Toxic & Dangerous Foods for Dogs

Here is a list of toxic foods for dogs as well as dangerous foods for dogs.  If you would like the PDF version of this list, you can download it for free at the bottom of this page.  You will see the area marked "Free PDF File" and then just click on the download button where it says "Dangerous Foods for Dogs".  We hope you enjoy this information.

• Alcohol - Can cause significant drops in blood pressure, body temperature, & blood sugar which can lead to seizures and respiratory failure.  Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, coordination problems, breathing problems, coma, & even death.
• Apricot Stem/Leaves/Pit - Contains a poison compound called Amygdalin (cyanide). Symptoms include dilated pupils, panting, difficulty breathing, & going into shock.
• Apple Seeds - Contains a poison compound called Amygdalin (cyanide). Symptoms include dilated pupils, panting, difficulty breathing, & going into shock.
• Avocados - Contains Persin in the leaves, seeds, bark, & fruit.  Symptoms include vomiting & diarrhea
• Bittersweet Berries - Contains alkaloids that can cause vomiting and diarrhea.  Other symptoms include weakness, seizures, trembling, cardiac disturbances, & dilated pupils.
• Black Walnuts/Bark - Contains Penitrem A (mycotoxin). Symptoms include convulsions, rapid breathing, urination, hyperthermia, & dilated pupils.
• Bread Dough - Will expand inside the dog and stretch its abdomen potentially causing pain. The dough will then ferment which creates alcohol and then lead to alcohol poisoning.
• Caffeine (all forms) - Can raise blood pressure and cause cardiac arrhythmias. This can damage major organs like liver, heart, kidneys, lungs, & central nervous system. Symptoms include vomiting & diarrhea.  
• Cherry Trees/Shrubs/Pits (all types of cherry trees) - Contains a poison compound called Amygdalin (cyanide). Symptoms include dilated pupils, panting, difficulty breathing, & going into shock.
• Chives - Can kill red blood cells causing anemia.  Symptoms include weakness, vomiting, & breathing problems.
• Chocolate (all forms) - Chocolate is theobromine, so it is in all types of chocolate. Symptoms include vomiting & diarrhea. It can also cause heart problems, tremors, seizures, & death.
• Citrus Stems/Leaves/Peels/Oil - Contains citric acid. Citrus Oil contains insecticidal properties.  These items can cause irritation, central nervous system depression, & can lead to liver failure.  Never rub any citrus oils on your dog as well as they are likely to lick it off. (Many essential oils contain citrus.) Symptoms include drooling, weakness, depression, trembling, hypothermia, low blood pressure, vomiting, diarrhea, & muscle tremors.
• Currants - Can cause kidney failure.  Symptoms include vomiting, loss of appetite, & diarrhea.
• Elderberry - Contains a poison compound called Amygdalin (cyanide). Symptoms include dilated pupils, panting, difficulty breathing, & going into shock.
• Garlic (all forms) - Can kill red blood cells causing anemia.  Symptoms include weakness, vomiting, & breathing problems.
• Grapes - Can cause kidney failure.  Symptoms include vomiting, loss of appetite, & diarrhea.
• Green Tomatoes/Leaves/Stems - Contains solanine which blocks acetylcholine. Dogs need acetylcholine to transmit nerve impulses to the nervous systems and intestinal tracts. Symptoms include loss of coordination, loss of appetite, muscle weakness, hyper salivation, dilated pupils, tremors, seizures, lethargy, abdominal pain, irregular heartbeat, & gastrointestinal upset.
• Hops (boiled) - After hops have been boiled, if they are not disposed properly, can be deadly to a dog.  Symptoms include malignant hyperthermia, heavy breathing, restlessness, vomiting, abdominal pain, seizures, blood clotting, & possible death.
• Jasmine Berries - This plant contains several toxic principles to dogs but most concentrated in the berries. Symptoms include cardiovascular changes, central nervous system abnormality, & gastrointestinal irritation.
• Jerusalem Cherry - Contains the toxin Solanocapsine which causes respiratory and circulatory failure. Symptoms include gastric upset, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle weakness, respiratory difficulty, & central nervous system issues.
• Leeks - Can kill red blood cells causing anemia.  Symptoms include weakness, vomiting, & breathing problems.
• Macadamia Nuts - Just six of these nuts can make a dog sick.  Symptoms include muscle shakes, vomiting, high temperature, hyperthermia, loss of bodily functions, & weakness in the back legs. Eating chocolate with the nuts makes the symptoms worse and can lead to death.
• Mistletoe - Contains the toxin Polysaccharides. Symptoms include drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, abnormal heart rate, low blood pressure, drunk walking, seizures, & possible death.
• Moldy Food - Contains Mycotoxins. There are a few different types of these toxins.

1. Penitrem-A - Found in spoiled bread, dairy, & nut products.  Symptoms include vomiting, tremors, & fever.
2. Aflatoxins - Produced by aspergillum fungi which damage the liver. Symptoms include loss of appetite, sluggishness, yellowness in eyes/skin/gums, diarrhea, & unusual bruising or bleeding.
3. Trichothecene - Found on old or contaminated pet food.  Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, & abdominal pain. Severe cases can result in death.

• Mushrooms - Different mushrooms cause different issues.  The best way to break this subject down is by the type of toxins.

1. Gastrointestinal Toxins - Cause vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, & dehydration. May also cause slow heart rate and respiratory problems.
2. Hepatotoxic - Cause liver failure and can be deadly.  Symptoms include jaundice, weak, lethargic, & sometimes comatose. 
3. Nephrotoxic - Cause kidney issues.  Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, & dehydration. 
4. Neurotoxic - Cause neurological issues.  Symptoms include weakness, lack of coordination, tremors, hallucinations, vocalizations, disorientation, agitation, & seizures.  Can also affect the kidneys and liver causing an array of other issues.

• Nightshade Berries/Leaves/Roots - Contains toxic alkaloids including atropine. Symptoms include hyper salivation, inappetence, gastrointestinal upset, diarrhea, drowsiness, central nervous system depression, confusion, behavioral change, weakness, dilated pupils, & slow heart rate.
• Onions (all forms) - Can kill red blood cells causing anemia.  Symptoms include weakness, vomiting, & breathing problems.
• Peaches/Plums Pits - Contains a poison compound called Amygdalin (cyanide). Symptoms include dilated pupils, panting, difficulty breathing, & shock.
• Potatoes Green/Raw/Skins/Foliage - Contains solanine which blocks acetylcholine. Dogs need acetylcholine to transmit nerve impulses to the nervous systems and intestinal tracts. Symptoms include heart problems, difficulty breathing, gastrointestinal upset. irritation to the digestive tract, tremors, & kidney function disorders.  
• Rasins - Can cause kidney failure.  Symptoms include vomiting multiple times, sluggishness, & depression.
• Rhubarb - Can create crystals in the urinary tract which can lead to kidney failure in dogs.  Symptoms can include drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, bloody urine, changes in thirst, & other symptoms.
• Salt - Too much salt intake can lead to sodium ion poisoning.  Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, high temperatures, seizures, and may cause death.
• Star Fruit - Contains oxalate salts which is absorbed by the dogs intestinal tract, then binds with calcium causing a drastic decrease in calcium, which in turn causes acute kidney failure. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, blood in the urine, along with excessive thirst & urination.
• Sugar Free Foods/Products Containing Xylitol - Causes a rapid insulin release that can put a dog in a coma within 15-20 minutes.  Blood sugar will drop and can cause liver failure.  Symptoms include vomiting, lethargy, & coordination problems.