12 Foods You Should Never Feed Your Dog

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This article is for educational and informational purposes and is not a substitute for veterinary advice.

There are fewer things we can resist than our dog’s adorable fur-face looking at the food we’re holding in our hands. Trying to say no to those puppy-dog eyes (+ pitiful whining cries + wet nose nudges!) is like fighting a losing battle. However, there are times when you should never give in, especially when it comes to the following foods which could be harmful to your dog.

1. Chocolate

Toxic agent: theobromine

Chocolate contains two methylxanthine compounds, caffeine and theobromine, which are toxic to our canine friends. Theobromine, the main toxin, offers several human health benefits, such as improved cardiovascular function and mood enhancement. However, dogs cannot metabolize this compound at all. And if they consume significant doses, they may suffer from gastroenteritis, high heart rates, seizures, or worse.

2. Grapes and raisins

Toxic agent: unknown

Many fur parents know not to give their dogs grapes or raisins. It’s currently unknown why grapes are poisonous to dogs. Over the years, scientists have suspected tartaric acid, mycotoxins, or natural salicylates as the responsible toxic agents. There is ongoing research on the particulars, but it is enough that we know dogs have gotten acute kidney failure and worse from eating some quantity of this fruit, whether in its fresh or dried form.

3. Avocados

Toxic agent: persin

Avocados contain a fungicidal toxin called persin. This compound is found in every part of the avocado plant, with higher concentrations in the leaves, skin, pit, and unripe fruits. It's worth noting that dogs are not as sensitive to persin as other animals (it's highly toxic to birds, horses, and rabbits!), so they may ingest the fruit's ripe pulp with limited cause for concern. However, higher doses have caused gastroenteritis, pancreatitis, and myocardial damage—and it's unclear at what point persin reaches this lethal amount in dogs.

4. Macadamia nuts

Toxic agent: unknown

Other nuts like almonds or peanuts may not be toxic to our furry friends, but macadamia nuts are another matter entirely. Like grapes, the mechanism of toxicity in macadamia nuts is unknown. However, a dose of about two nuts per pound of a dog’s body weight is enough to result in clinically concerning signs like lethargy, diarrhea, vomiting, tremors, fever, and a temporary inability to walk due to weakness in the hind legs.

5. Cooked bones

Toxic mechanism: organ injuries, blockage, and perforation

Pop culture portrayals and old-school wisdom have led us to believe dogs and bones are a natural pair—"Give a dog a bone" and all that. However, cooked bones are extra-brittle and cause problems like broken teeth, stomach injuries, intestinal blockage, and gut perforation. Raw bones are more compact but may harbor pathogenic bacteria like E.coli and salmonella. But dogs are such big fans of bones—so if you've got a mind to give them some, keep to raw bones (closely supervised) and store-bought chewy treats. Cooked bones should always be off-limits. 

6 & 7. Garlic and Onion

Toxic agent: n-propyl disulfide

Onion and garlic are members of the allium family of root vegetables, which include leeks, shallots, scallions, and chives. These herbs are rich in sulfur-containing compounds called N-propyl disulfide, which causes the abnormal breakdown of red blood cells in dogs, also called hemolytic anemia. Gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea may also ensue. Every part of these alliums (leaves, roots, skin, juice) and any form (raw, cooked, powdered) still contain the disulfide chemical and are thus still harmful to our canine companions.

8. Products with xylitol

Toxic agent: xylitol

Xylitol is a sugar substitute with fewer calories than sucrose. You can find it in sugarless gum, toothpaste, baked goods, mouthwash, breath mints, "sugar-free" candy, and other products using substitute sweeteners. In dogs, xylitol triggers hypoglycemia or a dangerous drop in blood sugar levels due to rapid and potent insulin release. Xylitol can be present in unexpected products like peanut butter, so you might want to read up on ingredient lists and look out for xylitol and its equivalent labels, like "birch sugar," "natural sweetener," "sugar-free," "reduced sugar," and others.

9. Nutmeg

Toxic agent: myristicin

A gentle reminder to keep your pantry doors closed and secured! Nutmeg is a ground or seed spice with an active chemical called myristicin. This natural compound can have mind-altering or hallucinogenic effects in certain doses. A toxic dose of about 5g or a teaspoon of nutmeg can cause disorientation, hallucinations, high blood pressure, and seizures in dogs. The amount of nutmeg in most recipes is not likely to be toxic, but it’s still best to keep them off the menu for our beloved four-legged friends.

10. Raw yeast/bread dough

Toxic mechanism: gastric-dilation volvulus, alcohol poisoning

If you spend a lot of time baking, you probably have packets of dry yeast in your kitchen. And you've also likely observed how this leavening agent quickly rises and doubles in size to make bread dough. When dogs ingest active dry yeast or raw bread dough, it continues to "rise" in their stomach, causing deadly bloat. This emergency situation results in extreme pain for your pet and may require surgery to prevent rupture of the stomach wall. Also, yeast produces ethanol during fermentation, which causes alcohol poisoning.

11. Alcoholic beverages

Toxic mechanism: alcohol poisoning

You can imagine how dogs may not be naturally interested in alcohol—the most common way they get it is when people offer it to them willingly. But these mischievous critters can also sneak in a quick slurp from an open mug or lap up spilled beer off the floor. Unfortunately, dogs cannot metabolize alcohol well. Like people, they get buzzed from alcoholic drinks, but unlike us, it takes a much less amount to hurt them. They can also suffer from seizures, gastrointestinal distress, respiratory failure, and other symptoms. Dogs may be our best friends, but they’re no drinking buddies!

12. Coffee

Toxic agent: caffeine

We may need coffee to get through the day, but our energetic tail-waggers can get by just fine. In fact, caffeine consumption is overly stimulating and toxic to dogs—this goes not only for coffee, but all caffeinated products, including soda, tea, energy drinks, and others. These foodstuffs and beverages can cause hyperactivity, gastrointestinal distress, elevated heart rates, and abnormal heart rhythms. Collapse and seizures can also be possible in severe cases. 

Take Note

This is not a complete list of safe or unsafe foods for your dog. Certain factors determine what is toxic for dogs, such as their body size, the amount of substance ingested, and individual conditions like allergies and medical history. 

There are also foods that aren't necessarily toxic to dogs but which you should limit in their diet, including dairy products, fatty food, and salty food. Some foods aren't harmful in any way but also don't provide any health benefits or nutritional value. As a pet owner, you are responsible for providing a safe and healthy diet full of nutrients your dog needs.

Conclusion

It’s natural to want to share many things with your best friend. It can also be enjoyable for both of you to share a special treat once in a while. However, asking if a particular snack is bad for your dog is always a good question—and it has an answer you don’t want to learn the hard way. So if you’re even a bit uncertain about a particular snack, it’s better to be sure and keep them out of paw’s reach!