There are many foods that should be avoided in all dogs.  These are some foods that your dog should never be offered as they can cause many life-threatening health issues. If your dog does accidentally eat any of these items, it would be best for your vet to examine your dog right away. Some of these foods cause just a little GI upset, but many can be very toxic and cause irreversible damage to your dog’s liver and kidneys.  

These are 5 common food that is toxic to dogs and should be avoided. 

Grapes or Raisins

Grapes and Raisins can be very toxic to dogs.  Even if your dog eats just one grape, it can cause irreversible kidney damage and even death.   While the toxic dosage is not fully known since some dogs have no issues and eat a bunch of grapes, while some only eat a few and have a lot of issues.  

Signs that are seen if your dog does have grape toxicity are:

• Not eating
• Weak and lethargic
• Vomiting and diarrhea a few hours after eating the grapes
• Painful abdomen, especially when touched
• Drinking more water
• Urinating more than normal
• Increase kidney values
• Dehydration

If your dog did eat a grape or raisin, it is best for them to see your vet.  They can start treatment right away.  This may be IV fluids, activated charcoal, or inducing vomiting.  

Chocolate

Chocolate is usually not fatal but can cause your dog significant illness.  Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine.  Your dog cannot metabolize this chemical. Theobromine is used in medicine as a diuretic, heart stimulant, blood vessel dilator, or a smooth muscle relaxant.  These side effects can cause a lot of problems in your healthy dog.  

Milk chocolate and white chocolate contain way less theobromine, making them the least toxic.  Baker’s chocolate and Dark chocolate contain high amounts of theobromine per ounce, making them very toxic.  

There is a chocolate toxicity calculator found here that you could use to figure out if your dog ate a toxic amount of chocolate or not. This calculator makes it very easy for you to guess how much your dog possibly ate based on the size of a candy bar.  

Other common signs are seen in dogs who have eaten chocolate are: 

• Vomiting 
• Diarrhea 
• Increased body temperature 
• Increased reflex responses 
• Muscle Rigidity 
• Rapid Breathing 
• Increased Heart Rate 
• Low blood pressure 
• Seizures 
• Cardiac Failure, weakness, or coma is often seen in late-stage poisoning

If you notice any of these signs, call your vet.  They will be able to induce vomiting and start your dog on the appropriate treatment for the signs that you see in your dog.  Many times, dogs will make a full recovery with aggressive treatment without seeing any permanent damage. 

Onions or Garlic

Onions, chives, garlic, and leeks are part of the Allium family. They all can cause your dog to become anemic.  

You will see signs such as:

• pale white gums, 
• increased heart rate, 
• weakness, and 
• collapse.

Garlic and onion toxicity may have delayed symptoms, so if you think your dog may have eaten some onions or garlic, it is best to monitor them for a few days to see if they show any signs or start to just not act right. 

Macadamia nuts

Macadamia nuts are some of the most poisonous foods for dogs to eat.

Macadamia nuts are part of the Proteaceae family.  They can cause signs in your dog such as: 

• vomiting,
• increased body temperature, 
• not able to walk, and 
• lethargy

These can even affect your dog’s nervous system cause them to become very neurological and not able to walk correctly.  It is best to never feed your dog macadamia nuts.

Avocado

Avocados contain a toxic component called persin. This is found in all parts of the avocado plant, so these should be avoided in dogs. Persins can cause damage to the muscle of your dog’s heart.

The signs that you see in your dog if they ate avocado are:

• Vomiting 
• Diarrhea
• Lethargy

Also, there is a concern that the pits of avocados can cause intestinal blockage.  These large pits cannot be broken down by your dog’s stomach acids, and they can easily get stuck in your dog’s intestines, causing your dog to need surgery to remove these.  

Other Foods that your dog should avoid:

• Cherries: Contain cyanide, which can be toxic to dogs.  While your dog eating just one will not cause any harm, but if they ate a bunch of them, you would see toxic signs such as trouble breathing, dark red gums, and dilated pupils. 
• Dairy: While your dog can eat these in small amounts, if they are given large amounts, it can be very bad for your dog’s GI system.  Dog’s stomachs were never intended to process dairy, and most are lactose intolerant.  If your dog just ate a very small amount, it will most likely be okay.
• Raw foods: Raw eggs or raw or undercooked meat can contain salmonella. This will cause your dog to have watery diarrhea. 
• Soda: Most dogs do not handle carbonation very well.
• Citrus fruits: These can cause an upset stomach in your dog
• Salty foods: These foods can cause your dog to be very thirsty and disrupt the sodium ratio in their body. 
• Sugary foods: Excessive sugar should be avoided in dogs as it can lead to diabetes in dogs. 
• Prunes: while they are not as toxic as grapes, they should be avoided.  Not only are they high in sugar, but they also contain small amounts of cyanide.  If your dog eats these, you may notice vomiting, diarrhea, a painful abdomen, and not wanting to eat.
• Coffee: coffee is a stimulant and can quickly raise your dog’s heart rate leading to arrhythmias.  They can also cause GI issues such as vomiting and diarrhea.  

Final Thoughts

While these are food that you should avoid, whenever you offer human food to your pet, it is best to do so in small amounts.  This allows you to see if this food upsets your dog’s stomach and needs to be avoided in their diet.  

Knowing what is safe for your dog to eat and not allowing them to eat things that they should not eat will keep your dog healthy and happy for many years.