What are the toxic foods for dogs - updated!

He is a great companion and in many occasions our best friend, that's why we want our dog to stay healthy and happy, a task that depends to a great extent on us and the care we provide our pet. To guarantee the welfare, health and safety of our pet it is essential to know what to feed a dog, what their nutritional needs are and to be aware of those dangerous dog foods, which can be potentially toxic. Therefore, in this article we explain to you what are the toxic foods for dogs that you should avoid giving at all costs, although from now we clarify that no food is completely deadly, but the more or less serious toxicity depends on the quantities.

Are nuts dangerous for dogs?

It is very common to hear that these foods are dangerous and even toxic to dogs, but the truth is that they are not toxic and provide them with large amounts of energy, healthy fats, minerals and antioxidants. It is important to know that it is only convenient to give them from time to time as a reward; never as a regular part of their diet or let them eat a lot at one time. The best nuts for dogs are the following:

• Nuts
• Hazelnuts
• Almonds
• Cashew nuts
• Peanuts
• Chestnuts
• Pistachios
• Pipes
• Other seeds

Keep in mind that macadamia nuts are the only nuts that are more alert and are considered forbidden foods for dogs, because in low quantities are not dangerous, but if there is a bit of excess or eat well the shell the dogs show symptoms such as apathy, vomiting, depression, weakness, ataxia and fever. It is recommended not to give this dry fruit to the dogs and occasionally give a little of those mentioned in the table.

Are grapes toxic to dogs?

Grapes, raisins and currants are quite frequent in our diet, but they are on the list of toxic foods for dogs, cats and ferrets . There have been numerous cases of grape poisoning in dogs around the world and you can see symptoms such as those described in the Pet Poison Helpline Animal Poison Control Center and that we indicate below:

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Apathy
• Lethargy
• Weakness
• Anorexy
• Problems in the kidneys
• Hyperphosphatemia or elevated phosphate levels in the blood
• Hypercalcemia or very high calcium levels in the blood

Because of all this, raisins and grapes are considered bad for dogs . However, it is still not known what is the component of the grapes, as well as raisins, which causes this reaction in the dogs, but it is still being investigated. In addition, not all dogs have a reaction of this type, neither at the same level nor for the same amount of grapes ingested. In case to case, it is better not to ever give grapes and raisins to our dog, because it does not provide nutritional benefits that can not get from other sources of healthy food.

Is garlic bad for dogs?

This vegetable has been used as an antibiotic and natural antiseptic in both people and animals. However, it has long been said that garlic is toxic to dogs, as we can see in Pet Poison Helpline . Garlic contains a substance called allicin which, when the food is first chewed, degrades into n-propyl disulfide and this produces oxidation in the red blood cells causing them to be destroyed, which is known as hemolytic anemia . They can also detect symptoms such as vomiting and other gastrointestinal problems in addition to jaundice in severe cases.

What has been shown is that this food affects some dogs and not others, so it is believed that it depends on individual health and that dogs are more sensitive than others, such as the Akita Inu and Shiba Inu. It has also been verified that no doubt anemia and other serious problems appear when it comes to very high doses of garlic .

The extreme belief that garlic can intoxicate and even kill a dog started from a study conducted in Japan in 2000, specifically at the University of Hokkaido, in which doses between 1.25ml and 5ml of extract were administered of raw garlic directly injected into the stomach to several dogs. It is a very high and concentrated dose, which would even make a person sick, and the result was that the dogs appeared hemolytic anemia known as "Heinz body anemia" and, thus, the idea that Garlic is very toxic for dogs.

The reality is that some dogs do not affect them and others do, especially those who have immune or blood problems so it is always discouraged to give garlic to the latter. It has also been recently estimated that the amount from which intoxication can begin is from 15 grams / kg in dogs . Therefore, the poisoning by this vegetable depends totally on the health of the animal but above all on the dose that is given, but no can not eat this dose on its own, since it is really high.

Although it is often considered one of the harmful foods for dogs, by eating a little from time to time you will not get intoxicated, much less die. In normal doses and given occasionally to a can, garlic is beneficial for your health . It is considered as an antibiotic, antifungal, vermifuge and antiparasitic both internal and external, among other properties, very effective and widely used in natural medicine.

Suitable doses of garlic for dogs

If we seek to strengthen the health of our hairy and prevent conditions, giving 1 or 2 cloves of garlic cooked and mixed in your food 1 or 3 times a week will be enough, it is not necessary to give it daily. For treatment of health problems, such as internal and external parasites, garlic can be given for a week followed as shock treatment. In these cases, an amount that some researchers have now proven to work is to give 1 clove of garlic daily for every 20kg of dog, approximately, for a week as shock treatment .

Is onion toxic to dogs?

Following the list of toxic foods for dogs another that has been mentioned a lot is the onion, which happens the same as with garlic. These two vegetables are from the same family, Allium, and both contain allicin. Only in large quantities these vegetables are potentially dangerous to the health of our companion. What is certain is that there are dogs more sensitive to onions and that, especially if we give them raw, can cause diarrhea, vomiting and other gastrointestinal problems.

As it is a food that, although it acts as a repellent and antiparasitic, does not provide as many benefits as garlic and dogs in nature, an onion will not be eaten with other foods such as meat, fish and some fruits, it is not really It is necessary to give onions to a dog or in small doses.

Is chocolate bad for dogs?

Among the foods that can not be eaten by dogs is chocolate, which for years has been considered totally toxic to dogs. This thought was given as a result of an experiment very similar to that of garlic. This was done in the year 1980 and was carried out by the subsidy of a North American company of manufacture of chocolates and candies. The experiment was based only on theobromine, an alkaloid that stimulates the cardiovascular system and the central nervous system and is part of the cocoa composition.

The experiment consisted of directly injecting pure theobromine to several dogs and the doses were between 15 and 1, 000 mg per kilo of dog, that is, an exaggeratedly high amount and that a dog would never eat on its own. Some animals suffered fibrous cardiomyopathies, a type of heart problems, and others died due to overdose.

All chocolates containing cocoa have theobromine in greater or lesser amounts. The more quantity of cocoa or the purer this is, the higher the dose of theobromine. Normally this amount ranges between 0.2 mg and 393 mg per 28g of chocolate. It has been estimated that the dose of theobromine dangerous for dogs would be between 250 and 500 mg / kilo of dog .

Therefore, for a dog to suffer damage he would have to eat a large amount of chocolate, something that they naturally do not do. For a dog of 5kg to have poisoning, he would have to eat between 90 and 180gr of dark chocolate and a dog of 25kg would have to eat between 400 and 900gr of dark chocolate. Thus, if our furry one eats some of this candy accidentally, that day may have diarrhea or not, but in principle nothing serious will happen to him for it. However, it should not be part of a dog's diet since it does not contribute anything to cover their nutritional needs.

Aloe vera, toxic for dogs?

The only parts of aloe vera leaves that can be toxic to dogs are the skin, which also has spikes that can make small wounds in the mouth and digestive system, and the acíbar or yellowish substance between the pulp and skin of the sheet . When a person ingests this substance or skin, or takes too much pulp at one time, it can present these symptoms of mild intoxication, from more common to more rare:

• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Anorexy
• Depression
• Change in the color of urine
• Tremors

Actually, the gel or pulp of aloe vera is very beneficial for dogs and also for cats. It has regenerating, moisturizing, refreshing, soothing, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, among others.

Is avocado bad for dogs?

Another one of the most common doubts is if the avocado is toxic for the dogs or not, because it has been heard and read a lot that is really bad and that can even kill them. However, according to various studies, as we can see again in Pet Poison Helpline, we must clarify what is true in this.

Avocado can cause mild intoxication in dogs, as well as in cats and ferrets, while it can cause a moderate or severe toxic reaction in ruminants and birds. The component that makes this reaction is the persin, a toxin that is found in the bone and in the shell, but is not in the pulp of this fruit. It must be borne in mind that poisoning may or may not occur due to mild intoxication; It will depend on the state of health of the animal and the concentration of persin that it takes. Among the possible symptoms we find:

• Sickness
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Lethargy
• Lack of appetite

But, as we have pointed out, avocado pulp is good for dogs and can be given from time to time with many fatty acids and antioxidants needed to care for your skin, coat, heart, brain and immune system. The avocado peel and bone are prohibited for dogs ; besides, the bone is really dangerous because it can get stuck in the throat of the dog and cause its suffocation.

Other toxic foods for dogs

In addition to the meals discussed so far, there are many more products that we sometimes include in our diet that turn out to be toxic foods for dogs . No wonder they are dangerous for our furry ones, since they are not healthy for us either:

Alcoholic drinks

They are not part of a healthy diet because they do not provide any nutrition that is suitable for humans or dogs. Alcoholic drinks intoxicate the body, damaging especially kidneys, liver and brain. In the case of the dogs the same thing happens, but they need much less quantity to suffer these damages or even failures of these organs that cause them death.

Coffee and energy drinks

They accelerate our heart rate and affect the CNS due to caffeine and the dogs affect them in the same way. The difference is that they caffeine and other similar substances such as theine affect them more intensely, since their body is not used to anything. It can cause heart problems and, depending on the weight of the animal and the dose of caffeine, also other problems much more serious. In addition, energy drinks often contain a lot of sugar, which is an unnecessary amount for dogs and does not provide them with any essential nutrients.

Refreshments and industrial pastries

They contain a high level of sugars totally unnecessary for dogs and, in the case of industrial bakery, also bad fats. All this does not directly intoxicate the animal, but it does decrease its health and can cause diseases such as diabetes, cholesterol, overweight, oral problems, diarrhea and chronic intestinal irritation, et cetera.

Dairy products

The puppy is fed with breast milk, but after this stage many dogs develop intolerance to lactose, so it is not convenient to give them any type of food that contains it. Not all dogs develop intolerance to lactose and you have to try giving them a little and depending on your reaction, withdraw it from your diet or keep offering dairy products from time to time. Thus, in a dog with this intolerance, vomiting, diarrhea and upset stomach are detected when eating milk, cheese, yogurt, etc. To get calcium and vitamins we can give them lactose-free products or other foods like some legumes.

Avoid your dog access to any of these highly toxic foods for dogs, as well as those that are only something harmful, but if you see one consuming or you realize that you have taken a large amount it will be useful to know what to do if your pet get intoxicated and do not hesitate to take him to the nearest veterinary emergencies .