Indeed, dogs are your furry family members, and you might love to share your food with them. But the food that’s nutritious for us can be extremely dangerous, or even poisonous, for dogs. This is mainly because they have a different rate of metabolism than us humans. It is recommended that you scour the internet for an extensive list of foods that are dangerous for dogs. Herein, we have discussed commonly found in foods in homes, which are toxic to dogs.

Products Containing Methylxanthine

Methylxanthine is a substance found in cocoa seeds and is used to make chocolate and caffeinated products. If a dog ingests any such food, they may suffer from diarrhea, vomiting, panting, muscle tremor, seizure, and even death. Dark chocolates contain high levels of this toxic substance, so they are more harmful than milk chocolates.

Certain Herbs and Vegetables

Ingredients like onions, garlic, and chives contain compounds that can cause gastrointestinal irritation and serious damage to the red blood cells. Typically, signs of onion or garlic poisoning do not appear for several days, post-ingestion symptoms include dullness, weakness, and reddish urine. Breeds like Akitas and Shiba Inus are more sensitive to onions and garlic.

Products Containing Xylitol

Candy, chewing gum, toothpaste, and mouthwash contain Xylitol, a chemical compound that is used as a sweetener. When consumed, it can cause excess insulin production, which can lead to liver failure and a significant drop in blood sugar level. Symptoms include vomiting, seizure, lethargy, and loss of coordination, which appear anywhere between a few minutes to a couple of hours after ingestion.

Salty Food

Too much salt can cause excessive thirst and urination, and may even lead to sodium poisoning in dogs. You must ensure to not feed your dog, or any pet, excessively salty snacks like potato chips, popcorn, and pretzels. Symptoms of eating such snacks include vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, an increase in body temperature, and seizure.

Both Forms of Grapes

Although researchers are not sure which substance in grapes and raisins is toxic, they are anyway dangerous foods for your dogs, as they can cause kidney failure. Early signs of poisoning can include vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. Treatment must be prompt to avoid decreased appetite, urination issues, dehydration, and long-term kidney disease.

Raw Foods

Raw bones are usually for stray dogs who generally have lived outside. Domesticated dogs can choke on raw bones or sustain an internal injury if the bone splinters. Raw meat and egg contain bacteria like Salmonella and E. coli that can be toxic for dogs. Raw eggs also contain avidin, an enzyme that decreases the absorption of vitamin B and can cause skin problems.

Citric Ingredients

The entire citrus plant, including its stem, leaves, and seeds, contains citric acid and essential oil that can cause irritation. If consumed in high amounts, it can even lead to central nervous system depression. Citrus fruits in small amounts, such as eating the fruits, are not that dangerous but can cause minor stomach upset.