Ten Foods That Dogs Should Never Eat

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Dogs love to eat. We all know that. In fact they try to eat anything they can get their paws on. Unfortunately, like children, dogs don’t know any better when it comes to what they ingest. Which is why you have to be extra careful what you are feeding your dog and watching what your dog puts in their mouths. Thanks to author Maura Wolf, we have a great list of ten foods that your dog should be avoiding at all costs.

Chocolate

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Chocolate contains the chemical theobromide, which can cause serious problems if ingested by dogs. Consuming chocolate may damage a dog’s central nervous system, heart, lungs and kidneys.

Grapes and Raisins

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A single serving of raisins or grapes can cause serious illness or death in some dogs. Because the toxin accumulates internally, even a dog who has no negative reaction to these fruits may become extremely ill over time.

Onions and Garlic

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Onions, garlic, scallions and shallots contain disulfide, a compound that can damage dogs’ red blood cells. When dogs eat raw onions or garlic, they risk developing hemolytic anemia, which occurs when destroyed red blood cells cannot be replaced.

Baking Dough

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Uncooked bread dough that contains yeast can be dangerous for any dog who ingests it.

Nuts

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Nuts are unhealthy for dogs because their high phosphorus content may lead to bladder stones. Walnuts are poisonous for dogs, as are macadamia nuts. Eating even a few macadamia nuts can be harmful, leading to vomiting, muscle pain, joint swelling and overall weakness.

Fatty Foods

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Dogs are fond of meat and other high-fat foods, but cooked and uncooked meat table scraps and fat trimmed from meat can cause pancreatitis. Unfortunately, some people treat dogs with leftovers, and dogs sometimes treat themselves by stealing food.

Nutmeg

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The same nutmeg used in baking or sprinkled on eggnog can be very toxic to dogs, and the oil in nutmeg may cause central nervous system damage.

Xylitol

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Xylitol is a sweetening agent used in sugar-free gum and candy, and as a sweetener added to sugar-free baked goods. Products containing xylitol should never be given to or within reach of dogs. Symptoms of xylitol poisoning include vomiting, lethargy, loss of coordination, erratic behavior, disorientation and seizures.

Avocado

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Avocado fruit, leaves, seeds and bark may be toxic to dogs and can lead to diarrhea and vomiting. The danger comes from persin, an oil-soluble toxin found in the avocado fruit and its skin.

Rawhide Treats

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Feeding rawhide treats can bring about a range of problems. Some rawhide products have tested positive for toxic chemicals or for salmonella and E. coli bacterial contamination. If you give your dog rawhide, supervise her while she is chewing it, because it softens and becomes enlarged by dog saliva.

About the Author

Maura Wolf’s published online articles focus on women, children, parenting, pets and mental health. A licensed psychotherapist, Wolf counsels individuals struggling with depression, anxiety, body image, parenting and LGBTQ issues. Wolf has two Master of Arts degrees: in English, from San Francisco State University and in Clinical Psychology, from New College.

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