12 Foods Dog Can't Eat

Dedicated dog lovers tend to be very kind people. We share our hearts and homes with our pals. Surely there is nothing wrong with sharing our favorite foods with them too, right? Not necessarily. Many of the foods that humans digest just fine can wreak havoc on a dog’s body, causing severe health problems.

Before giving your dog foods that you crave, read on and learn which foods are safe, and which can send your dog straight to the emergency vet.

And always be mindful that even healthy foods fed in excess can lead to canine obesity, a major health concern for many dogs 😉

Avocado
Avocados contain persin, which can cause diarrhea, vomiting and heart congestion. The most dangerous part of an avocado is the pit because it is a choking hazard and it is full of persin. If you think your dog has ingested an avocado pit, call your vet asap. If your dog ate a small piece of avocado, it will probably be okay, but make sure you monitor your dog and call your vet for further care.

Onions and Garlic
Keep onions and garlic -- powdered, raw, cooked, or dehydrated -- away from your dog. They can kill his red blood cells, causing anemia. Side effects such as pale gums, elevated heart rate, weakness, and collapse. Poisoning from garlic and onions may have delayed symptoms, so if you think your dog may have eaten some. Look for signs like weakness, vomiting, and breathing problems.

Grapes and Raisins
Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs. And just a small amount can make a dog sick. Vomiting over and over is an early sign. Within a day, your dog will get sluggish and depressed.

Ice Cream, Milk
On a hot day, it may be tempting to share your ice cream with your dog. It contains lots of sugar so it is best not to share with your dog. Instead, give her some cold water. Milk and milk-based products can cause diarrhea and other digestive problems for your pup. They can also trigger food allergies, which can cause her to itch. Also, some dogs have an intolerance to lactose.

Chocolate
Most people know that chocolate is bad for dogs. The problem in chocolate is theobromine. It's in all kinds of chocolate, even white chocolate. The most dangerous types are dark chocolate and unsweetened baking chocolate. Chocolate can cause a dog to vomit and have diarrhea. It can also cause heart problems, tremors, seizures, and death.

Macadamia Nuts
Keep your dog away from macadamia nuts and foods that have macadamia nuts in them. Just six raw or roasted macadamia nuts can make a dog sick. Look for symptoms like muscle shakes, vomiting, high temperature, and weakness in his back legs. Even worse, they can affect the nervous system. Eating chocolate with the nuts will make symptoms worse, maybe even leading to death.

Alcohol
Do not give your dog alcohol on purpose. Alcohol can cause not only intoxication, lack of coordination, weak breathing and abnormal acidity but potentially even coma or death.

Cooked Bones
Cooked bones can easily splinter when chewed by your dog. Cooked bones can also splinter and block or cause cuts in your dog's digestive system. Raw (uncooked) bones, however, are appropriate and suitable for both your dog’s nutrition and teeth.

Yeast
Just like yeast rises in bread, it will also expand and rise within your pup’s tummy. Make sure they don’t get any. While mild cases will cause gas, lots of farting and discomfort — too much of it could rupture their stomach and intestines. Yeast dough is also dangerous because as it ferments and rises it makes alcohol which can lead to alcohol poisoning.

Cat Food
Cat food contains proteins and fats that target the diet of a cat, not a dog. The protein and fat levels in cat food are too high for your dog, and not healthy. Ingesting too much cat food can result in upset stomach, obesity and pancreatitis.

Your Medicine
Dogs shouldn't take people medicine. It can make them very sick. Just as you do for your kids, keep all medicines out of your dog’s reach. Ingredients such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen are common in pain relievers and cold medicine. And, they can be deadly for your dog.

Human Vitamins
It isn’t recommended to give your dog one of your vitamins or supplements. Human vitamins often contain 100% of the recommended daily amount of various minerals. This could cause a mineral overdose for your dog.

The most dangerous vitamin is prenatal vitamins, which have a higher dose of iron and can cause iron toxicity in pets.