As loving pet parents, we naturally want to share everything with our furry companions, especially when they gaze up at us with those irresistible puppy-dog eyes. However, no matter how hard your dog begs and pleads, there are simply some human foods you should never fork over. While the focus is often on table scraps, understanding What Meat Should Your Dog Never Eat, along with other common household foods, is crucial for their safety. You also need to make sure potentially toxic foods aren’t left out where your dog could get at them. This guide will outline a comprehensive list of foods that are harmful to dogs, helping you keep your beloved canine companion healthy and safe. For more general advice on what foods your dog can eat, you might find information on what house food can i feed my dog useful.
Bad Foods for Dogs: Beyond Just Meat
You may already know not to offer chocolate to your pooch, but did you know that avocados can be bad for dogs too? It’s not just about avoiding certain meats; many everyday ingredients in our kitchens pose a significant threat. Look over this list of foods you should absolutely never feed your dog to see how many you knew about.
Here’s a quick overview of some of the most dangerous items:
- Chocolate
- Gum and candy
- Xylitol
- Grapes
- Raisins
- Macadamia nuts
- Avocados
- Onions
- Garlic
- Salt
- Tea leaves
- Raw yeast dough
- Spoiled foods (including rotten meat scraps)
- Fatty foods (especially high-fat meats like bacon or ribs)
- Coffee
- Alcohol
This list serves as a vital reminder that many common human foods, sometimes including parts of meals where meat is present, are off-limits for dogs. Let’s break it down with more about why these foods are bad for dogs.
1. Chocolate
While melt-in-your-mouth chocolate makes humans happy, it can be very harmful to your dog. It contains caffeine and theobromine, two stimulants that can make your dog’s heart race, blood pressure skyrocket, and even cause seizures and death. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it can be for your pup because it contains even more of these substances. So, baker’s chocolate and semi-sweet nibs are big no-no’s. Smaller breeds can also be affected by a lesser amount of chocolate than larger breeds.
Dark chocolate bar and pieces, a dangerous treat for dogs due to theobromine.
2. Gum and Candy
Thinking about a dog chewing on a piece of gum might elicit a chuckle or two, but it’s really not a laughing matter. A dog wouldn’t have a clue what to do with this strange, chewy substance and may be likely to swallow it, which can cause choking or blockages in the digestive system. Candy can result in the same issues, especially if it’s super chewy, like caramel or taffy. Hard candies can also fracture your dog’s teeth. Plus, if that gum or candy is sweetened with Xylitol, it can cause some serious problems for your dog. Xylitol is such a dangerous substance it has its own spot on the list.
Colorful candies and chewing gum, potentially harmful to dogs and a choking hazard.
3. Xylitol
Xylitol is a substitute sweetener used in many different foods, including gum, candy, desserts, yogurt, and peanut butter. Ingesting Xylitol can result in low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), seizures, and liver failure in dogs. It’s also important to note that many “sugar-free” products, even some “natural” ones, can contain Xylitol. So please check the ingredients of anything that might contain Xylitol before giving it to your dog.
Xylitol sweetener in a spoon, a highly toxic sugar substitute for dogs.
4. Grapes
Grapes are highly toxic to dogs and can result in severe complications, including sudden kidney failure. Even just a single one can cause a very bad reaction in your dog, so keep those bowlfuls of grapes and fruit salads out of paws’ reach. The exact toxic substance is unknown, but the effects are clear and devastating. If you happen to come home and find a straggly, empty grape vine on the floor near your dog, contact your veterinarian or animal poison control immediately.
A bunch of fresh green grapes, extremely poisonous to dogs and can cause kidney failure.
5. Raisins
You know what raisins are, right? They’re dried and shriveled-up grapes, of course! That means they’re just as harmful to your dog as their round and juicy friends. Raisins are also tricky, since they can hide in cookies, muffins, and other goodies that your dog might try to gobble up without you realizing the danger. Always check ingredient lists carefully.
Dried raisins in a bowl, just as toxic to dogs as fresh grapes and often hidden in baked goods.
6. Macadamia Nuts
These nuts originated in Madagascar and Australia, but were brought over to Hawaii and California many years ago. They can now be found in plenty of local grocery stores and are sometimes baked into cookies. It’s not known what in these nuts causes a bad reaction in dogs, but symptoms can include a severely upset tummy, vomiting, hyperthermia, and tremors. Even a small amount can cause these adverse effects, making them a definite no-go for your canine companion.
Macadamia nuts, a common ingredient in cookies that can cause tremors and digestive upset in dogs.
7. Avocados
These fruits (yes, they are a fruit!) contain a substance called persin, which can be harmful to dogs. There is more persin in the leaves and skin of avocados, and different varieties can contain more or less of this toxic substance. While some debate the severity for dogs compared to other animals, it’s better to be safe than sorry and keep your dog’s nose out of the guacamole bowl on game day.
Sliced avocado, containing persin which can be harmful to dogs, especially in the leaves and skin.
8. Onions
Onions contain a harmful substance that can damage your dog’s red blood cells, making them unable to carry oxygen through the body. This is as dangerous as it sounds and can be fatal. This applies to all forms of onion – raw, cooked, dehydrated, or powdered. Now you might wonder what dog would eat an onion, but they’ve been known to gobble up slices dropped on the floor, snack on breaded onion rings, or nosh on sweeter-tasting pearl onions. Onion powder is also a problem for dogs, so keep it safely stored away in the spice cabinet, especially when preparing dishes that might include meat.
Chopped red onions, toxic to dogs and capable of damaging red blood cells, leading to anemia.
9. Garlic
Like onions, garlic can damage a dog’s red blood cells. Also like onions, you may be wondering what dog would want to eat garlic. But dogs don’t always shy away from strong-tasting foods. They might eat up garlic cloves that fell while you were cooking or get into a jar of chopped garlic left open on the counter. Garlic powder can also be an issue, so be sure to store it safely, especially since garlic is a common seasoning for many meat dishes.
Fresh garlic cloves, which like onions can cause red blood cell damage and anemia in dogs.`
10. Salt
Too much salt, whether it’s poured directly out of the shaker or on potato chips, pretzels, popcorn, or other snacks, can cause health issues for your dog. It can lead to sodium ion or salt poisoning, which can damage the kidneys. Signs include excessive thirst and urination, vomiting, and diarrhea. This also applies to highly processed meats like deli slices, hot dogs, or jerky that are loaded with sodium. When considering what meat should your dog never eat, remember highly salted versions are high on the list.
A salt shaker next to potato chips, excessive salt intake can lead to sodium ion poisoning in dogs.
11. Tea Leaves
While sitting down with a nice cup of tea can be one of the most relaxing points of your day, you should certainly avoid inviting your dog for teatime. Tea leaves contain caffeine, like I mentioned in our chat about chocolate, and can be quite troublesome for dogs. Although your dog may seem uninterested in tea bags, you should store cartons of them safely and avoid leaving mugs with used tea bags around where your dog could take a taste.
Dried tea leaves in a cup, containing caffeine which is harmful to dogs and can cause heart issues.
12. Raw Yeast Dough
If you’re baking bread or other items with raw yeast, like homemade soft pretzels, be sure to let it rise somewhere safe from curious noses. The yeast in that dough can expand in your dog’s belly and cause painful gas and bloat. Bloat can cause a dog’s stomach to twist, which can turn into a medical emergency. There is also a risk of alcohol intoxication since yeast produces alcohol during the fermenting process.
Raw yeast dough in a bowl, dangerous for dogs as it can expand in the stomach and cause alcohol poisoning.
13. Spoiled Foods
There can be all sorts of harmful things lurking in your garbage, such as spoiled or moldy foods, that can upset your dog’s tummy or worse. Some molds contain mycotoxins that cause serious muscle tremors. This includes spoiled meat, which can harbor dangerous bacteria like Salmonella or E. coli, leading to severe gastrointestinal issues. Be sure to throw old or rotten foods out where your dog can’t get at them, like a securely closed outdoor garbage bin. For foods that are good for a dog’s upset stomach, you’ll need something much gentler than spoiled leftovers.
14. Fatty Foods (Including Certain Meats)
Feeding your dog fatty foods, like hot dogs, bacon, ribs, or fried chicken, can upset your dog’s stomach and cause vomiting and diarrhea. Beyond just these, any excessive fatty meat scraps from your plate can lead to pancreatitis, which is an inflammation of the pancreas. This is particularly relevant when considering what meat should your dog never eat in large quantities. Bones, especially cooked ones from chicken or pork, can splinter and cause choking or internal damage. Some breeds, like Miniature Schnauzers and Yorkshire Terriers, may be more prone to pancreatitis. If you notice your dog is hunched over with tummy pain, contact your vet. You might be surprised at what human food is healthy for dogs versus what is harmful.
Greasy bacon strips and fatty meat, which can cause pancreatitis and digestive upset in dogs.
15. Coffee
Like tea leaves and chocolate, coffee is harmful to dogs because of the caffeine content. This goes for brewed, ground, and whole bean coffee. It’s also true of used coffee grounds, so be careful how you dispose of them. Caffeine can cause restlessness, heart palpitations, muscle tremors, and even seizures in dogs.
A mug of coffee, dangerous for dogs due to its high caffeine content, affecting the heart and nervous system.
16. Alcohol
Just like people, dogs can get buzzed from drinks or foods containing alcohol. This effect can be amplified for dogs, especially for those of smaller breeds. Alcohol can also affect your dog’s nervous system and even lead to a coma or death. There’s simply no reason to ever offer your dog an alcoholic beverage. You should also keep an eye on your dog during parties where drinks may be left around. Understanding what are some foods that dogs can’t eat thoroughly will keep your pet safe.
Wine glasses, representing alcohol which is highly toxic to dogs and can lead to severe health issues or death.
What Dogs Are at Risk?
Dogs of any breed, shape, or size are at risk for ingesting something harmful. However, some dogs may be more prone to eating things they shouldn’t based on their personalities. Super curious dogs, those who love to scavenge, or those highly motivated by food may need closer supervision. While all dogs need to be protected from bad foods and toxic substances, these adventurous eaters require extra vigilance. Even if you think you know what is good human food to feed dogs, awareness of toxic foods is paramount.
A worried dog looking at a spilled box of chocolates, symbolizing a common pet poison emergency.
Dog Poison Emergency Tips
It’s good to know the list of bad foods for dogs, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be able to protect your dog from getting into trouble all of the time. If you suspect your dog has ingested a harmful food or substance, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (APCC) immediately. The APCC is available 24/7 at 888-426-4435. A $65 consultation may apply.
Also, be sure to stay calm and never try to treat your dog without professional advice. You could injure your dog or get hurt yourself. Even the most loving dog can act out when in pain, scared, or upset. Depending on the situation, your vet may need to perform diagnostic tests, induce vomiting, administer fluids through an IV, or prescribe medications. Hospitalization may also be necessary in more severe cases.
While these treatments can get expensive, you can get help managing the costs with a pet health insurance plan. This way, if you ever come home to find a ripped-open box of raisins and a dog with an upset tummy, you can at least rest easy knowing that you’ll have help covering the medical bills.
Conclusion
Understanding what foods, including specific types of meat and other common household items, your dog should never eat is fundamental to responsible pet ownership. From the dangers of chocolate and grapes to the hidden threats of xylitol and fatty meat scraps, knowledge is your best defense against accidental poisoning. Always keep harmful items out of reach, educate yourself on potential toxins, and know the signs of distress. In case of an emergency, prompt action and professional veterinary care are crucial. By being proactive and informed, you can ensure your beloved canine companion lives a long, healthy, and happy life, free from preventable food-related hazards.
