We all know those dogs that will eat anything and everything they see in sight. Whether it’s food scraps that have fallen off the table or ones that are secretly given under the table, dogs are always looking out for some yummy.
But did you there is a fairly long list of foods your dog should never eat? From breathing issues to vomiting and even seizures, these foods can cause a lot of negative reactions. Dogs digest food differently than humans do. If you do feed your dog a large amount of something that is on the upcoming “no-no” list, speak to your vet about the side effects.
On the bright side, there are so many healthy food options that promote great benefits for your dog such as a shinier coat and whiter teeth. We are big advocates of dog-friendly raw diets and have seen the incredible results natural foods provide. If you do decide to make natural food options your dog’s primary food source, talk to your vet about the right nutritional plan.
A list of foods your dog can and are good to eat
There are a wide variety of foods that are okay/good for dogs to eat. In fact, the benefits of these foods can be very similar to those of human benefits when it comes to nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.
- Lean cuts of meat that have been cooked well
- Apples (freshens breath and cleans teeth)
- Bananas
- Blueberries and strawberries (rich in antioxidants)
- Bread (whole grain; limit)
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Cashews (limit)
- Celery
- Cheese (low fat – small amounts)
- Coconut (hello, shiny coat and healthy skin)
- Cooked white rice (can help with stomach problems)
- Corn (moderate)
- Cucumber
- Eggs (cooked)
- Fish
- Green Beans
- Honey (limit; high in sugar)
- Mushrooms (plain only)
- Peaches (remove pit)
- Peanut Butter
- Potatoes
- Pumpkin
- Quinoa (introduce it in small amounts to see if they can digest it properly)
- Salmon
- Sweet Potatoes (cooked)
- Tomatoes
- Watermelon
- Zucchini
A list of foods you should keep your dog away from
- Alcohol (hopefully this is a “duh”)
- Almonds
- Avocado
- Chocolate
- Cinnamon and Nutmeg
- Coffee and Caffeine
- Grapes and Raisins
- Lemons and Limes
- Macadamia Nuts
- Milk and Dairy
- Onions, Garlic, and Chives
- Pecans
- Salty foods
- Sugar
- Raw potatoes
- Uncooked meats and fish
- Walnuts
- Wild Mushrooms
- Yeast Dough
- Xylitol (artificial sweetener)
Reasons why these foods are bad for your dog and symptoms to look out for
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages and food products containing alcohol can cause vomiting, diarrhea, decreased coordination, central nervous system depression, difficulty breathing, tremors, abnormal blood acidity, coma and even death. Under no circumstances should your pet be given any alcohol.
Almonds
Try to limit feeding your dog unsalted almonds to a very small amount. They tend to be hard for your pup to digest and are high in calories which can lead to obesity.
Avocado
This food contains something known as persin and if your dog has too much of it, it can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Make sure to keep your pets away from avocados if you grow them because it can make them sick and the seed can become stuck in their intestines or stomach if eaten.
Almonds and Macadamia Nuts
Keep your dog away from almonds and macadamia nuts as they have oils that can make your dog very sick. It takes a small amount of macadamia nuts to get your dog sick in which the symptoms include, vomiting, muscle shakes, and weakness. Eating chocolate with macadamia buts will make it much worse in some cases can lead to death.
Chocolate
All chocolates are bad for your dog, but dark chocolate and unsweetened chocolate are the worst. If your dog gets its paws on some chocolate look for the symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea. Too much chocolate can cause heart problems, seizures and even death.
Cinnamon & Nutmeg
While cinnamon isn’t toxic to dogs, it can be extremely irritating to their mounts and digestive systems.
Nutmeg, on the other hand, is toxic and cause seizures and increased heart rate.
Coffee and Caffeine
Make sure your dog somehow does not consume caffeine as it can be fatal. Keep your dog away from coffee beans/grounds and definitely do not let your dog drink anything caffeinated.
Grapes and Raisins
Your dog can eat some fruits but keep them away from grapes and raisins as eating too much of them can make your dog sick and ultimately cause kidney failure. If your dog somehow eats a lot of grapes or raisins, they may become very sluggish and depressed and at that point need to be taken to the vet.
Lemons and Limes
These are toxic alright, especially the skins which contain psoralen. Psoralen can cause severe vomiting and diarrhea in dogs.
Macadamia Nuts
Unlike almonds and cashews, these are a BIG no. Not only are they high in fat but they are extremely toxic to dogs causing muscle weakness, tremors, vomiting and even depression.
Milk and Dairy
Because pets do not possess significant amounts of lactase (the enzyme that breaks down lactose in milk), milk and other dairy-based products cause them diarrhea or other digestive upset.
Onions and Garlic
If your dog eats a lot of onions or garlic at first it can cause poisoning and kills red blood cells causing anemia. The symptoms include vomiting, breathing issues, and weakness.
Peaches and Plums
The biggest issues with these fruits is the seeds/pits that are in them as they can get stuck in the small intestines and cause major health issues. The pit of the peach and plum contain cyanide and is poisonous so keep them away from these fruits.
Raw Meats and Fish
Some may think it is alright for your pet to eat raw meat because they do in the wild but in reality, raw meat and fish contain bacteria that can get dogs sick just like it can humans. If you want to feed your dog meat or fish be sure to cook it first.
Salty Foods
You should keep your dog away from really salty foods like pretzels, chips etc. as too much salt can lead to poisoning. The symptoms of this include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, seizures, and in some major cases death.
Wild Mushrooms
They may be poisonous to your pup so might as well avoid them all together.
Yeast Dough
Yeast dough can rise and cause gas to accumulate in your pet’s digestive system. This can be painful and can cause the stomach to bloat, and potentially twist, becoming a life threatening emergency.
Xylitol
Foods that contain this sweetener such as different types of candy, gum, some baked goods, diet foods, and even toothpaste can cause your dog’s blood sugar to drop and ultimately can result in liver failure. The early symptoms are vomiting, laziness, and maybe even some coordination problems.
