Foods that are off limit to your dog. 

Let me start by saying that I am NOT that person that never feeds their pet human food. I do. In fact, if I could, I would make my dog each and every meal from scratch (making sure to supplement appropriately!). But these crazy things called time and convenience keep coming up, and so, a raw dog food patty is usually the go-to dinner for my dog.

In addition to all the crumbs my kids drop, my dog, Sage, gets plenty of human foods stuffed and frozen inside a Kong. And while there are a hundred times more foods that dogs CAN eat compared to what they CAN’T eat, we wanted to give you a quick list so that you can keep your dog healthy, happy and safe.

Without further ado, here’s a quick list of human foods for your dog to avoid!

  • Chocolate – This is the one off limits food you’re probably most aware of. Besides the caffeine, the theobromine and theophylline can be toxic and cause panting, vomiting and diarrhea and can damage your dog’s heart and nervous system.
  • Cooked Bones – Cooked bones, no matter what their size, can splinter and cause broken teeth; mouth or tongue injuries; can get stuck in the esophagus, windpipe, stomach, or intestines; can cause constipation or severe bleeding from the rectum; and even Peritonitis which is a hard-to-treat bacterial infection of the abdomen caused by bone fragments poking holes in your dog’s stomach or intestines.  Raw Bnes and Recreational Bones are safe though, just make sure to supervise and remove when they are chewed down to small chunks.
  • Corn On The Cob – This is a sure fire way to get your dog’s intestines blocked.
  • Grapes and Raisins – They contain a toxin that can cause severe liver damage.
  • Macadamia Nuts – They, too, contain a toxin that can result in weakness, panting, swollen limbs, and tremors. They can also damage your dog’s digestive, nervous, and muscle systems.
  • Onions & Chives – It doesn’t matter if they’re raw, dry, cooked or a powder, onions are scary stuff for dogs, and even worse for cats. They contain disulfides and sulfoxides which can cause anemia and damage red blood cells.
  • Persimmons, Peaches and Plums – It’s their seeds or pits that are the problem. Persimmon seeds can cause inflammation of the small intestine and the pits of these fruits can cause intestinal obstruction. And if the peach or plum pit is broken open and consumed, it’s poisonous (it contains cyanide)!
  • Xylitol – Popular in candies, gum and baked goods, this sugar substitute can cause low blood sugar, seizures, liver failure and even death for your dog.

And finally, here are few off-limit foods that we can’t imagine why you would give them to your pup, but just in case…

Alcohol, Tobacco, Marijuana and Yeast