Foods to Avoid Giving to Your Dog

by Dr. Richard Fujie, DVD, PhD, MS

We are what we eat and we want to feed our pets the best diet we can afford or prepare. One option is to find the correct dietary requirements for your pet and do a home cooked diet. You have to take into consideration the age and metabolic needs (i.e. pregnant, nursing, bone development, etc). Another option is to purchase a high quality diet made by a reputable company. The more expensive commercial diets for dogs contain animal protein (vs. plant protein) and are considered to be better.

There are some foods that may make your dog ill and should be avoided.

1. Chocolate contains theobromine and dogs are sensitive to this compound and can cause deaths. As little as _ ounce of baking chocolate to pound of body weight can be fatal.

2. Grapes and raisins have been known to cause renal failure in dogs.

3. Sugarless gum containing xylitol

4. Macadamia nuts can cause transient hind paralysis.

5. Garlic and onions in large amounts can cause life threatening anemia.

6. Raw salmon may contain a rickettsial agent that can cause fever, diarrhea and enlarged lymph nodes.

7. Avocadoes have been mentioned in some references to contain a toxin for dogs.

8. Raw meats can be a hazard if they contain bacteria such as Salmonella, Listeria, Campylobacter, etc. Raw pork especially from feral pigs may harbor Trichinosis.

9. Chicken Jerky strips from China. In December 2008, the FDA put out a preliminary alert to avoid these products due to the concern of dogs having renal failure after eating these treats.