Our guide to fruit and vegetables which are toxic for dogs
Are you harming your dog? Of course not – you’re probably shouting at the screen that your dog is part of the family! But there are many common fruit and vegetables which are toxic to dogs and if you don’t know what they are, you might accidentally be giving your dog a treat which is causing him or her harm.
There’s no doubt that we’re a nation of dog lovers and we welcome our furry best friend into our families as one of our own. However, as tempting as it is to throw your dog the odd tit-bit, let them forage or give them your scraps, it is very important to make sure you know what could be harmful to your dog. If you have any doubt that they might have eaten something they shouldn’t or if they are showing any signs of unusual behaviour, take advice from your vet straight away.
The first on our list has to be grapes and raisins. This little fruit is so common in our homes and may seem like a harmless sweet treat, but a small amount could cause irreversible kidney damage and failure quite quickly depending on the size of dog that ingests them. If your dog eats some, or your suspect they have, speak to the vet straight away.
There is some debate about avocados but as a general rule it is best to avoid giving any part of this fruit to your dog (or many other animals or birds). Avocados contain a toxin called Persin in levels that are harmless to us but can cause breathing problems, sickness and diarrhoea to your pet.
Tempting as it is to throw your dog an apple core, the pips, seeds and stones from many fruits. contain cyanide and can be extremely harmful to your dog and even prove fatal. Notably fruits like apples, cherries, plums, peaches etc.
Whilst the ordinary mushrooms that you use in cooking should be ok, wild mushrooms can be very poisonous and one of those things that dogs forage around for whilst out walking. Symptoms vary according to the mushroom but include the diarrhoea, vomiting and restlessness. If you suspect your dog has eaten wild mushrooms, get them to the vets.
Dogs don’t digest nuts in the same way as humans and several types are poisonous to them, particularly Macadamia nuts. Those that aren’t poisonous are still difficult to digest and can cause other problems to your pet’s wellbeing. The best advice is always to keep nuts out of reach. Particularly bad are walnuts, pecan nuts and macadamia nuts. Remember that nut butters are also high in fat and salt which is bad for your dog’s system.
Although ripe red tomatoes are probably ok for your dog, the tomato plants and unripe tomatoes are highly harmful. They contain something called ‘tomatine’ which can cause damage to the nervous system, kidneys and digestive tract. So if you are growing your own tomatoes, make sure they are well fenced off from your furry friend.
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It’s not uncommon to want to spoil your dog by sharing table scraps or your favorite people food snack instead of a dog treat. After all, if it is safe for you to eat, it must be OK for your dog to eat, right? Not necessarily. While many people foods are perfectly safe for dogs, some are very unhealthy and downright dangerous, so it’s critical to learn which fruits and vegetables dogs can eat.
Dogs digest foods differently than humans do, and eating the wrong foods can lead dogs to long-term health problems and, in extreme cases, even death. As omnivores, dogs have no real need for fruits or vegetables as part of their diet, but an occasional fruit or veggie as a treat is OK. Fresh dog foods also pre-portion fresh veggies into meals. Read on to find out which fruits and vegetables are OK for sharing in moderation and which should be avoided.
Why Allergies Happen & What They Do To Your Pet
Whether food or contact or inhalant– the cause of your pup’s suffering can actually be blamed on the body’s hypersensitive reaction, not the allergen itself.
The first time a reaction happens to that hay, for instance, the body responds with sneezing, redness, histamine release, but that’s the body’s normal sensitivity reaction. You go about your day.
When repeatedly exposed to that allergen, though, that sensitivity reaction becomes more exaggerated and extreme till we see it as the hypersensitivity reaction.
The allergen isn’t the problem; the way the body responds is. And it’s this extreme inflammatory response that produces heat, inflammation, and more heat, and yep, inflammation. And because they’re engulfed in these overwhelming and unabating symptoms, you’ve got a stressed animal.
But, and it’s a good but, no matter where the heat and inflammation are expressed, the skin or the g.i., the food you’re adding to the bowl plays a critical role in the immune system’s journey to homeostasis.
Food Allergies In Dogs: Holistic Answers
Who can resist those big brown eyes and cute doggie grin? Can a little reward from the table or getting into Mom or Dadâs stuff really hurt your dog? Well, that depends on what it is and whats in it. If it contains the sweetener xylitol, it can cause your dog some real problems. In fact, thereâs a lot of people food your dog should never eat. And, itâs not just because of weight. Some foods are downright dangerous for dogs — and some of these common foods may surprise you.
Candy, gum, toothpaste, baked goods, and some diet foods are sweetened with xylitol. It can cause your dogs blood sugar to drop and can also cause liver failure. Early symptoms include vomiting, lethargy, and coordination problems. Eventually, your dog may have seizures. Liver failure can happen within just a few days.
Is a treat from the table OK for your dog? That depends on what it is. Avocados, for example, have something called persin. Itâs fine for people who arent allergic to it. But too much might cause vomiting or diarrhea in dogs. If you grow avocados at home, keep your dog away from the plants. Persin is in the leaves, seed, and bark, as well as the fruit. Also, the avocado seed can become stuck in the intestines or stomach, and obstruction could be fatal.
Alcohol has the same effect on a dogâs liver and brain that it has on people. But it takes a lot less to hurt your dog. Just a little beer, liquor, wine, or food with alcohol can be bad. It can cause vomiting, diarrhea, coordination problems, breathing problems, coma, even death. And the smaller your dog, the worse it can be.
Keep onions and garlic — powdered, raw, cooked, or dehydrated — away from your dog. They can kill their red blood cells, causing anemia. Thats even the onion powder in some baby food. Eating a lot just once can cause poisoning. Look for signs like weakness, vomiting, and breathing problems.
Give your dog toys if you want them to be perky. Caffeine can be fatal. Watch out for coffee and tea, even the beans and the grounds. Keep your dog away from cocoa, chocolate, colas, and energy drinks. Caffeine is also in some cold medicines and pain killers. Think your dog had caffeine? Get your dog to the vet as soon as possible.
There are better treats to give your dog. 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.
On a hot day, it may be tempting to share your ice cream with your dog. Instead, give them 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 them to itch.
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 their back legs. Eating chocolate with the nuts will make symptoms worse, maybe even leading to death.
Most people know that chocolate is bad for dogs. The problem in chocolate is theobromine. Its 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.
Fat trimmed from meat, both cooked and uncooked, can cause pancreatitis in dogs. And, even though it seems natural to give a dog a bone, they can choke on it. Bones can also splinter and block or cause cuts in your dogs digestive system.
The problem with these fruits is the seeds or pits. Seeds from persimmons can cause problems in a dogs small intestine. They can also block their intestines. That can also happen if a dog eats the pit from a peach or plum. Peach and plum pits also have cyanide, which is poisonous to people and dogs. People know not to eat them. Dogs dont.
Some people feed their dogs a “raw diet” that includes uncooked eggs. But the major veterinary medical associations dont think thats a good idea. Theres the chance of food poisoning from bacteria like salmonella or E. coli. Talk to your vet if you have questions.
Like raw eggs, raw meat and fish can have bacteria that causes food poisoning. Some fish such as salmon, trout, shad, or sturgeon can also have a parasite that causes “fish disease” or “salmon poisoning disease.” Its treatable, but get help right away. The first signs are vomiting, fever, and big lymph nodes. Fully cook the fish to kill the parasite.
Itâs not a good idea to share salty foods like chips or pretzels with your dog. Eating too much salt can make your dog seriously thirsty. That means a lot of trips to the fire hydrant and it could  lead to sodium ion poisoning. Symptoms of too much salt include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, high temperature, and seizures. It may even cause death.
Too much sugar can do the same thing to dogs that it does to people. It can make your dog overweight and cause problems with their teeth. It can even lead to diabetes.
Before itâs baked, bread dough needs to rise. And, thatâs exactly what it would do in your dogâs stomach if they ate it. As it swells inside, the dough can stretch your dogâs abdomen and cause a lot of pain. Also, when the yeast ferments the dough to make it rise, it makes alcohol that can lead to alcohol poisoning.
Dogs shouldnt take people medicine. It can make them very sick. Just as you do for your kids, keep all medicines out of your dogâs reach. And, never give your dog any over-the-counter medicine unless your vet tells you to. Ingredients such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen are common in pain relievers and cold medicine. And, they can be deadly for your dog.