Foods That Can Harm Your Dog
American pet owners spend billions of dollars annually on dog food, yet many dogs still prefer to sample whatever their humans are eating. Unfortunately, a number of everyday foods can be harmful — sometimes seriously so — to your pet. Some dangers come from the ingredients themselves, while others arise from how food is prepared, stored, or handled. Below is a guide to the most common offenders so you can keep your Boxer safe.
Alcohol and Caffeine
Ethanol, the alcohol found in beverages, becomes toxic when too much is consumed. Because pets are far smaller than people, even modest amounts can affect them strongly. Keep drinks away from your dog; symptoms can range from alcohol odor on the breath and unsteady walking to behavioral changes, excitement or depression, frequent urination, slowed breathing, cardiac arrest, and even death.
Dogs that eat coffee grounds or beans can suffer caffeine poisoning. The signs mirror chocolate toxicity and can be equally or more severe.
Fruit, Nuts and Produce
Large amounts of the stems, seeds, and leaves of apples, apricots, cherries, peaches, and plums can be toxic because they contain a cyanide-type compound. Signs include apprehension, dilated pupils, breathing difficulty, hyperventilation, and shock.
The leaves, fruit, bark, and seeds of avocados are all reported toxic due to a fatty acid derivative called persin. Symptoms include breathing difficulty, abdominal swelling, and abnormal fluid buildup in the chest, abdomen, and heart sac. The amount needed to cause signs is unknown, so never feed any part of an avocado.
Roughly ten grape and raisin poisonings have been reported to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, with intakes ranging from 9 ounces to 2 pounds; affected dogs developed kidney failure. Aggressive and sometimes lengthy treatment may be needed for survival, and without treatment death is possible. The reason for the kidney failure and the toxic dose remain unknown, so contact your veterinarian immediately if your dog eats a large amount.
Macadamia nuts (also called Queensland or Australia nuts) can be toxic for reasons that remain a mystery. As few as six to 40 nuts have caused severe signs: weakness, depression, vomiting, difficulty walking, tremors, abdominal pain, lameness, stiffness, and pale gums. Signs usually fade within 12 to 24 hours.
Baking Ingredients and Sweets
Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) and baking powder are leavening agents that release gas to make dough rise. Eating large amounts can cause electrolyte imbalances (low potassium, low calcium, and/or high sodium), congestive heart failure, or muscle spasms.
Chocolate is high in fat and contains caffeine and theobromine, two nervous system stimulants that are toxic in high amounts. Levels vary by type: white chocolate has the least, while baking chocolate and cacao beans have the most. The high fat content may cause vomiting and diarrhea; once toxic levels are reached you may see restlessness, hyperactivity, muscle twitching, increased urination, and excessive panting. Heart rate and blood pressure may rise, and severe cases can involve seizures.
High levels of nutmeg can be toxic and even fatal. The toxic principle is not well understood, but signs include tremors, seizures, nervous system abnormalities, and death.
Fatty Foods, Dairy and Moldy Food
Rich, fatty foods are dog favorites, often given as treats or leftovers or scavenged from the trash. These can trigger pancreatitis, which may affect any pet but is especially common in miniature and toy poodles, cocker spaniels, and miniature schnauzers. Signs generally include sudden vomiting, sometimes diarrhea, and abdominal pain — often shown by a hunched posture or a tense abdomen when picked up. The dog can become very ill quickly and often needs intensive fluid and antibiotic therapy.
Dairy products are not highly dangerous but pose two concerns: their high fat content carries a pancreatitis risk, and pets digest dairy poorly because they lack the enzyme needed to break down lactose. This affects some pets more than others and can cause gas or diarrhea. Small amounts of plain yogurt or cheese are tolerated by most dogs, but avoiding dairy altogether is probably safest.
Dogs love to raid the trash, and a medical problem arises when it contains moldy or spoiled food. Beyond food poisoning, some pets develop tremors after eating certain molds.
Onions and Garlic
Dogs and cats lack the enzyme needed to properly digest onions, which can lead to gas, vomiting, diarrhea, or severe gastrointestinal distress. When large amounts of onion or garlic are eaten, or onions become a daily part of the diet, red blood cells may become fragile and break apart due to thiosulphate. Signs can begin immediately or a few days later. Large quantities of garlic are needed before toxicity appears, but severe anemia and even death can occur if a dog eats a lot of onions or garlic without treatment. All forms are a problem — raw, dehydrated, cooked, powdered, or included in foods. For cats, a common source is human baby food with added onion powder; consistent feeding of such food can bring on toxicity.
Keep Your Boxer Safe
- Store alcohol, coffee, chocolate, and baking supplies out of reach.
- Skip table scraps and fatty leftovers.
- Secure the trash to prevent moldy food raids.
- Check labels for onion and garlic powders.
- Call your veterinarian right away if a toxic food is eaten.
For more guidance on keeping your dog healthy, explore our canine health information and poisonous items pages, or contact us with questions.