Foods that are dangerous for dogs: the list to know

A piece of chocolate dropped from the table, a bunch of grapes shared, the leftovers of a tagine cooked with onions: many dog poisonings begin with an affectionate gesture or a moment’s inattention. Some foods that are perfectly healthy for us are dangerous for dogs, sometimes in tiny amounts. Here are the ones to know, the signs that should alert you, and what to do.

Chocolate and cocoa

Chocolate contains theobromine, a substance that dogs clear very slowly. It affects the heart and the nervous system.

The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is: cocoa powder and dark chocolate are the most concentrated, milk chocolate less so, white chocolate hardly contains any. For a small dog, a few squares of dark chocolate are enough to cause serious symptoms.

Signs appear within hours: restlessness, vomiting, diarrhoea, intense thirst, panting, then tremors, a racing heart and, in severe cases, seizures.

Grapes and raisins

Fresh grapes, raisins and anything containing them, such as some pastries, can cause acute kidney failure in dogs. The toxic dose is unpredictable: some dogs eat them with no consequence, others become seriously ill after a few grapes. As you can’t know in advance, the rule is simple: never give grapes.

Vomiting, lethargy and refusal to eat within twenty-four hours should send you to the vet without delay.

Onion, garlic, leek and chives

The whole onion family destroys a dog’s red blood cells and causes anaemia. Raw, cooked, powdered or dehydrated, they remain toxic. The danger also comes from small repeated amounts: a dog that finishes the leftovers of an onion-based stew every day is gradually poisoned.

Symptoms are delayed by a few days: tiredness, pale gums, breathlessness, dark urine. Tagines, couscous, sauces and stock cubes are therefore best avoided.

Xylitol

This sweetener is found in sugar-free chewing gum and sweets, some toothpastes, reduced-sugar baking and a few peanut butters. In dogs it causes a sudden drop in blood sugar, then liver damage. Signs come quickly: weakness, an unsteady gait, vomiting, seizures. It is an absolute emergency, even for a single piece of gum in a small dog.

Cooked bones

Contrary to the traditional image, cooked bones are one of the leading causes of digestive emergencies. Cooking makes them brittle: they break into sharp splinters that can injure the mouth, lodge in the gullet, perforate the intestine or form a blockage. Cooked chicken, rabbit and mutton bones are the most dangerous.

After Eid al-Adha, vets see dogs blocked by bones every year. Don’t give leftovers, and close the bins properly.

Alcohol, coffee and tea

Alcohol is toxic to dogs in very small amounts, including as raw bread dough that ferments in the stomach. The caffeine in coffee, tea, energy drinks and some medicines acts like the theobromine in chocolate. The dregs of a glass of very sweet mint tea are not a treat to give.

Macadamia nuts and other nuts

Macadamia nuts cause weakness in the hind legs, tremors and fever. Other nuts aren’t strictly toxic, but they are very fatty and can trigger pancreatitis or a blockage. Bitter almonds and mouldy nuts are to be avoided absolutely.

Avocado, stones and pips

Avocado flesh is mainly too fatty for dogs; the real danger is the stone, which can block the intestine. The same goes for peach, apricot, date, mango and plum stones, which also contain cyanide-forming compounds. Always remove the stone, and don’t let a dog play with one.

Salt, fatty and spicy dishes

Olives, cured meats, crisps, khlii, very salty cheeses: too much salt causes intense thirst, vomiting and, at high doses, nervous disorders. Very fatty dishes, chicken skin, fried food and the fat on meat can trigger pancreatitis, which is painful and sometimes serious.

Milk and dairy

Many adult dogs digest lactose poorly. A bowl of milk won’t poison them, but it often causes diarrhoea and bloating. A little plain yoghurt is generally better tolerated.

Raw meat, raw fish and raw eggs

They aren’t toxic in themselves, but can transmit bacteria and parasites, all the more when the cold chain isn’t guaranteed. Cook the offal and meat you give your dog, and avoid raw eggs.

Not food, but…

The most serious poisonings often come from elsewhere than the kitchen:

• human medicines, especially paracetamol, ibuprofen and aspirin: never give your dog a medicine without veterinary advice;
• rat poison and poisoned baits, including those laid in the street;
• insecticides and parasite treatments used wrongly;
• certain plants: oleander, castor-oil plant, lily of the valley, lilies;
• antifreeze and household products.

Recognising poisoning

Signs vary with the product, but should always prompt action:

• repeated vomiting or diarrhoea, sometimes with blood;
• heavy drooling;
• unusual restlessness, or on the contrary lethargy;
• tremors, an unsteady gait, seizures;
• pale or yellowish gums;
• difficulty breathing;
• excessive thirst or need to urinate.

What to do if your dog has eaten a dangerous food

1. Stay calm and move the dog away from whatever it was eating.
2. Note what it swallowed, how much and when. Keep the packaging.
3. Phone a vet immediately, even if the dog seems fine. For many toxins, treatment is effective in the first hour or two, before symptoms appear.
4. Don’t make it vomit yourself. No salt, no oil, no milk: these folk remedies often make things worse, and inducing vomiting is dangerous with some products.
5. Don’t give it any medicine.
6. Go to the clinic with the packaging or a sample of the product.

Save your vet’s number now, and that of a clinic open outside normal hours. You will find professionals in the vet listings.

What your dog can safely eat

To give a safe treat, in small amounts and unseasoned: raw or cooked carrot, courgette, green beans, pumpkin, apple without pips, banana, watermelon without seeds, well-cooked rice and pasta, cooked skinless boneless chicken breast. These extras shouldn’t exceed ten per cent of its daily ration.

Key takeaways

Chocolate, grapes, onion and garlic, xylitol, cooked bones, alcohol, caffeine and stones are the main kitchen dangers. Tell the whole family, including children and guests, put the bins out of reach and, at the slightest doubt, call a vet without waiting for symptoms. For healthy everyday feeding, read our guide to feeding your dog well.