Dogs and Human Food
Dogs are clever. Sometimes they embrace human foods they shouldn't. Thus, it's important to understand which of the foods we enjoy are toxic to dogs.
Dogs don't digest food like humans. That's why foods and plants that are harmless to humans can be deadly to dogs.
Foods You Should Never Give Your Dog
This list is a summary of some of the most common foods toxic to dogs. To find out more about which foods are toxic to dogs, speak to your Statesboro vet.
Garlic, Onions, Shallots, and Chives
Garlic, onions, shallots, and chives are toxic to dogs, whether raw or cooked. They have substances that may cause anemia and damage red blood cells. Signs of illness may take several days to manifest.
Xylitol
Xylitol, an artificial sweetener in chewing gum, can cause vomiting, loss of coordination, seizures, liver failure, and hypoglycemia. These can lead to loss of consciousness or even death in extreme cases.
Macadamia Nuts
Macadamia nuts have a toxin that can affect your dog’s muscles and nervous system. Your dog can suffer weakness, swollen limbs, and panting.
Chocolate
Chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, has a stimulant called theobromine which can cause kidney failure.
Cooked Bones
Cooked bones splinter and can cause the gut to perforate. This can cause peritonitis or even death. So while not necessarily toxic to dogs, you should take care to never feed them cooked bones.
What plants can poison my dog?
Many plants can make your dog sick. You should always keep your dog from chewing on any plants or vegetation outside. What can be safe and beautiful for you can be toxic for your dog.
Below, our vets list some of the plants toxic to your dog. If your dog does eat any of these, bring them to our emergency animal hospital in Statesboro.
Milkweed
Milkweed is a beautiful plant, but it can have severe effects on your dog's health. It causes rapid or weak pulse, difficulty breathing, diarrhea, nausea, and even death.
Mistletoe
Mistletoe is found in many homes during the winter holidays, but if you have a dog, be cautious. Mistletoe can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, and drooling. In severe cases, it results in collapse, seizures, abnormal heart rate, low blood pressure, and, in some cases, death.
Foxglove
Foxglove can have serious side effects on your dog. However, the severity of the symptoms can vary depending on the amount of foxglove your dog consumes. Symptoms may include tremors, weakness, diarrhea, vomiting, cardiac arrhythmias, seizures, heart failure, or death.
Tulips
Tulips are among the most popular springtime flowers. If you own a dog, we recommend keeping tulips out of your yard. Tulip petals can upset your dog's stomach, and the bulb is even more toxic. It can cause stomach upset, appetite loss, and depression.
Treating Poisoned Dogs
Treatment for your dog will depend on the food or plant they ate. The treatments your vet could perform include:
- Antidotes (if one is available for the specific plant)
- Stomach pumping
- Induced vomiting
Always contact your veterinarian as soon as you suspect your dog has consumed something toxic. Your veterinarian will give you instructions for helping your dog on the way to the clinic. Except as directed by a veterinarian, do not induce vomiting.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.
