6 Foods to Never Feed Your Dog

Contrary to popular belief, dogs can actually eat most fruits and vegetables – they are omnivores like us, after all! However, their digestion and metabolism is different than that of a human. Make sure to avoid these foods to avoid making your dog sick, and avoiding a potentially costly emergency vet visit.

1. Onions
Onions contain N-propyl disulfide, a chemical that’s toxic for dogs. It binds to a dog’s red blood cells, causing the cell membrane to become fragile. Once this occurs, the red blood cells burst (this is called hemolysis). When red blood cells are destroyed, vital organs do not get enough oxygen as they are responsible for carrying oxygen throughout your dog’s body. Both raw and cooked onions are toxic. Onion toxicity can come on quickly but sometimes can take a day or two to show up, so if your dog ingests onions it’s best to take them to the vet straight away.

2. Chocolate
Chocolate contains two culprits that are hard for dogs to metabolize: caffeine and theobromine. Due to their metabolism, dogs metabolize theobromine at a slower rate than humans do. As a result, theobromine builds up in their system and leads to toxicity as it can affect the central nervous system and heart. All chocolate contains these chemicals, but the amount varies based on the type of chocolate it is. The darker and stronger the chocolate, the higher the amount of toxicity – cacao beans have the highest amount, for example. Keep in mind that chocolate will likely have a harsher affect on a smaller dog due to their size.

3. Avocado
Avocado in small doses may be perfectly fine for your dog – but because of the high level of toxicity in certain parts of the fruit, we advise to avoid it altogether. Avocados naturally contain a fungicidal toxin, persin, which keeps the fruit safe from fungi and its spores. The soft inner flesh is ‘safe’ for dogs, but the seed, skin, and leaves are high in persin and therefore dangerous to your dog.

4. Cherries
Cherry pits and stems contain cyanide, which is poisonous. Dogs are also more susceptible to cyanide poisoning than other animals as they have lower levels of activity from a mitochondrial enzyme that plays a role in cyanide detoxification in the body. The pits can also cause tooth fractures and intestinal blockages due to their size. The flesh is safe for dogs and has vitamins and minerals that are beneficial, but the risk of ingesting crushed pits or stems/leaves is high and we recommend avoiding this fruit altogether to be safe.

5. Grapes & Raisins
This is probably one of the most commonly known no-nos for your dog. It took researchers a long time to figure out the culprit, but it turns out tartaric acid is the reason for toxicity. Tartaric acid attacks your dog’s kidneys, potentially causing kidney failure. Different types of grapes contain varying levels of this toxin, which explains why some dogs get extremely sick right away and others only mildly. The bottom line: stay away from grapes and raisins.

6. Cooked Bones
Raw bones are great for dogs; they naturally clean their teeth, are tough, and help to get their mental need to chew satisfied. However, never give them cooked bones. Cooked bones are weaker and can crack and splinter when being chewed; these bone fragments are sharp and can cause serious punctures when ingested. A serious puncture wound internally can cause significant internal bleeding and even puncture the intestinal tract, which is extremely serious. If your dog eats a cooked bone, call a vet straight away.
We hope you found this list informative and useful! Always give your dog fruits and veggies in moderation, but be extra careful to make sure the items on this list don’t make their way into your dog’s mouth!