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Dangerous Foods For Fido

Watch out for these common foods that can be dangerous to dogs.

June 12, 2008 at 3:07PM

Alcohol

Depresses brain function and can send dogs into a coma. Dogs do not have the protective enzymes that allow humans to imbibe reasonably. Lapping up small amounts of alcohol can cause great harm.

Coffee

Caffeine in any form - coffee, tea, soda or chocolate - can increase a dog's heart rate, produce an irregular heartbeat, cause severe gastrointestinal problems and trigger seizures.

Macademia nuts

These nuts produce tremors, even temporary paralysis, in a dog's hind legs. High phosphorous content in nuts in general can cause kidney stones. Four or five nuts and a ten-pound dog can show signs of being poisoned.

Garlic

Breaks down a dog's red blood cells. Large amounts over time can lead to anemia and possible kidney failure. According to ASPCA, if a dog eats 0.5 percent of its body weight in garlic, it can show signs of being poisoned.

Yeast

Ingestion can cause fatal damage. Active yeast found in raw bread dough releases alcohol as it grows. The expanding dough can prevent blood from flowing to the heart, distending the abdomen.

Chocolate

Just three ounces of dark chocolate or seven of milk chocolate can be toxic in a 50-pound dog. Dogs don't metabolize and excrete theobromine as fast as humans, causing toxic buildup within hours - vomiting, diarrhea, increased heart rate, rapid breathing, tremors, seizures and coma.

Grapes and raisins

Can cause acute renal and kidney failure. Depending on the size of the dog, as few as 10 raisins or grapes could be fatal.

Onions

Their damage to canine hemoglobin is cumulative. Small tastes over time can be worse than wolfing down the whole bulb. 21 to 28 ounces of raw onion, eaten all at once, or 5.3 ounces eaten over several days can induce anemia.