I’m one that likes to give the Furkids human food and I know I’m not alone when it comes to this. Before I give them a new food, I check the Internet to find out if what I want to give them may be poisonous (toxic) to dogs.
There are just as many people that believe in feeding dogs human food as their are those that don’t. Then there’s the group of people that can take one food item and differ in their belief as to whether or not it’s toxic or not. One web site link leads to another and another and another and suddenly it’s an hour later when all I wanted to know was “is this food ok to feed to my dogs?” Some days my head gets dizzy from trying to figure this all out.
I don’t always need to know what a toxic food does the a dog, I just need to know before I give it to them ”Is this food poisonous, yes or no?” It’s time to make a simple, alphabetized no-frills reference list. I found this list on the Morristown-Hamblin Humane Society web site where their list also provides foods toxic to cats. The list below has been updated to include a few things that weren’t on the original list.
Keep in mind that if a food is not listed here, doesn’t mean it’s ok to give to your dog. Do some research before feeding your dog human food. Ultimately you are responsible for what you feed your dog.
You don’t have to necessarily intentionally feed these foods in order for your dog to ingest them. Keep trash containers out of reach. Some dogs can be real determined when trying to get into the garbage. Secure the lid with a lid lock if you need to and find other ways to keep the trash away from your dog. If you’ve got a counter-surfing dog and you leave dirty dishes on the counter or in the sink – you need to break that habit. Either rinse the dishes in hot water completely or better yet, put them directly into the dishwasher instead. Don’t forget about the tidbits of leftovers on the coffee table after the football game.
human food you should not feed your dog
- Alcohol
- Avacodo
- Baby Food (can contain onion powder)
- Broccoli (in large amounts)
- Chocolate (contains Theobromine which can very quickly be fatal)
- Cigarettes, tobacco, cigars
- Citrus oil
- Coffee grounds, beans & tea (caffeine)
- Fat trimmings (can cause pancreatitis)
- Fish – raw
- Garlic – controversial – Some people give it to their dogs to ward off fleas and ticks and supposedly it works!
- Guacomole
- Hops (used in home brewing)
- Human vitamins containing iron (can damage the lining of the digestive system)
- Liver in large amounts – Who determines how much “large amount” is I have no idea.
- Pear pips, kernels of plums, peaches, apricots, apple core pips (contain cyanogenic glycosides resulting in cyanide poisoning)
- Potato peelings and green looking potatoes
- Rhubarb leaves
- Moldy or spoiled foods
- Mushrooms
- Nutmeg
- Nuts = Macadamia, Walnuts
- Onion (includes onion powder & flavorings – anything onion)
- Raisins and grapes (damages the kidneys)
- Raw Potatoes
- Tomato leaves and stems (green parts)
- Turkey skin
- Voltarin (in arthritis medication) -Very Fatal
- Yeast dough
