Toxic Foods
AVOCADO~ Avocado contains a toxic element called persin which can damage heart, lung and other
tissue in many animals. Avocados are high in fat content and can trigger an upset stomach, vomiting
or even pancreatitis.

BONES~ Raw meaty bones and chicken bones are prone to splinter and lodge in the throat, or worse,
the intestines, in which case they can perforate the lining causing internal bleeding and possibly
death.

BABY FOOD~ Just be careful that the baby food you are feeding does not contain onion powder.

BROCCOLI~ Broccoli is very good for dogs, however, if the daily intake exceeds more than 10% of the
animals diet – problems can occur. The toxic substance is isothiocyanate and can cause
gastrointestinal irritation.

CHOCOLATE~ Chocolate contains theobromine, a compound that is a cardiac stimulant and a
diuretic. When affected by an overdose of chocolate, a dog can become excited and hyperactive. Due
to the diuretic effect, it may pass large volumes of urine and it will be unusually thirsty. Vomiting and
diarrhea are also common. The effect of theobromine on the heart is the most dangerous effect.
Theobromine will either increase the dog’s heart rate or may cause the heart to beat irregularly. Death
is quite possible, especially with exercise. Symptoms of chocolate poisoning include: vomiting,
diarrhea, tremors, hyperactivity, irregular heartbeat and seizures.
Larger quantities of chocolate can poison or even kill a medium or large dog. An ounce or two of
chocolate may not seem like much but it can be lethal to a small dog that weighs 10 lbs. or less. After
their dog has eaten a large quantity of chocolate, many pet owners assume their pet is unaffected.
However, the signs of sickness may not be seen for several hours, with death following within twenty-
four hours.

DAIRY PRODUCTS~ Most dairy products are digested poorly by dogs who have little or none of the
enzyme required to digest the lactose in milk. Just like lactose-intolerant people, lactose-intolerant
dogs can develop excessive intestinal gas (flatulence) and may have foul-smelling diarrhea. It is best
to avoid most dairy products altogether, although small amounts of cheese or plain yogurt are
tolerated by most dogs, since these products have less lactose than most.

GARLIC - Considered as harmful as onions, garlic contains the toxic ingredient thiosulphate. Garlic
can cause damage to the blood cells of animals, which in turn may cause anemia

LIVER~ In small amounts liver is very good for your dog (less than 3 servings a week). Large amounts
cause vitamin A toxicity (hypervitaminosis A). This can lead to bone problems, weight loss and
anorexia. Never feed liver if your dog is taking vitamin A supplements, and always cook it before
feeding.

MUSHROOMS~ Mushroom poisoning can be fatal if certain species of mushrooms are eaten. The
most commonly reported severely toxic species of mushroom in the US is Amanita phalloides, but
other Amanita species are also toxic. They can cause severe liver disease and neurological
disorders.

NUTMEG~ Is a hallucinogen in dogs. Nutmeg has been known to cause tremors, seizures and in
some cases, death.

NUTS~ Walnuts can cause gastroenteritis and are considered poisonous to dogs. Macadamia nuts
contain an unknown compound, which can cause muscle tremors, weakness and paralysis of the
hindquarters –  these symptoms last a short time. In general, nuts are high in phosphorus and may
contribute to the formation of bladder stones.
NOTE: Peanuts are a legume, not grown on trees. They are not harmful when used in small amounts.


ONIONS~ Onions cause hemolytic anemia, which means that the red blood cells break down leaving
the dog short of oxygen. Onion poisoning can occur with a single ingestion of large quantities or with
repeated meals containing small amounts of onion.  

POTATO~ Cooked and mashed potatoes are good for dogs. However, poisonous alkaloids
(Solanum) are present in green sprouts and green potato skins.

PIPS~ Found in the seeds of apples, pears, plums, peaches and apricots – ALL CONTAIN ARSENIC.

RAISINS & GRAPES~  This is a toxic fruit for dogs. They contain an unknown toxin, which can cause
acute renal (kidney) failure. As little as a handful at a time can be deadly.

RAW EGGS~ Cooked eggs are a very healthy treat for dogs, raw egg whites contain a protein called
Avidin. This protein depletes your dog of B vitamins, specifically Biotin, which is essential to growth
and coat condition. Raw eggs may contain bacteria, such as Salmonella.

RAW MEAT/POULTRY~ Once again bacteria are the main problem – Salmonella and Clostridium,
both can be very serious and costly to treat. Just remember, if you feed meat, cook it first.
~Best to avoid pork, especially bacon (which contains sodium nitrate).

RHUBARB~ This plant (especially the leaves) also contains oxalates.

TOMATO PLANTS~ Stems and leaves contain oxalates, which can cause bladder stones.
NOTE: The fruit itself is not the culprit, however high amounts of vitamin C can cause gastrointestinal
distress.

TURKEY SKIN~ Known to cause acute Pancreatitis in dogs.

TOILET WATER~ Toilet water with freshener or cleaners in the tank or bowl contain toxic chemicals.