Before researching this article, I didn’t realize the severity of some of these toxins in foods. The popularity of home-cooked meals for our pets is on the rise. Knowing what human foods are dangerous for huskies and all dogs should be on every pet owner’s list of things to know.
- Xylitol
- Chocolate
- Onions and Garlic
- Caffeine
- Grapes and Raisins
- Macadamia and Tree Nuts
- Cooked Bones
- Raw fish
- Avocado
- Alcohol
- Yeast dough
- Fruit Pits
- Sugar
Xylitol
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol used as a sugar substitute in a variety of products, including chewing gum, toothpaste, and many diet foods. The big problem for your pet is that Xylitol is that its a naturally occurring substance that it may be in products advertising as “all-natural.” It may be in the Natural Peanut Butter you have in your pantry. Check the labels of any prepackaged foods that you share with your dog.
Xylitol will drop your dog’s blood sugar rapidly. If your dog has consumed anything with Xylitol, call Pet Poison Helpline 800-213-6680 or your veterinarian IMMEDIATELY.
Chocolate
It seems that everyone knows chocolate is bad for dogs but did you know that not all chocolate is created equal? Chocolate contains Theobromine and caffeine is different quantities in darker chocolates than milk or white chocolate. The bakers chocolate and powders in your pantry are the most toxic.
Call your veterinarian if your dog has consumed chocolate. With a high enough dose of Theobromine by the weight of the dog and the amount consumed, he may need to be treated by a vet.
Onions and Garlic
Onions and garlic are members of the Allium family which also include chives and leeks. We love these vegetables. We cook with them in a variety of forms; fresh, dehydrated, powdered, spice blends, and it’s hidden in foods like salad dressings and even in some baby foods. Allium kills red blood cells and causes anemia.
I just checked a package of chicken broth and a beef broth, and sure enough, it contains onion powder. If your dog likes broth ice cubes as a refreshing treat, for instance, check the label before using.
A small amount may only cause weakness and lethargy. If your dog consumes a lot, call your veterinarian right away.
Caffeine
Coffee, tea, chocolate, soda, and energy drinks contain caffeine. We may love a morning cup of coffee to get us going, but dogs don’t need it, and they can’t handle it. Imagin caffeine jitters time 100. Additionally, many coffees today have chocolate or hazelnut flavoring for a double whammy for the dog. Call your vet right away if doggo has lapped from the mug on the coffee table.
Grapes and Raisins
It is unclear why grapes are toxic to dogs, but grape poisoning can lead to kidney failure. Keep grapes and raisins away from your pet. Grapes are often on the counter and raisins are in baked goods, juice, granola bars, trail mix, and breakfast cereals.
When my kids were little, I’d give them snack-size boxes of raisins as a healthy snack. I think that most kids only eat half of the box and the other half is on the floor or stuck to something. Dogs are likely to eat anything that hits the floor.
Let children know not to feed them to the dogs. Call your vet or animal poison control immediately if your dog has eaten grapes or raisins.
Macadamia and Tree Nuts
While some nuts are ok for dogs in moderation, macadamia and walnuts are dangerous to dogs.
Macadamia nuts may cause neurological problems, tremors, lameness, and vomiting. Keep nuts up and out of reach of your furry friends. The cause is unknown.
Walnuts have tremorgenic mycotoxins will cause seizures, weakness, and lethargy. Walnuts also have a tendency to become moldy, which is very bad for dogs.
Cooked Bones
With summer BBQ season in full force, it’s tempting to give a dog the bones from a T-bone that grilled perfectly. Cooked bones can cause intestinal blockages and they’re difficult or impossible to digest. Cooked bone can also splinter, and cause damage to your dog digestive tract.
It is ok to treat your pup to an occasional raw bone. We trim off the meat from the bone before we cook it and Halo enjoys chewing on the raw bone while we’re cooking. He’ll have a bit of the cooked meat without any fat on it. Cooked fat is also difficult to digest and could cause pancreatitis.
Raw Fish
Fish is suitable for dogs. However, fish has a few issues to avoid. Fish can carry parasites that would typically be killed in the cooking process; therefore fish should be cooked thoroughly.
Large fish such as tuna and swordfish have high levels of mercury and should be avoided. Sardines in water are fantastic, inexpensive, and readily available at your supermarket. Sardines provide essential Omega 3’s and can be added to kibble for a nice treat. A couple of times a week is sufficient.
Avocados
There has been some debate on the dangers or value of avocados for dogs. There is a brand of kibble that has avocado in the ingredients. They say the “fruit” of an avocado is fine, but the skin will cause vomiting and the pit is a potential intestinal blockage waiting to happen.
Avocados contain persin, which is toxic to dogs causing vomiting and diarrhea.
Halo swiped an avocado off the counter during his counter surfing days. I retrieved it quickly, and the avocado only suffered a few puncture wounds. Halo promptly went outside and threw up. Personally, I would need more research before I give the fruit of an avocado to Halo. There are better treats.
Alcohol
Of course, you wouldn’t give your dog alcohol on purpose, but with summer BBQ’s beer, wine, and mixed drinks may be left unattended.
Dogs can’t metabolize alcohol, causing them to become super drunk with very little consumed. It will cause a lack of coordination and may have trouble breathing. It may also cause an abnormal acidity, coma or even death. Be mindful of those party drinks and out of pups reach.
Yeast Dough
My first thought on yeast dough was that no one makes fresh bread anymore, I’m sure people still do, then, I remembered that I often make fresh pizza dough.
If a dog eats bread dough, the yeast will continue to rise, distending his stomach and possibly causing bloat. The yeast would release toxic levels of ethanol into his bloodstream causing alcohol toxicosis. If your dog got into yeast dough, call your vet immediately.
Fruit Pits
Fruit pits can be a choking hazard or cause an internal blockage. Keep all fruits containing pits (including cherries) away from your pet.
Sugar
Dogs love donuts, we love donuts, they are evil for all of us. Donuts and sugary confections are high in sugar and fats. Dogs can suffer the same harmful effects we humans encounter, diabetes, obesity, dental decay, and more. Sugar should not be part of a dog’s healthy diet.
