What Food Is Not Good For Dogs?

From as far back as we can remember dog’s, by nature are known scavengers so anything we put in front of them will be happily gobbled up, unless of course you own one of those fussy eaters!

OK, on the flip side of this it doesn’t actually mean that all food we give them is actually good for them.

So, with that how do we actually know what food is NOT good for dog’s and what food is good?

As doggy parents the onus is on us to know what food is good for dog’s, and that is even more important when they are our own!

Within this article today, I am going to give you some foods that your dog can safely eat and some foods that should never be given to your dog at ANY cost!

What Food Is Not Good For Dogs?

Alright, lets be really honest with ourselves here.

Who has no problems resisting that cute as a button stare from those beautiful eyes and that little doggie smile?

Surely a few little treats from my meal won’t hurt will it?

Well, it really comes down to what’s actually in it, if it contains Xylitol which is an artificial sweetener it could cause your dog some major health problems and potentially death.

There are actually a lot of foods that we can eat that your dog should never eat.

And it is not only because of the weight gaining issues, some foods are extremely dangerous for dog’s and could lead to severe illness, vomiting, seizures, kidney issues and possibly death.

While I will try to outline as many foods that are not safe for dog’s as I possibly can there may very well be some that I miss.

My best advice if you can’t find the food here and are unsure would be to call your local vet.

Fruits.

Can Dogs Eat Apple Seeds? – While the apple is a good healthy treat for your dog, the seeds definitely aren’t.

Apple seeds are toxic and contains a small level of a natural chemical that when broken down releases cyanide when swallowed.

Always core and de-seed apples before giving them to your dog.

Can My Dog Eat Avocado? – Avocados contain Persin which has been found to cause diarrhea & vomiting and potential damage to the dog’s heart muscle.

If your dog manages to get hold of a small piece of Avocado they should be OK, just make sure you keep an eye on them.

Can My Dog Eat Grapes? – Even just 1 or 2 grapes can make your dog extremely unwell.

If your dog has eaten grapes one of the early signs you will notice is that they will probably have a lack of energy.

Looking on the web there are case’s where dog’s have died from eating as little as a cupful of grapes.

Can Dogs Eat Peach & Plum Seeds? – Just like apple seeds peach and plum seeds contain cyanide which is not only poisonous for us but also our dog’s.

Can My Dog Eat Rhubarb & Tomato Leaves – Neither of these should be given to your dog as they will cause weakness, drooling (If, like me you own a Mastiff this may be hard to tell lol), tremors and possibly blood in their pee.

Vegetables.

Can Dogs Eat Corn On The Cob? – A small amount of corn added to your dog’s meal is fine.

What we need to avoid is giving your dog a whole corn on the bob to chew away at.

The husk can be a choking hazard and has been known to cause blockages in the intestines.

Can My Dog Eat Garlic? – If, like me you have been around dog’s for a long time you would have heard the old tale about garlic being good to keep fleas off your dog.

Trust me, their is little to know truth in this myth and while small amounts of garlic occasionally in their meals is OK, larger amounts can be poisonous!

Can Dogs Eat Mushrooms? – This is a bit of a tricky one which is why I avoid all mushrooms.

Vets and some animal nutritionist say it is okay to give a small piece but only certain kinds and every dog is different.

If you really want to give your dog’s mushrooms, learn more about the types that are safe and toxic

Can Dogs Eat Onions & Chives? – They can come in all different forms (raw, dry, cooked, powder or as an ingredient in other foods) but let me warn you that no matter how they come these are THE WORST FOODS you could ever give your dog!

These two foods, and unfortunately I know from firsthand experience damage the red blood cells and cause anemia.

My old girl Narla found this out due to my ignorance at it very nearly killed her.

Her gums and her tongue were almost a white color due to the low red blood count and she had to have a blood transfusion, so please NEVER feed these to your dog’s.

Proteins.

Can My Dog Eat Almonds? – It is not just almonds but nuts in general that you should avoid feeding your dog’s.

Again, much the same as some other foods we have covered so far these could cause diarrhea, some really stinky wind, lethargy, loss of hunger and vomiting.

Can My Dog Eat Cooked Bones? – While raw bones are a great part of your dog’s diet both nutritionally and for dental health, cooked bones are not.

Cooked bones have a tendency to splinter and could become a choking hazard for your dog.

Can My Dog Eat Fat Trimmings? – This is one that surprises a lot of dog owners, myself included.

You should avoid feeding your dog either cooked or uncooked fat trimmings as this can cause pancreatitis cancer.

Can Dogs Eat Liver? – Livers can be OK to feed your dog’s in small amounts.

If you are the owner of a large breed dog or dog’s susceptible to joint issues I would avoid this.

Liver as we know contains quite a high level of Vitamin A which can cause joint issues in younger pups.

Can Dogs Eat Raw Fish or Meat? – OK, if you speak to owners of the BARF or Raw Feed world they will tell you most definitely yes!

The biggest risk with feeding dog’s raw fish or meat is bacteria, which in turn causes food poisoning.

Some of the signs of food poisoning is, vomiting, fever and general lethargy.

Cooked meat and especially cooked plain fish is perfect and safe as you have killed any bacteria or parasites with the cooking.

As I mentioned RAW feeding is becoming more and more popular, however Vets and organizations like the Australian Veterinary Association don’t recommend them.

What’s In The Cupboard?

Can Dogs Eat Chocolate?- Now I have a sweet tooth so there is always chocolate in my cupboard (With white chocolate being my favorite!).

Chocolate contains caffeine which just like it does for us speeds up the heart rate and stimulates us, which is why I probably feel so good after knocking off a block of my favorite Cadbury’s!!

If a dog eats this it will likely have some of or all of the following.

• Vomiting.
• Diarrhea.
• Peeing often.
• Tremors or shakes.
• An increased heart rate.
• Possible seizures.
• And possibly death.

Dark chocolate is the worse type of chocolate your dog can eat, so if you are a fan of dark chocolate make sure you keep it well away from your dog.

Can Dogs Eat Popcorn? – Picture yourself settled in for a movie night, popcorn ready and over wonders your fur baby with those big cute eyes and doggy grin I mentioned before, I mean how can you resist?

While the corn itself is OK for your dog to eat, it is the little seed or kernel that could be the hazard especially if you own a smaller breed or a puppy.

This little kernel has the chance of getting stuck in your dog’s throat which could cause them to choke.

Not only that, but we all know that not many of us eat plain old popcorn, we usually add some good ole butter and salt to taste, both of which are not good for our dog!

If you really want to share your movie time snack with Fuzzball then learn how to give your doggy popcorn the safe way.

Can My Dog Eat Salt? – I try to avoid too much salt at all times as I know it is not the healthiest thing I can be adding to my diet.

It is the same for our dog’s and way more unhealthy to them than it is for us.

Dogs with salt in their diet will end up with an increased body temperature, seizures and in some case’s death.

Household Staples.

Can Dogs Have Candy, Chewing Gum or Our Toothpaste? – What do all these things have in common?

They all contain sugar and all will often contain another highly poisonous ingredient to dog’s in the form of Xylitol.

What is Xylitol? Basically it is a sugar alcohol found in a lot of everyday products that market themselves as being “Sugar Free”.

A big culprit of this is Peanut Butter so if you are giving your dog a little peanut butter every now and again as a little treat be sure to check the labeling for Xylitol.

Can Dogs Eat Human Vitamins? – Vitamins are good for us right?

So surely if they are good for us they must be good for our dog’s to?

If you read the labels on any of the vitamins or supplements you maybe taking it will often state that this vitamin contains 100% of you daily requirements.

Giving this to your dog could possibly be giving them what is known as a canine overdose.

The worst of all the vitamins are any that are used as an iron supplement as this has been known to cause iron toxicity in dog’s.

See our review of the best Vitamins and Supplements for your dog’s.

Beverages.

Can Dogs Drink Tea & Other Caffeine Based Drinks? – Just like we discussed Onions previously these are at the same level of DANGER!

A dog that has drank caffeine will, within a few hours experience some or all of the following.

• Hyperactivity – Just like we have when we go on a caffeine binge!
• Unable to rest.
• Vomiting.
• An increased heart rate.
• A rapid increase in blood pressure.
• Seizures.
• Tremors or shakes.
• Death.

Can My Dog Drink Milk? – A small amount of milk to wash down the safe popcorn we gave them while watching our movie is fine.

However be warned in some dog’s even the smallest amount of milk could lead to some killer farts and some very runny poo wherever is convenient to them at the time!

Dogs are by nature lactose intolerant once they have been weaned off their mums milk.

Can My Dog Have A Beer? – It’s not actually the beer that is the bad part for a dog.

One of the main ingredients in beer is Hops, and to a dog these are toxic.

So while on a hot summers day you maybe enjoying a beer, but shout your dog an ice-cold bowl of water instead!

Other Stuff That Is Not Good For Dogs.

Can Dogs Eat Cat Food? – A cats dietary requirements are so much different to a dog.

Cat food has ingredients that are very high in protein and fats which are much too high for a dog.

If your dog jumps in on Kitty’s meal, this could lead to an upset stomach, and if they are like all other dog’s and woof down their meal first then push ole puss out of theirs this will eventually lead to a very sick and overweight dog.

Can My Dog Eat Macadamia Nuts? – This is a BIG NO!

Even the smallest amount of macadamia nuts can be lethal to your dog.

Can Dogs Eat Yeast? – Do you feed your dog’s bread? What’s in Bread? – YEAST!

I remember from my days at school learning how to make bread in cooking classes and being told yeast is to make the bread rise.

The same thing happens inside your poor dog’s tummy so please make sure they never get hold of any yeast.

If they have somehow managed to get hold of a little you may smell a lot of farts and they could be a little uncomfortable for a little while.

However if your dog has taken a little too much yeast this could rupture the stomach due to the swelling of the yeast.

If this happens seek vet assistance ASAP!

Find out what bread dog’s can eat safely – The Canine Journal discusses everything from banana bread to my favorite rye!

Some Other Foods To Keep Out Of Reach.

Can My Dog Eat Old Food? – While we have accepted that most dog’s are a natural scavenger, through years of genetic reproduction they have become weakened to what their stomachs could handle back in the day.

As yourself, would I eat old moldy food? Of course not so what makes you think your dog might enjoy it?

Old food contains harmful bacteria so my advice is to always feed your dog the best quality and freshest food available.

Can I Feed My Dog Left-Overs? – The biggest trap we fall into when feeding our dog leftovers is we don’t take that amount of food out of their regular meal.

So essentially what we end up doing is over feeding them which leads to them becoming overweight which then brings on all kinds of other health related problems.

Can I give My Dog Human Snacks? – There is a reason pet companies make snacks for dog’s and that is they know what they put in them is healthy and poses no health risks to your beloved fur baby.

Aside from Chocolate my next favorite snack would have to be chips and cookies. Now what’s in Chips and Cookies?

We know chips contain salt, possibly garlic, there could be onion powder and through reading to here know what dangers they pose to your dog.

The cookies I love and cookies in general may have raisins, they could also have nuts, and who doesn’t love choc chip?

So What Can My Dog Eat?

Many foods we eat are safe for our dog’s and I cover a lot of these within my nutrition articles here at Our Dogs World 101.

Getting a dog or puppy is a huge responsibility and one of the biggest things you can do to make sure your dog’s lives a long, happy and healthy life is to ensure you have their diet spot on.

A lot of human foods are good for dog’s but my best advice to you is it is better to be safe than sorry and by this I mean you are better off not feeding your dog any human food.

Now if you absolutely must, always make sure the food you are giving them is safe, and most importantly whatever food you give them throughout the day is taken out of their regular meal quantity. We don’t want little fatty poombah’s!

If you have decided that you are going to still treat your dog I have listed below some human foods that are OK in moderation.

Human Food Dogs Can Eat.

FRUITS

1. Apple Slices
2. Watermelon
3. Bananas
4. Strawberries
5. Blueberries
6. Raspberries
7. Cantaloupe
8. Pineapple
9. Mangoes
10. Pears

VEGETABLES

1. Sweet Potatoe
2. Broccoli
3. Spinach
4. Carrots
5. Peas
6. Cucumber
7. Celery
8. Green Beans
9. Cooked Potatoe

PROTEINS

1. Cooked Eggs
2. Lean Meat

GRAINS

1. White Rice
2. White Pasta

Have I Missed Any Food That Is Not Good For Dogs?

My parting peice of advice is to do your research on any food that you are not sure about whether it is a safe food for dog’s.

I have done some extensive research however if you know of any other foods that are harmful to your dog’s I would love for you to leave them in the comments below so as I can keep this list updated for all dog owners to refer back to.

I want to also remind you that while I am trying to cover all foods that are harmful to your dog I may have missed some so please don’t assume that just because it is not on this list that it is is safe.

I hope you have found this article helpful and if you have any questions or comments please leave them below and I will get back to you as soon as possible.

As always I leave you with my favorite saying, “May Your Home Be Filled With Love And Dog Hair.

Mark

Founder of Our Dogs World 101