Toxic Foods for Dogs

Aside from the fact that dogs can choke on avocado pits, the flesh is generally unsuitable for them. However, even among veterinarians, the true extent of avocado’s harmfulness to dogs is a matter of debate.

Symptoms: Rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, ascites (fluid buildup in the abdomen)

Whether cooked or raw, dogs should never be given poultry bones. The reason: The thin bones can splinter and get stuck in your dog’s throat. Frequent feeding of bones also leads to constipation.

Danger: Injury to the oral cavity or digestive tract, especially with marrow bones: getting stuck on the teeth or in the throat, choking, intestinal obstruction

These types of nuts contain a relatively high amount of phosphorus and are generally too fatty for dogs. They are particularly unsuitable for dogs with kidney disease. However, there are also nuts that dogs can eat!

Danger:  In sick dogs, the condition may worsen.

Like some people, dogs are lactose intolerant. Therefore, cheese and milk are not suitable for dogs in large quantities.

Symptoms: Bloating, diarrhea

Swallowing sharp-edged fruit pits (for example, from apricots and plums) poses a significant danger, as it can injure the intestinal lining. In larger quantities, the pits can cause an intestinal obstruction. In small dog breeds, even a single pit can be enough to cause this! If the fruit pits are chewed, the hydrocyanic acid from the kernel is released. This is toxic not only to humans but also to dogs. In large quantities, acute poisoning is possible.

Symptoms: Severe vomiting with diarrhea, cramps, shortness of breath, neurological symptoms

Danger: Intestinal injury, intestinal obstruction, acute poisoning

Beans are only easily digestible for dogs when cooked. Raw beans contain the toxin phasin, which causes red blood cells to clump together.

Symptoms: Abdominal cramps, fever, liver swelling

Pork can contain the Aujeszky’s disease virus, which is fatal to dogs. Once infected, your dog unfortunately cannot be saved. However, the risk of infection from regular domestic pork is now low. The situation is different with wild boar meat. An infection is always fatal. The symptoms of the disease resemble rabies, hence the name “pseudorabies.” If the dog does not have a valid rabies vaccination, it must be euthanized even if rabies is only suspected.

Symptoms: Severe neurological symptoms such as tics, seizures, foaming at the mouth, personality changes, fits of rage

Seasoned meat and salty treats are forbidden for dogs. Salt, in large quantities, can damage the animal’s heart and kidneys.

Danger: In dogs with heart and kidney disease, the condition may worsen.

Theobromine, which is toxic to dogs and is also found in black tea and coffee (caffeine is also dangerous for dogs), has fallen into disrepute. Generally speaking, the darker the chocolate, the more theobromine it contains. It can be dangerous if a small breed dog steals an entire bar, especially if it also ingests the aluminum foil, which can be toxic and damage the intestinal lining.

Symptoms:  Vomiting, diarrhea, rapid heartbeat, tremors, cramps, difficulty breathing

Very fatty foods like bacon or chicken skin are not suitable for dogs and can cause metabolic disorders (fatty liver disease, diabetes). The kidneys and pancreas are also affected if a dog frequently eats excessively fatty leftovers.

Symptoms:  Digestive problems, metabolic disorders

Xylitol,  is a sugar substitute found in many products, including chewing gum, hard candies and in some peanut butter. Carefully read the label of peanut butters usually intended for human consumption. Dogs often cannot tolerate it well, and it can cause life-threatening drops in blood sugar. Always keep xylitol-containing foods out of reach of dogs. If your dog ingests any xylitol, seek veterinary advice immediately.

Symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea

These nightshade plants contain the toxin solanine when raw and should therefore never enter a dog’s stomach (and in the case of potatoes, not a human’s either).

Symptoms:  In larger quantities, vomiting, diarrhea, impaired brain function.

The specific toxin is oxalic acid. In dogs of certain breeds and those predisposed to intolerance, consuming large quantities of grapes and raisins can lead to fatal kidney failure.

Symptoms: Vomiting, lethargy, kidney failure

Raw, cooked or dried – onions contain sulfur compounds that destroy the dog’s red blood cells.

Symptoms: Blood in urine, jaundice, changes in blood count

Poisoning from plants growing along roadsides is rather uncommon. These include, for example, yew, laburnum, foxglove, monkshood, angel’s trumpet, larkspur, rhododendron, and belladonna. Dogs rarely eat these plants, however – the danger is greater for children or horses.

Symptoms: Stomach and intestinal irritation, abdominal cramps

Dogs are frequently poisoned by antifreeze (windshield washer fluid!), which contains ethylene glycol. If it’s left out in the open, for example in a garage, or spilled on the roadside, dogs often lick up the sweet-tasting substance.

Symptoms: Poisoned animals usually show symptoms such as trembling, cramps and staggering, but also vomiting and diarrhea shortly after ingestion.

Often, dogs exhibiting unusual behavior have suffered an insect bite with an allergic reaction. If travelling with your dog be aware of snake bites, such as those from adders, which can also occur occasionally and are not always immediately recognised by their owners.

Symptoms: Swelling, especially of the nose, head, or paws; possibly neurological symptoms (seizures, staggering, trembling, vomiting); shortness of breath

One of the most common poisonings in dogs, especially in rural areas, is rat poison. But even in cities, bait is laid out, which smaller animals then retrieve from the provided containers. The poisoned bait is sometimes placed specifically for rats, and sometimes deliberately positioned so that dogs, in particular, will find and eat it. Rat poison contains warfarin, which is used to thin the blood in humans. However, animals become very ill very quickly after ingesting it.

Symptoms: Ingesting larger quantities can cause bleeding from all mucous membranes or minor injuries. If the dog has ingested small amounts, the effects are more likely to be chronic. The dog will be lethargic, tired, and the mucous membranes will be pale.

Treatment: The dog must be taken to the vet immediately.

A serious behavioral disorder is called allotriophagia or pica. In this condition, the dog eats things that are normally indigestible, such as sand or soil. Eating feces, contrary to popular belief, is not a deficiency but a bad habit that should be stopped. “This also includes eating carrion,” says the veterinarian. “It smells interesting to dogs, but isn’t always well-tolerated because dogs are domesticated and accustomed to a healthy diet.”

It’s not always poisoning if your dog is behaving strangely: it’s not just humans who can suffer from heatstroke or sunstroke from too much sun. Make sure your four-legged friend isn’t exposed to the sun all day during the height of summer. Even with the window open, it’s dangerous to leave dogs waiting in the car.

Symptoms: Coordination problems, altered consciousness, seizures