The desire to give your dog just a teensy-weensy piece of your chocolate bar is tempting, right? We’ve been there — at home when we’re snacking in front of the TV or at a backyard soiree with friends. But some foods, like chocolate, are toxic to dogs.
Feeding your dog scraps from the table such as fatty cuts of meat, chicken, and turkey skin as well as chicken and turkey bones, is easy but should also be discouraged.
To help you navigate what seems like a confusing topic, we’ve put together a helpful list that includes the human foods that are not safe for dogs and those that are.
What Dogs Shouldn’t Eat
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Chocolate
This may seem like a harmless treat, but ingestion can cause vomiting, diarrhea, panting, excessive thirst, and urination in dogs, among other, more serious problems.
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Grapes and Raisins
Both are commonly enjoyed by humans, but they can be dangerous for dogs. Experts are not entirely sure why, but in some cases a few bites can cause a problem, and in more serious cases, eating this fruit may cause kidney failure.
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Milk and Dairy Products
Cheese is high in saturated fats and can lead to weight gain in dogs if they’re fed too much. And like humans, some dogs may be lactose intolerant. Diarrhea and gas are among the most common lactose-intolerant problems among canines, so it’s best to use caution with this type of food.
Other dairy products like ice cream which contains lactose and high amounts of fat as well as sugar can also cause issues for the pups. Little Things has a good article on feeding dogs cheese and shares that certain cheese is ok in small quantities, but make sure it’s a low-fat type like string cheese.
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Coconut and Coconut Oil
When ingested in small amounts, coconut and coconut oil-based food products appear to be safe for dogs. Use some caution, however, because the oil in coconuts may cause stomach upset and/or diarrhea.
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Nuts
In small quantities, certain nuts and nut butters can be fed to dogs. In fact, we use them in our delicious recipes for Pumpkin Dog Treats and Pupcakes. Some nuts though are too high in fat and nut butters often include ingredients like added oils and sugar which altogether can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. Macadamia nuts for instance can create weakness, vomiting, tremors, and hyperthermia. Check with your vet about which nuts and which quantities are safe for your dog.
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Potato Chips, Pretzels, and Salted Popcorns
As much as you might be tempted to give your doggy a tasting of these satisfying human treats, salt-heavy foods can produce excessive thirst and in high quantities, even sodium ion poisoning in some dog breeds. In fact, too much salt in general should be avoided.
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Avocados
While these fruits are good for humans, they can be anything but healthy for dogs and cats. Several expert sources share in quantity the substance called persin in avocados can lead to issues like vomiting and diarrhea. The high fat content can cause issues like pancreatitis. Plus, it’s a given that the pit is a choking hazard for pets so keep the avocados in your own food, not your pet’s.
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Tomatoes and Raw Potatoes
A ripened red tomato is usually ok to give a dog but avoid the green parts of the tomato plant which contain a substance called solanine, a toxin for canines. Solanine is a poison found in the nightshade family of vegetables, which includes tomatoes and potatoes. Baked or boiled potatoes are safe for dogs, but do not give your dog a raw potato due to the risks involved.
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Apple, Apricot, Cherry and Plum: Seeds and Pits
While the fleshy part of an apple is ok for a dog to eat — and a healthy source of Vitamin C — be mindful of the core and seeds as they contain cyanide, which is harmful not only to pets but to humans as well. The same applies to apricot, cherry, and plum seeds. Ingestion of any of these fruits can cause vomiting, irregular heartbeat, and seizures in some dogs.
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Broccoli
This commonly used vegetable contains isothiocyanates, which can be harmful to dogs in large doses. Small amounts of cooked and/or raw broccoli are ok but be sure to cut up the raw broccoli into small pieces so that your dog does not choke.
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Mushrooms
Wild mushrooms can contain a variety of toxins that are harmful to dogs and the same goes with raw mushrooms in general. Vomiting and diarrhea are common ailments, but there can be more serious side effects, too, so it’s best to err on the side of caution when feeding dogs mushrooms. Stick with the typical grocery-store mushrooms and always cook them before giving to your dog. Practice moderation and consult with your vet for further reassurance.
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Sugar-free Gum
The ingredients in sugar-free gum have been reported as safe for humans, however they pose a problem for pets, causing a rapid drop in blood sugar that leads to weakness and even seizures. Sugar-free gum contains a substance known as xylitol that is also found in other sweet foods like puddings and baked goods. Avoid xylitol, gum, and all types of sugars with your dog.
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Onions, Garlic, Chives and Leeks
All of the above belong to the allium family of herbs and are considered not safe for dogs because they contain sulfoxides and disulfides, substances that can damage red blood cells and cause anemia. Keep out of reach of dogs.
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Foods with Nutmeg and/or Cinnamon
It’s good to avoid giving your dog anything that contains nutmeg or cinnamon. The culprit in nutmeg is called myristicin and it can cause abdominal pain, hallucinations, increased blood pressure and other serious side effects. Cinnamon, while considered not toxic in normal quantities, can irritate your dog’s mouth, so it’s best avoided altogether.
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Tobacco & Alcohol
It goes without saying that tobacco can be harmful to both humans and pets. Second-hand smoke isn’t good for dogs or people, and it can also adhere to pet skin. Alcohol is equally dangerous for dogs, often causing vomiting, breathing problems and other, more serious issues.
Foods Your Dog Can Eat
While the list of harmful foods for dogs is long to be sure, there are plenty of healthy alternatives when fed in moderation and in bite-sized pieces. They include the following.
Fruits – Apples (without the core and seeds), oranges (without the rind), and bananas (no banana peel) are all great sources of energy for your dog. Blueberries are a great source of Vitamin C and contain antioxidants, fiber and phytochemicals to prevent inflammation. You can also feed your dog cantaloupe, mango, peaches, pears, pineapples, and watermelon in moderation. Be sure to remove the seeds, pits and cores before your dog gobbles up these tasty treats.
This Golden Retriever puppy has the right idea! Watermelon slices are a tasty treat in moderation and especially good on warm days outside.
Vegetables – Carrots, cucumber and celery are all great choices and contain lots of vitamins and minerals that are great for pet health. Give your dog bite-sized pieces of carrot to prevent choking. Green beans, peas, broccoli, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin can also be given in moderation.
Low-fat cheese – If your dog is not lactose intolerant, it’s ok to offer a little bit of low-fat cheese like cottage cheese or mozzarella.
Eggs – Scrambled eggs are a great source of protein and go down easily. Dogs Naturally also shares that when done properly, dogs can also eat raw eggs.
Meat & Bones – Lean chicken, turkey, pork, and beef are ok as they are good sources of protein. Remember to remove the bones to prevent choking, especially cooked bones. If you’re thinking about feeding raw bones to your dog, consult with your veterinarian and read articles like this one from the Whole Dog Journal, which goes over the subtleties to consider and shares both sides of the story.
Yogurt – As long as your dog is not lactose-intolerant, yogurt without added sugars or fillers is an acceptable snack, but in moderation only.
Grains – Quinoa, oatmeal, and brown rice in moderation are a good source of fiber for dogs.
Peanut butter – Be sure it does not contain xylitol or added sugar and serve in moderation. Almond butter is generally OK too in moderation.
Popcorn – Plain, air-popped popcorn is generally ok for dogs in small quantities. Avoid giving your dog buttered popcorn.
No matter what, it’s always best to consult with your veterinarian before feeding your dog something new. We love treating our pups. Let’s do it with love and safety.
