What Dogs Should or Should Not Eat!
Sharing our food with our pets is something many of us have done. And SHOULD!!
Who hasn't slipped the dog something to eat under the table or given him the scraps from our dinner plates. This is something that is especially helpful to prevent upset or sensitive stomachs. Mix the dog food, give them a variety of foods and most of all, leave it out for them at ALL times.
I have seen more dogs on special food for sensitive stomachs which does NOT fix the problem!
If you give them dog food, mix two different flavors…I mean, really, would you eat the same thing every day?? It gets boring; they will search for other food and other smells. And change the mix once in a while; don’t do the same mix all the time.
Leave the dog food out! And you wonder why the dog gets up and eats the bread on the counter or goes out searching for smells to eat? The dog may tend to eat the whole bowl at first, why?..because the dog thinks this is the last time they will eat before you decide to put food down again.
Dogs do not get fat by dog food; Dogs get fat by donuts and sweets we give them! If for any reason, the dog does actually get fat on dog food, switch to lite and exercise a way bit more. Or cut down on the food if not getting enough exercise.
Feed them table scraps…They get scrambled eggs or quiche on Sunday morning containing, spinach, eggs, cheese and sausage. I make them stew (venison, chicken or beef, carrots, NO potatoes, NO onions, celery, rutabaga and spices) or raw foods like:
- Vegetables: carrots, broccoli, squash, celery, you get the idea?!
- Fruits: apples, bananas, kiwi, etc.
- Raw is always best than cooked in vegetables, but NOT raw meat, cook ALL meat and eggs unless you get them from a organic farm where they are grass fed with no grain feeding.
If they got into something that the stomach has not yet excepted or trying new foods and they got the diarrhea, give them YOGURT, (make sure it is live cultured) . I wish they made it in the 5 quart bucket like ice cream; I go thru a lot especially with many puppies to bring up. Beef and Rice is the another thing to try. Brown up Hamburger and white rice. Yummy!
Below is a list of foods that we eat but which could be dangerous if eaten by your dog. Don't poison your dog by mistake.
| Food | Toxic? | Why? |
|---|---|---|
| Alcohol | Toxic | No sharing your beer or gin and tonic with your dog. Alcohol is toxic to dogs. It can cause, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, tremors and depression of the central nervous system. It can also cause death. I know you think the dog likes it and it is cool for guys, but really do you want to injury your dog’s brain cells and body? |
| Almonds | Safe | A few almonds are safe to give a dog. But, if your dog is little, almonds could pose a choking risk or could lead to an intestinal obstruction. If a dog ate a large amount of almonds this could cause some upset stomach or potentially pancreatitis. |
| Aloe Vera | Can be Toxic | The sap of the aloe vera plant contains anthracene glycosides. This substance can cause significant intestinal upset and can act as a laxative. If your dog ingested some, it's not likely an emergency. But, if he develops diarrhea you may want to contact your vet. Just so you know, aloe vera products that are meant for ingestion (i.e. juice) have had the anthracene glycosides removed. |
| Apples | Safe | If your dog likes apples, then keep giving them to him! In theory, it's possible for a dog (or a person for that matter) to get cyanide poisoning from eating apple seeds. However, the seeds need to be punctured to release the cyanide. And, a VERY large number of seeds have to be punctured in order for enough cyanide to be ingested to cause a problem. |
| Apricots | Safe | Apricots are not toxic at all to dogs. But, if your dog swallows the pit it could act as a foreign body and cause an intestinal obstruction. There is a very small amount of cyanide in the pit of an apricot. But, in order to cause problems the pit has to be crushed...and the dog has to eat a very very large amount of apricot pits. |
| Asparagus | Safe | Asparagus is safe for dogs to eat. However, if a dog eats some asparagus fern (the plant) this can cause serious intestinal upset. |
| Aspartame | Not recommended | The sweetener, aspartame is not toxic to dogs but it can cause some stomach upset. |
| Avocado | Mostly Safe | The biggest worry with avocadoes is the pit. If your dog eats the pit there is a high possibility it's going to get stuck in his intestines. But, the flesh of an avocado is not toxic to dogs. A dog would have to eat a massive amount of avocados in order to get sick to cause tummy pains and upsets including vomiting and diarrhea. |
| Bones_Bad | Dangerous! | Bones from fish, poultry, or other meat sources can cause obstruction or laceration of the digestive system. Raw meaty bones and chicken bones are prone to splinter and lodge in the throat, or worse, the intestines, in which case they can perforate the lining causing internal bleeding and possibly death. Walmart brand bones are also bad. |
| Bones_Good | Safe | Sterilized bones that are purchased aren’t the problem. This doesn’t mean “no bones” – ask the butcher for soup bones, bring water to a full boil then cook the bones for approximately 20 minutes (depending on size). JONES brand Knuckle bones, Center bones or Dino bones are best beef bones for dogs. Fill the Center Bones with peanut butter, cheese or treats when the center is cleaned out. Please throw away once the bone starts to smell rancid or food bacteria starts to accumulate inside the bone. |
| Bones_Rawhide | Dangerous | And PLEASE do NOT give your dog rawhide bones!! I am surprised they are still on the market. They get lodged in their throats and swell up, choking your dog to death. Rawhide swells when wet. Plus the bacteria that causes loss of teeth…noooo!!! |
| Bananas | Safe | Bananas are a great treat for dogs! |
| Blueberries | Safe | Blueberries are safe and beneficial for dogs like all berries are such as raspberries, strawberries, black berries. |
| Broccoli | Safe | Broccoli is perfectly safe for dogs to eat. In cows and sheep, eating a large amount of broccoli can cause anemia, but this doesn’t happen in dogs. |
| Cat food | Can be toxic | Generally too high in protein and fats you want to watch out for. |
| Celery | Safe | Celery is safe to give to dogs. |
| Chocolate | Toxic | Your dog should never eat chocolate. Chocolate contains a stimulant diuretic called theobromine which affects the central nervous system and cardio vascular of the dog. If you believe your dog has eaten chocolate you must seek veterinary advice immediately as ingestion of chocolate can cause death. Cooking chocolate contains the most theobromine followed by dark chocolate, milk chocolate and white chocolate. Take all precautions and ensure that you do not leave chocolate lying around. Dogs love the taste of it. Symptoms of chocolate poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, hyperactivity muscle tremors, increased urination and increased heart rate. |
| Coffee and Tea | Toxic | Caffeine affects the central nervous system and the heart. Symptoms of caffeine poisoning can include vomiting, a racing heart and in severe cases, death. |
| Corn | Safe, but they should not have it in their diet | Corn is perfectly safe for dogs. But, don't give your dog corn on the cob. Corn cobs can very easily get stuck in a dog's intestines. When they do get stuck they ferment and can cause serious, life threatening problems. |
| Cranberries | Safe | Cranberries are generally safe to give to dogs. But, don't be trying to treat a UTI with cranberries - it won't work. Cranberries contain a substance that helps to prevent E. Coli bacteria from attaching to the bladder wall, but not all infections are caused by E. Coli. And, the cranberries don't kill the bacteria. Also, if you have a dog on large amounts of cranberries every day it could cause them to develop calcium oxalate stones in their bladder. |
| Cucumber | Safe | Cucumbers are wonderful veggies for your dog to eat! |
| Dates | Safe | Dates are not toxic dogs. But too many can cause diarrhea |
| Eggs_Raw | Toxic, unless cooked. | Contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin). This can lead to skin and hair coat problems. Raw eggs may also contain Salmonella. Make sure you cook the eggs. |
| Fat Trimmings from Ham and other meats | Toxic | Never give your dog fat trimmings from meat and especially from ham as high fat consumption could lead to a bout of pancreatitis. Pancreatitis can range in severity from mild to life threatening and is an extremely painful condition. Turkey skin is also high in fat content. Don't confuse this with some fats because it is important to give your dog fat, however be careful on how much. |
| Figs | Safe | Figs are not toxic to dogs but even small amounts can cause some upset stomach. |
| Fish_Raw | Highly Toxic unless it is cooked | Can result in a thiamine (a B vitamin) deficiency leading to loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death. More common if raw fish is fed regularly. |
| Garlic | Can be toxic | Garlic causes damage to a dog's red blood cells. A small amount of garlic is not likely to cause any clinical symptoms, but will still damage some of your dog's red blood cells. If a dog gets a lot of garlic, or eats garlic every day they can eventually get anemia (low red blood cells). |
| Grapes, Raisins, and Sultanas | Toxic | Grapes and the dried variety of grapes including raisins and sultanas can cause kidney damage. No raisin bread, unless you take it them out. |
| Gum | Can be very toxic | If your dog ate gum, check the package to see if the gum contains "xylitol". Xylitol is very toxic to dogs (see xylitol at the bottom of this chart). If there was no xylitol in the gum then it is not likely to cause problems. |
| Hazelnuts | Safe | Hazelnuts are not toxic to dogs. But, if you have a small dog, a hazelnut could pose a choking risk or could cause an intestinal obstruction. |
| Liver | Toxic in large amounts | Large amounts of can cause Vitamin A toxicity, which affects muscles and bones. |
| Macadamia nuts | Toxic | We don't know why macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs. If your dog eats macadamia nuts it can cause him to be unable to stand. Ingestion of macadamia nuts can also cause vomiting, tremors and hyperthermia (high temperature). If your dog ate these, then get him to the vet right away. Fortunately most dogs survive and are back to normal within 24-48 hours. |
| Meat_Raw or poultry | Toxic, unless cooked | Once again bacteria are the main problem – Salmonella and Clostridium, both can be very serious and costly to treat. Just remember, if you feed meat, cook it first. NOTE: Best to avoid pork, especially bacon (which contains sodium nitrate), however you can now buy the uncured that does not contain that. |
| Milk and other dairy products | Can be toxic, use yogurt! | Some adult dogs and cats do not have sufficient amounts of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down the lactose in milk. This can result in diarrhea. Lactose-free milk products are available for pets. Any yogurt, frozen or cold. If using ice cream cups or cottage cheese, etc, use sparely. |
| Mushrooms_Wild | Can be toxic, but not store bought. | Can contain toxins, which may affect multiple systems in the body, cause shock, and result in death. Store bought mushrooms are fine. |
| Olives | Mostly Safe | If your dog likes olives, then a few every now and then are OK. But, some dogs can get stomach upset from eating olives. |
| Onions | Can be toxic | Onions can cause damage to a dog's red blood cells. While you're not likely to see symptoms unless a large amount is eaten, even a small amount of onions, onion powder or cooked onion can cause red blood cell damage. If there's enough damage then the dog can become anemic (low in red blood cells.) If your dog ate a small amount of onion, don't be worried. But, don't let him make a habit out of it! |
| Oranges | Safe | Oranges are safe for dogs. But, most dogs don't like them! |
| Parsley | Mostly Safe | Parsley is safe for dogs. If a dog ate a large amount of parsley it can cause stomach upset and diarrhea. It can also act as a diuretic which would cause a dog to be excessively thirsty and urinate a lot, but this would only happen if given in large amounts. Really large doses of parsley given daily could be toxic to a dog's liver. So, it's not a good idea to be giving massive amounts daily. But, a little bit to flavor a treat is fine. |
| Peaches | Safe | Peaches are safe for dogs. But, it's not a good idea to let your dog eat the peach pit. The pit can cause an intestinal obstruction. If a dog crushes a peach pit and eats it, then he will ingest some cyanide. But, he'd have to crush and eat a large number of peach pits in order to eat a toxic amount. |
| Peanuts | Not recommended | A couple of peanuts are not likely to be harmful to your dog. But, as peanuts are high in fat and salt, it's not a good idea to offer them on a regular basis. Some peanuts can contain molds that produce aflatoxin. Aflatoxin poisoning can be very serious! |
| Pears | Safe | Feeding your dog pears is a great idea. However, if he ate a large number of pears it could cause some stomach upset. There is a small amount of cyanide in pear seeds. But, in order to cause problems the dog would have to eat and crush a huge amount of seeds. |
| Plums | Safe | The biggest concern with plums is the pit. In small dogs the pit could cause an obstruction or choking risk. If the pit was crushed, it would release cyanide. However, a dog would have to crush and eat a very large number of pits to cause a problem. The fruit of the plum is perfectly safe for dogs. |
| Potatoes | Can be toxic if raw, unless they are cooked | Potatoes can be toxic to dogs. The biggest concern is if your dog eats potatoes with green areas on the skin (whether cooked or raw). This green area contains something called solanine. Solanine can cause stomach upset if a small amount is eaten. Depending on how much is eaten, the symptoms can get more severe. We can see an increase in thirst and urination. Or, we can see weakness and other neurological problems. Some dogs who have eaten potatoes have gone into renal failure, but this is rare. A small amount of cooked potato with no skin is safe for your dog. |
| Potatoes_Sweet | Safe | Sweet potatoes are a great food to give your dog! |
| Rutabaga | Safe | Rutabaga is one of the top four starches used as a food for dogs, and is high in carbohydrates, protein, and fiber. Dogs love to chew, so you can be sure they will enjoy it! Rutabaga also has a great flavor, making it perfect for dogs with sensitive teeth. Of course, you have to be careful when feeding rutabaga to dogs, as it contains a toxic chemical called glycoalkaloid, which can cause gastrointestinal distress in dogs who are prone to food allergies. And, unlike most pet foods, rutabaga doesn’t contain soy, corn or wheat. It does contain a high concentration of oxalic acid, but it’s not enough to be harmful to dogs. In fact, rutabaga can be beneficial to dogs because it contains potassium. Dogs have been known to eat everything from grass to rutabagas, but they’re not the only animals with a penchant for turnips. Just don’t over do giving them too much! |
| Salt | Toxic in large amounts | If eaten in large quantities it may lead to electrolyte imbalances. |
| Shrimp | Mostly Safe but safe if cooked | As long as they are cooked, shrimp are safe to feed to dogs. Raw shrimp can cause shellfish toxicity just like in humans. |
| Sorbitol | Safe | Sorbitol is a sweetener added to food. It is not toxic to dogs. However, if the food contains the sweetener xylitol this can be deadly. (See xylitol). |
| Spinach | Safe | Spinach is safe for dogs, but really, does your dog want to eat spinach? Spinach does contain something called oxalates. Oxalates are toxic to a dog's kidneys, but the amount that would have to be eaten to cause damage is extremely high! |
| Strawberries | Safe | Stawberries are safe for dogs. If you give a large amount though it could cause some stomach upset. |
| String | Dangerous | String Can become trapped in the digestive system; called a "string foreign body” |
| Tobacco | Highly Toxic | Contains nicotine, which affects the digestive and nervous systems. Can result in rapid heartbeat, collapse, coma, and death. |
| Tomatoes | Mostly safe but leaves are toxic | Tomatoes contain a substance called tomatine. It is found throughout the plant but mostly in the leaves and stems of the plant. Tomatine can be toxic to the heart but your dog would have to eat MASSIVE amounts of tomatoes to cause a problem. Some dogs can get some mild stomach upset from eating tomatoes. |
| Walnuts | Safe | Walnuts are generally safe for dogs. Don't give your dog a walnut with the shell on as it could get stuck or do damage to the intestines. If walnuts get moldy though, they can produce mycotoxins which can cause serious neurological problems. |
| Xylitol | Highly Toxic | Xylitol is a sweetener that is safe for people but deadly for dogs. When a dog eats xylitol it causes a huge spike in insulin. The spike is so high that it causes severe problems with low blood sugar. It is also toxic to a dog's liver. Symptoms of xyllitol poisoning include weakness, tremors, seizures, and death. Many chewing gums contain xylitol. In some cases, one stick of xylitol containing gum can be fatal if eaten by a 20 pound dog. If you think your dog ate xylitol, see your vet immediately! They are now putting this in peanut butter so make sure you watch your labels.! |
| Yeast Dough | Dangerous/Toxic | Can expand and produce gas in the digestive system, causing pain and possible rupture of the stomach or intestines. Rising bread dough can cause serious problems to a dog if it is eaten. The heat in the dog's stomach will cause the dough to rise. This causes ethanol to be produced. It also causes the dough to expand in the dog's stomach. A dog who has eaten bread dough will have severe abdominal pain and may be walking around like he is drunk. He needs to see a vet immediately! |