolerate the equivalent of one Hershey kiss before it becomes an emergency situation. Even quite small amounts of chocolate can be toxic for dogs due to a chemical (theobromine) that dogs cannot tolerate. Chocolate can cause heart problems, tremors, seizures, and death. Dark chocolate is a lot more toxic for dogs than milk chocolate or white chocolate. Think of it this way – if someone told you a single kiss could kill you, you’d probably avoid all kisses from strangers, right?
Grapes and Raisins
You might think you’re giving your pet a healthy snack, but grapes and raisins are highly toxic to dogs and can cause sudden kidney failure – even just one grape can cause serious issues in small dog breeds. Grapes and raisins can put dogs at risk of kidney failure – even a small amount can make your dog seriously ill, though some dogs appear much more sensitive to grape toxicity than others. These fruits can cause serious problems like kidney failure because their tartaric acid is toxic to your dog’s kidneys. Raisins are found in many foods we love like cakes, biscuits and cereals, and both grapes and raisins may cause severe liver damage and kidney failure. The scariest part? Veterinarians aren’t sure why the fruit is so toxic, which means we can’t predict which pets might be affected more severely.
Xylitol (Artificial Sweetener)
That sugar-free gum wrapper or diet candy that fell into your pet’s bowl could be hiding a silent killer. Candy, gum, toothpaste, baked goods, and some diet foods are sweetened with xylitol, which can cause your dog’s blood sugar to drop and can also cause liver failure. Xylitol is used as a sweetener in many products and can cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and potentially liver damage, with initial signs including vomiting, lethargy and loss of coordination that can progress to seizures. Our desire for sweet treats and sugar-free products (including some peanut butters) are often laced with xylitol which causes an insulin release in our bodies. What makes this particularly dangerous is how quickly it acts – symptoms can appear within minutes of consumption. Liver failure can happen within just a few days.
Onions, Garlic, and Chives
These kitchen staples might add flavor to your cooking, but they’re absolute poison for your pets. Onion, garlic and chives are members of the Allium species which can cause gastrointestinal irritation and red blood cell damage leading to anemia – although cats are more susceptible, dogs are also at risk depending on the amount ingested. Onions and garlic contain sulfoxides and disulfides, which can damage red blood cells and cause anemia in cats and dogs. All allium plants, including chives and leeks, can cause potentially fatal anemia in dogs and cats, with certain Japanese breeds like Akitas and Shiba Inus being extra sensitive, though the plants are dangerous to all dogs. Even small amounts can be problematic – it’s like giving your pet a slow-acting poison that destroys their blood from the inside out. Onion and garlic powders are found in many prepared foods—even baby food—so make sure to read labels before serving store-bought food to your pet.
Avocado
That trendy superfood on your toast could be a nightmare for your pet. Dogs should not eat avocados because they contain persin, a toxin that causes diarrhea and vomiting in dogs and can be deadly. The leaves, fruit, seeds and bark of avocados contain persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs, while birds and rodents are especially sensitive to avocado poisoning and can develop congestion, difficulty breathing and fluid accumulation around the heart – some ingestions may even be fatal. Avocado contains a lot of fat, which can make your dog ill or even lead to pancreatitis, and due to the size of the pit, avocados can also create a choking hazard for dogs. It’s ironic that something so healthy for humans can be so dangerous for our beloved companions.
Macadamia Nuts
These expensive nuts pack a dangerous punch for pets, and you don’t need many to cause serious problems. Just six raw or roasted macadamia nuts can make a dog sick, causing symptoms like muscle shakes, vomiting, high temperature, and weakness in their back legs – eating chocolate with the nuts will make symptoms worse, maybe even leading to death. Just a small amount of macadamia nuts can be toxic for dogs, with initial symptoms showing within just a few hours including vomiting, fever and lethargy – severe signs can develop within 12 hours, and since macadamia nuts are high in fat, they can also lead to pancreatitis. Think of macadamia nuts as expensive little poison pills for your pet – all it takes are a few to poison a medium-sized dog.
Alcohol
Any alcoholic beverage or food containing alcohol should never be accessible to your pet’s eating area. Alcoholic beverages and food products containing alcohol can cause vomiting, diarrhea, incoordination, depression, difficulty breathing, tremors, changes in blood pH, coma and even death – alcohol is rapidly absorbed after ingestion, so it’s important to take prompt action in seeking veterinary attention. Because cats and dogs are smaller than humans, alcohol can have a deadlier effect on them – even small amounts of alcohol can cause harm, and the smaller your pet, the more dangerous even a small amount can be. Alcohol can be found in products like drinks, hand sanitiser and antifreeze, and since it’s absorbed very quickly into a dog’s system, it can cause damage in as little as 30 minutes and can be fatal. It’s like giving a toddler a shot of whiskey – their small bodies simply can’t handle it.
Raw Meat and Eggs
While the raw food trend might seem natural, leaving raw meat or eggs in your pet’s bowl is asking for trouble. Raw meat and raw eggs can contain bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli that can be harmful to pets and humans alike, while raw eggs contain an enzyme that can interfere with absorption of certain vitamins, leading to skin/coat problems. Raw meat and raw eggs can contain bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli, and raw eggs contain an enzyme called avidin that decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin), which can lead to skin and coat problems. The raw feeding trend advocates feeding pets a “raw diet” to simulate what their ancestors ate in the wild, however, just because wild dogs eat raw meat doesn’t mean your pet dog should. Your domesticated pet doesn’t have the same immune system as their wild ancestors, so what might be natural in the wild can be dangerous in your living room.
Yeast Dough
That innocent bread dough might look harmless, but it can literally explode in your pet’s stomach. Yeast dough can rise and cause gas to accumulate in your pet’s digestive system, which can be painful and cause the stomach to bloat and potentially twist, becoming a life-threatening emergency – the yeast also produces alcohol as a by-product once ingested, so raw bread dough exposures can develop complications of alcohol toxicity as well. When dogs eat uncooked bread dough, it can begin to rise in their stomach and cause discomfort, and as the dough ferments, it can produce chemicals that are poisonous for dogs – if your dog has eaten bread dough, they may have a distended (swollen) stomach or you may see them retching. Imagine your pet’s stomach as a bread oven – except the “bread” is rising inside them with nowhere to go. Yeast dough can rise and cause gas in an animal’s digestive system, which can be painful and can even cause the stomach or intestines to rupture.
Caffeine
That spilled coffee or energy drink remnant in your pet’s bowl could send them to the emergency room. While a small taste of tea or coffee will not affect your dog, a larger amount of caffeine can be dangerous, especially for smaller dogs – caffeine can damage the kidneys, liver, heart, lungs and nervous system, causing vomiting, diarrhoea, high blood pressure and tremors, and in severe cases, it can cause heart arrhythmias or coma. Both caffeine and xylitol are toxic to dogs. Chocolate poisoning is caused by the caffeine and theobromine found in chocolate, which can cause cardiovascular and neurological issues in dogs. Think of caffeine as rocket fuel for your pet’s heart – and not in a good way. Their smaller bodies process stimulants much differently than we do, turning what gives us energy into something that could stop their heart.
Salt and Salty Foods
Those leftover potato chips or salted pretzels might seem like harmless treats, but salt can be surprisingly dangerous for pets. Large amounts of salt can produce excessive thirst and urination, or even sodium ion poisoning in pets – too much salt can cause vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, elevated body temperature, seizures and even death. Homemade playdough is highly toxic to dogs because of its high salt content. What’s particularly sneaky about salt poisoning is that it doesn’t happen immediately – your pet might seem fine at first, then suddenly develop severe symptoms. Pets do not possess significant amounts of lactase (the enzyme that breaks down lactose in milk), so milk and other dairy-based products can cause diarrhea or other digestive upset. It’s like slowly dehydrating your pet from the inside out, even though they’re drinking more water than usual.
Dirty Water
Here’s the one that might surprise you most – simply leaving old, dirty water in your pet’s bowl can be just as dangerous as any toxic food. Researchers from Hartpury University say dogs’ water bowls are the third most contaminated item in the household and can pose a serious health risk – ceramic and plastic bowls are toxic breeding grounds for E. coli, salmonella and MRSA. That slimy coating on your pet’s dirty water bowl is called “biofilm,” and it’s made up of hazardous microorganisms that threaten your pet’s health and yours. A dog’s water bowl is a breeding ground for bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms, especially when left uncleaned for extended periods – when dogs drink from the bowl, they introduce dirt, food particles, saliva, and other contaminants which accumulate and promote harmful bacteria growth. Potential threats include Salmonella, which can cause severe gastrointestinal issues including vomiting, diarrhoea, and dehydration, while biofilm creates an ideal environment for these pathogens to thrive. You wouldn’t drink from a glass that’s been sitting out for days collecting dust and bacteria – so why would you let your pet?
What’s the one thing that connects all these dangerous items? They can all easily end up in your pet’s bowl without you realizing it. That chocolate wrapper that falls while you’re unpacking groceries, the grape that rolls off your plate, or simply forgetting to clean their water bowl for a few days. The solution isn’t just about avoiding these items – it’s about being mindful of your pet’s eating environment every single day. After all, would you want to eat from a dish that hadn’t been properly cleaned, or drink water that’s been sitting stagnant for days?
