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Food Guidelines

7 Foods You Should Never Feed Your Dog

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Like small children that will often pick up random objects and try to eat them, many dogs will eat whatever you put in front of their noses, whether it’s good for them or not. That’s why knowing which foods you should never feed your dog is so important to their health and vitality. As a dog owner myself, I’m guilty of treating my dog to a bite of my dinner now and then (shame on me!), but I’m always careful to make sure what I’m feeding my pal is ok fo.r her to eat. We found a great article at RealSimple.com that lists 7 foods your dog should avoid.

7 Foods You Should Never Feed Your Dog

Avocados: This seemingly benign fruit contains persin, which is toxic to dogs in large quantities and can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

Onions: Potent onions damage red blood cells in both dogs and cats, leading to anemia and causing weakness, shortness of breath, and vomiting.

Grapes: Juicy grapes can cause kidney damage in dogs and cats, which may result in lethargy, increased thirst, increased urination, and vomiting.

Nuts: Macadamia nuts can cause muscle and nervous-system problems, triggering tremors, vomiting, weakness, and paralysis in dogs.

Chocolate: Never give your dog or cat this sweet treat—it stimulates the nervous system and the heart. Reactions include agitation, irregular heartbeat, tremors, and seizures.

Peaches: Feed your dog a peach and he may eat the pit, which can cause intestinal obstruction and cyanide poisoning.

Plums:Like peaches, plums have pits that contain cyanide and are harmful if swallowed.

Did any of the foods on this list surprise you? Do you know of any other foods you should never feed your dog? Or, has your dog ever had a reaction from the foods on this list? Tell us about it!

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45 Comments

45 Comments

  1. […] understand why he won’t leave you alone? Yeah, that makes sense. There are so many foods that are toxic to dogs that will do way more harm than […]

  2. Avatar Of Jeff

    jeff

    says:

    When I was a kid I had a dog that would pick apricots off the tree and eat them, she would leave thi pit in her bowl

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  4. Avatar Of Canine &Amp; Co Canine & Co says:

    If you live in an region exactly where the temperatures
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  5. It’s fantastic that you are getting ideas from this post as well as from our dialogue made here.

  6. Avatar Of Anna Anna says:

    I’ve also heard that mushrooms are bad for dogs. It all depends on the species and where they’re grown, but I would not risk mushroom poisoning.

  7. Avatar Of Erin Obrien

    Erin OBrien

    says:

    Only organic raw meat for my girl. She had two cancerous rumors removed. I switched her immediately. She’s been cancer free almost 2 years. For treats she gets organic dried venison lung and pigs hearts. 11 years old and never been healthier. Traditional dog food even the best kibble isn’t meant for dogs, it’s more suitable for humans.

  8. Avatar Of June

    June

    says:

    I heard Macadamia nuts were bad (affects digestive and nervous system), as well as sugar, cafine, tomatoes (heart arrhythmias), walnuts (vomiting), raw eggs(?) mushroons (liver and kidney damage, potato peel, nutmeg (tremors)

    • Avatar Of Kathy Greer-Gregory

      Kathy Greer-Gregory

      says:

      And Sage too…….. along with turkey for Chihuahuas and maybe other breeds as well, I don’t know.

      Sounds like we need to be MUCH more educated about our dog’s diets !!! Probably cat’s diets too. I have never heard ANY of this before now! (And I’m kinda old!)

    • Avatar Of Ava Young

      Ava Young

      says:

      My Husband feeds My Shiztpoo BBQ RIBS every week. I’ve begged him to stop. But he won’t. My Fur Baby seems to be showing unusual signs of discomfort. He’s over weight. He can’t jump into the car like he once did to go places with me anymore. I felt the weight gain when lifting him up placing him inside. He rubs his head a lot on the rugs. Ear Mites meds hasn’t stoped this. He moans & growns. My husband went to spend 2 weeks with his Grandsons and My Doggie started showing signs of energy I hadn’t seen in quit awhile a week later. What is this rib meat doing to My Fur Baby?

  9. Avatar Of Sandy

    sandy

    says:

    This is a fairly limited list. There are some great cookbooks about foods you can easily give dogs, if you want to do a homemade dog food for instance. My beagles love carrots, green beans, frozen broccoli, and cooked meat of course (granted we generally feed with dog food). It’s nice to be able to toss them a low calorie food. I am glad they can’t eat avocado, I LOVE THOSE and don’t want to share. The cheese and lactose type food can upset their stomach as someone else mentioned, too much corn can cause skin issues and gas. Once in awhile a little extra fat is good, a cooked egg yolk here or there for skin, fur. (keep in mind cats and dogs don’t have all the same food issues)

  10. Avatar Of Dori

    Dori

    says:

    AVOCADO is not poisonous to dogs OR Cars. Please Cite your source!!
    Avocado is dangerous to other pets.
    Pet Poison Helpline.

    Pet insurance company

    A Natural Dog food made from Avocado

  11. Avatar Of Janie

    Janie

    says:

    I’m getting some wonderful info here. One ting I learned, after having 3 Yorkies with pancreatitis, is to watch how much fat my dog gets. I finally got my husband to STOP giving my dog stuff behind my back. I do give him boiled chicken but squeeze off as much fat as possible.

  12. Avatar Of Leslie W

    Leslie w

    says:

    No potatoe peelings or the plant of corn.. I also heard corn was bad in high quantities..

  13. Avatar Of Linda E.

    Linda E.

    says:

    Why avocados? They have dog food that is made with them. I give my dog apples, oranges, carrots, green beans, peas. They’re all good except for the seeds. What about pork? My friend says pork is bad for dogs, but I’ve always given them bites of pork chops…not the bones though. And rawhide..it swells up, my dog almost choked to death on a piece of rawhide.

  14. Avatar Of Rob

    Rob

    says:

    All pork bones are brittle, they splinter, avoid them. My little dog loves boiled chicken livers and peanuts. According to this list, only macadamias are bad.

  15. Avatar Of Laura

    LAURA

    says:

    Raisins are another no-no… (maybe they weren’t mentioned since they are dried grapes that are, but, I’ve told a couple folks that gave raisins to their dogs that didn’t know that they cause kidney failure in dogs…)

  16. Avatar Of Laura

    LAURA

    says:

    Surgar-Free gum/sweets are terribly toxic to dogs…

  17. Avatar Of Briget

    Briget

    says:

    After searching for a truly healthy commercially made dog food and reading Ann Martin’s book
    Food Pets Die Food, I began making my own human grade dog food.
    Naturally I avoid the foods on the bad list. In two months my two labs and my miniature schauser have
    become more alert, playful, and in much better health than before. Their coats shine like
    never before. Ann discusses what is found in commercial food and provides recipes for
    both dogs and cats. Cooking for my dogs is a joy when I see the results. Best of luck and
    health to both your furbabies and yourselves!

  18. Avatar Of Rita

    Rita

    says:

    I had been giving my dogs one of the “natural” dog foods until I really read the ingredient list and found “onion powder” as one of the ingredients!!! If dogs are not supposed to eat onions, how can onion powder be in their dog food?! I stopped feeding them that food because I felt that I would slowly be poisoning my dogs with something that was supposed to be healthier for them!

  19. Avatar Of Kids Meals kids meals says:

    Soups are a healthy alternate to heavy meals. Eating soup for lunch or dinner is a great choice. Soups made from vegetables like tomatoes, beans, onions, and mushrooms are very healthy and low in calories. A big bowl of mixed vegetable soup or a chicken soup for breakfast quickly fills your stomach. It is also easy to digest and helps you start the day with good amount of energy.

  20. Avatar Of Snoopy

    Snoopy

    says:

    Provide your German Shepherd a long and healthy life. Follow this German Shepherd Nutrition Diet rules and your dog will be happier than ever!
    german-shepherd-diet.blogspot.com

  21. Avatar Of Amandaguurl

    AmandaGuurl

    says:

    Good info but I don’t take any chances. My dogs get nothing – nada – except their natural balance dog food and treats. Why take a chance and give them people food or leftovers when something in it can maybe make them sick? I don’t want huge vet bills.

    • Avatar Of Rachel

      Rachel

      says:

      It’s actually not “natural” to feed dogs “dog food”. Dogs were around long before any ‘dog food’ was made.
      If you do a little research you can incorporate “people food” into your dog’s diet in a healthy and safe manner.

      Apples, pumpkin, melon, etc is a good change for your dog and healthy too.
      animal.discovery.com

      check out the site from discovery.com on how some fruits are good for dogs, as in humans- antioxidants, etc.

      just do your research!

  22. Avatar Of Carrie

    Carrie

    says:

    Here is a pretty good list for those who want to know more! 🙂

    missouriscenicrivers.com

    • Thanks Carrie
      for this list; it’s just what I have been looking for. Will share it on FaceBook. How much suffering will this prevent because you took the time to post it for us.
      I am switching my “furkid” to a raw diet and wouldn’t proceed without this info.
      God bless you…

      • Avatar Of Janel H

        Janel H

        says:

        good for you Barbara! As queasy as it makes me when I have to serve it, I have learned the hard way that raw is about the only way to go with my 3 bichons! no more itching, hacking, upset tummies or tear-stained eyes!

  23. Avatar Of Catherine Barnhouse

    catherine barnhouse

    says:

    I have heard pork chop bones make dogs sick.

    • Avatar Of Tony

      Tony

      says:

      Yes pork chops bones can lodge and create a problem. I found that out along with a large vet bill.

  24. Avatar Of Brenda Turchi

    brenda turchi

    says:

    cheese is bad as well!! I just learned that.

  25. Avatar Of Renee

    Renee

    says:

    rawhide is another one! they don’t chew them well or digest well in their system. they can swallow pieces which can become trapped in their intestines and cause bloating, the stomach to “twist” and death.

  26. Avatar Of Reney

    Reney

    says:

    i am like some i thought there were 9 and i only saw 7, i know that they should never be given any chicken bones, because they brittle to easy.

    • Avatar Of Lois

      lois

      says:

      a great many breeders are feeding their dogs the BARF diet…. Bones and Raw Foods. RAW chicken bones are safe to feed your dog. it’s the cooked ones that shatter and cause the problem. i’ve been a breeder for over 40 years, i fed my dogs a raw chicken hindquarter several times a week, bone and all, and never had a problem. i even weaned my puppies on raw chicken necks.

  27. Avatar Of Barb Walker

    Barb Walker

    says:

    so as long as you pit peaches and plums then they are ok for Dog to eat?
    it’s the pit that is poisonous ?

  28. Avatar Of Erin Facet

    Erin Facet

    says:

    Why are there only 7 foods listed when the header says 9? Very odd!!!

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