Dangerous Foods: Are They Harmful to Your Dog?

Dangerous Foods: Are They Harmful to Your Dog?

By: Dr. Dawn Ruben

Americans spend over $10 billion dollars a year on food for our petsStain and Odor Remover
Nature's Miracle Stain and Odor Remover is Guaranteed to remove pet accident stains and odors that other products fail to remove including old uri...
. Despite buying the best food available, some pets would rather eat what we eat. However, certain foods can be dangerous to your pet, causing varying degrees of illness. Some food is toxic due to ingredients and some by improper cooking, storage or poor hygiene.

Alcoholic Beverages. Ethanol is the component in alcoholic beverages that can be toxic when an excessive amount is ingested. PetsStain and Odor Remover
Nature's Miracle Stain and Odor Remover is Guaranteed to remove pet accident stains and odors that other products fail to remove including old uri...
are much smaller than us and can be highly affected by small amounts of alcohol. ExerciseLaunch A Ball
Kyjen Launch-A-Ball is the ultimate dog toy for interactive play and exercise. Simply snap the two pieces together and you are ready for a fun and eas...
caution when drinks and pets are together. Toxicity can cause a wide variety of signs and symptoms, and may result in death. Signs may include odor of alcohol on the animal's breath, staggering, behavioral changes, excitement, depression, increased urination, slowed respiratory rate or cardiac arrest and death.


Apples, Apricots, Cherries, Peaches and Plums. Ingestion of large amounts of stems, seeds and leaves of these fruits can be toxic. They contain a cyanide type compound and signs of toxicity include apprehension, dilated pupils, difficulty breathing, hyperventilation and shock.

Avocados. The leaves, fruit, bark and seeds of avocados have all been reported to be toxic. The toxic component in the avocado is "persin," which is a fatty acid derivative. Symptoms of toxicity include difficulty breathing, abdominal enlargement, abnormal fluid accumulations in the chest, abdomen and sac around the heart. The amount that needs to be ingested to cause signs is unknown. Do not feed your pet any component of the avocado.

Baking Powder and Baking Soda. Baking soda and baking powder are both leavening agents. A leavening agent is a common ingredient in baked goods that produces a gas causing batter and dough to rise. Baking soda is simply sodium bicarbonate. Baking powder consists of baking soda and an acid, usually cream of tartar, calcium acid phosphate, sodium aluminum sulfate or a mixture of the three. Ingestion of large amounts of baking soda or baking powder can lead to electrolyte abnormalities (low potassium, low calcium and/or high sodium), congestive heart failure or muscle spasms.

Chocolate. Chocolate, in addition to having a high fat content, contains caffeine and theobromine. These two compounds are nervous system stimulants and can be toxic to your dog in high amounts. The levels of caffeine and theobromine vary between different types of chocolate. For example, whiteCrystal Eye 4oz
Four Paws Crystal Eye (4 oz.) is a safe tear stain remover for dogs and cats. Crystal Eye can also be used on boxers, bulldogs, shar-peis and similar ...
chocolate has the lowest concentration of stimulants and baking chocolate or cacao beans have the highest concentration.

Depending on the type of chocolate ingested and the amount eaten, various problems can occur. The high fat content in chocolate may result in vomiting and possibly diarrhea. Once toxic levels are eaten, the stimulant effect becomes apparent. You may notice restlessness, hyperactivity, muscle twitching, increased urination and possibly excessive panting. Heart rate and blood pressure levels may also increase. Seizure activityHol-ee Mol-ee Extreme
For the more aggressive chewer and larger dogs, the JW Pet Company Hol-ee Mol-ee Extreme offers the same fun as the famous Hol-ee Roller plus added du...
may occur in severe cases.

 
Printable Version
 
Have a Pet Question?
Send Your Pet Question to Dr. Jon
and His Staff of Veterinarians Ask Dr. Jon
Dr. Jon's Newsletter
Yes! Send Me the Latest Health Information, Pet Tips, Pet Stories and more...
 
 

Related Articles

Related Articles
  • 1Dealing with Dogs that Steal Food

    A lot of dogs steal food from countertops, storage cupboards, or even out of the hands of slow moving children. Stealing food is just one of the things that dogs are really good at and driven to do by...

    Read MoreRead More
  • 2Your Dog Has Allergies – Could It Be His Food?

    Oddly enough, allergies do not spring up because of a new food introduced in your dog’s diet; usually they involve the food your dog has been eating for years.

    Read MoreRead More
  • 3Why Table Scraps Are Bad For Pets

    The holidays are a time of excess - too much partying and too much eating. As much as you may be tempted to reward your pet with a few treats from the table – don’t.

    Read MoreRead More
  • 4Poisoning in Dogs – What You Should Know

    Poisoning is a common problem in dogs and cats. Damage to the body is based on the amount of poison ingested and how long the poison was in the body before treatment. If treatment is immediate, many poisons...

    Read MoreRead More
  • 5Your Guide to Common Dog Poisonings

    There are hundreds of items your pet can get access to. Some things are highly toxic and others are non-toxic. This article is a guide to help you determine if a particular item is a problem.

    Read MoreRead More
 

Over 10,000 Veterinarian Approved Articles

Related Articles
  • 1Dealing with Dogs that Steal Food

    A lot of dogs steal food from countertops, storage cupboards, or even out of the hands of slow moving children. Stealing food is just one of the things that dogs are really good at and driven to do by...

    Read MoreRead More
  • 2Your Dog Has Allergies – Could It Be His Food?

    Oddly enough, allergies do not spring up because of a new food introduced in your dog’s diet; usually they involve the food your dog has been eating for years.

    Read MoreRead More
  • 3Why Table Scraps Are Bad For Pets

    The holidays are a time of excess - too much partying and too much eating. As much as you may be tempted to reward your pet with a few treats from the table – don’t.

    Read MoreRead More
  • 4Poisoning in Dogs – What You Should Know

    Poisoning is a common problem in dogs and cats. Damage to the body is based on the amount of poison ingested and how long the poison was in the body before treatment. If treatment is immediate, many poisons...

    Read MoreRead More
  • 5Your Guide to Common Dog Poisonings

    There are hundreds of items your pet can get access to. Some things are highly toxic and others are non-toxic. This article is a guide to help you determine if a particular item is a problem.

    Read MoreRead More