What should dogs not eat? 20 foods you should not give your four-legged friend

Which foods should dogs not eat because they are poisonous or simply life-threatening? If you want to play it safe with your dog's diet and general attitude, you've come to the right place! Some foods that are good for you or really tasty can be harmful or, in the worst case, even fatal for your dog. 

That's why in this article I'll explain exactly what is dangerous for dogs. You must exercise extreme caution with the following foods and remain firm when your dog begs.

You can find a brief overview here in advance:

1. Chocolate
2. Xylitol or birch sugar
3. Pork fat and pork meat
4. Raw eggs
5. Grapes and raisins or raisins
6. Almonds and macadamia nuts
7. Avocados
8. Bones
9. Nightshade plants such as potatoes, tomatoes and eggplants
10. Onion and garlic
11. ... 10 other dangerous things and foods

1. chocolate

Cocoa contains a strong stimulating substance called Theobromine. It has a similar effect on people as caffeine. You can even experience a small high from dark chocolate.

Does your dog get the Chocolate between the teeth, it can become dangerous, as dogs are absolutely unable to metabolize theobromine. In the dog's organism, the stimulating substance very quickly leads to extreme Circulatory problems. Other symptoms of poisoning are Digestive problems and Muscle tremor.

The darker the chocolate, the higher the theobromine content and the more toxic it is for your four-legged friend. One bar of Fondente chocolate is already fatal for a five-kilogram dog - for puppies and young dogs, just one piece can be enough.

2. xylitol or birch sugar

This sweetener is a new food that is being celebrated as an alternative sugar substitute. It is quite so festive Xylitol however. In most cases, the sweet substance is not extracted from birch trees, but from agricultural waste.

What is still quite well tolerated by humans can be really dangerous for dogs. Birch sugar leads to an extreme release of insulin in the dog's organism with subsequent extreme drop in blood glucose. This in turn leads to severe liver damage and, in the worst case, to the death of the animal.₁

3. pork fat and pork meat

Raw pork (taken from the shopping basket) or pork fat is also difficult for dogs. Lard is sometimes still used for cooking or in delicacies such as crackling lard.

Raw pork and pork fat can cause the Aujeszky virus which in dogs can cause a fatal nerve disease (pseudo rabies). Raw pork is also particularly susceptible to bacteria, salmonella and trichinae. If you give your dog a piece of well-cooked pork schnitzel from time to time, this would not be a problem, at least for your four-legged friend's body, as the pathogens die during roasting.

4. raw eggs

It used to be said that raw eggs are good for your dog's coat. Today, most vets and dog nutrition experts think differently. Our four-legged friends are particularly at risk of becoming infected via raw eggs. Salmonella to poison your dog. This does not necessarily have to be fatal for an adult dog, but your dog can become very ill.

Tip: There are safer beauty elixirs for dogs. For example the sustainable dog soap from Biocos. 🙂

5. grapes and raisins, respectively raisins

Unbelievable but true: even grapes, which are healthy for us, can be poisonous for dogs. Already about three grams of raisins or 10 grams of grapes per kilogram of body weight can cause fatal kidney failure in dogs. At least that's what US scientists have discovered.₂ Why this is the case is still a mystery.

Not all dogs react to raisins or grapes with poisoning. However, you should be particularly careful with puppies and young dogs. If your dog has eaten grapes or raisins, you need to be very careful. As soon as he shows signs of nausea, you should immediately the veterinarian visit

Tip: A detailed guide on the topic Dogs and grapes you will find my blog.

6. almonds and macadamia nuts

What is delicious for us can be really poisonous for your dog. Some almonds contain Prussic acid. Bitter almonds may occasionally be hidden in normal sweet almond packs. These have a particularly high hydrocyanic acid content. The small amounts are usually not a problem for you, but they are for your dog.

Researchers have only recently discovered that Four macadamia nuts are poisonous for a 15-kilogram dog can be. The consequences are attacks of weakness or paralysis. It is not yet known why dogs react to the nuts in this way.₃

7. avocados

Avocados can contain a substance called Persin and this causes heart muscle damage in dogs. Symptoms of poisoning include coughing, shortness of breath and a greatly increased heart rate.₄ So make sure your dog doesn't eat avocados.

8. bone

I continue this list of toxic foods for dogs with another Misunderstanding continued: "Bones are good for dogs!"

This can end badly. The bone splinters can cause nasty problems in your dog's stomach or intestines. Injuries care. But not only that, the bone marrow literally dries out the intestines in some dogs. As a result, it can lead to severe Intestinal obstructions come.

9. nightshade plants such as potatoes, tomatoes and eggplants

Nightshade plants contain a substance called Solanine. This is not particularly good for us humans, which is why we should not eat raw potatoes or eggplants. The concentration of tomatoes is limited, which is why they are generally not a problem for us humans.

But make sure that your dog does not play with these foods. He will probably not eat them, because they are In the raw state not particularly tasty.

10. onion and garlic

A medium-sized onion can be fatal for a medium-sized dog. The culprits are Sulfur compoundswhich break down the red blood cells in dogs. The same applies to garlic and both vegetables, even when cooked!

What other things are poisonous or generally dangerous for dogs?

There really are so many foods and things that dogs and many other animals should not eat under any circumstances. I would like to give you as many as possible to protect your four-legged friend as much as possible. That's why I'm presenting a supplementary list here:

11. Cigarettes (Nicotine poisoning, passive smoking is also dangerous for dogs)
12. Coffee (Poison, as the dog's liver cannot break down caffeine).
13. Raw beans (indigestion)
14. Greasy food (digestive problems)
15. Salt (Danger to heart and kidneys)
16. Alcohol (Poison, because the dog's liver can not break down alcohol).
17. Raw lentils (indigestion)
18. Fruit pits (Intestinal obstruction or neurological disorder due to hydrogen cyanide)
19. Dairy products (gastrointestinal problems e.g. due to lactose intolerance)
20. Mushrooms (Ingredients of many mushrooms often unclear)

Avoid toxic food for dogs - and go to the vet if the worst comes to the worst

Toxic food for dogs is best kept safely out of reach in cupboards or a pantry. Also watch out for sweets or candies with xylitol lying around and make sure that your children don't feed the dog anything dangerous in between. 

If your dog shows signs of discomfort or poisoning, it is best to go to a vet or veterinary clinic immediately.

Do you have any questions, tips or other foods and things that dogs are not allowed to eat? Then please write me a comment.

Stay animal-friendly,

PS.: Can you dogs on a vegan diet? Behind the link is a detailed article on the subject. Have fun!

References:
₁ Institute of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology: Xylitol - small animals, available at https://www.vetpharm.uzh.ch/clinitox/toxdb/klt_086.htm?Submit=done. [11.02.2022].

₂ Brandy Porterpan: Raisins and grapes: Potentially lethal treats for dogs (as of: 01.05.2005), available at https://www.dvm360.com/view/raisins-and-grapes-potentially-lethal-treats-dogs?sk=&id=&date=&pageID=2. [11.02.2022].

₃ Sharon M. Gwaltney-Brant: Macadamia Nut Toxicosis in Dogs - Toxicology - Merck Veterinary Manual (as of July 2021), available at https://www.msdvetmanual.com/toxicology/food-hazards/macadamia-nut-toxicosis-in-dogs. [11.02.2022].

₄ Sharon M. Gwaltney-Brant: Avocado Toxicosis in Animals (as of July 2021), available at https://www.msdvetmanual.com/toxicology/food-hazards/avocado-toxicosis-in-animals. [11.02.2022].