Unsafe Foods to Feed My Dog

The ASPCA publishes a list of 13 human foods that are toxic for pets, including chocolate; grapes and raisins; alcohol; yeast dough; salt; avocado; macadamia nuts; undercooked meat, eggs and bones; onions; garlic and chives; milk; xylitol and caffeine products. However, they also advise owners about other foods, additives and preservatives contained in commercial dog food that could be unsafe.

  1. Generic Fats and Proteins

    • The proteins and fats listed on labels should be specific: beef fat, lamb meal, chicken fat, advises Nancy Kerns, author of "The Whole Dog Journal Handbook of Dog and Puppy Care and Training." Avoid buying generically named additives like "animal fat", "poultry fat" or "meat meal". Dogs cannot easily absorb the nutrients contained in some generic dog foods, according to the ASPCA.

    Food Fragments

    • Food fragments include items like brewer's rice or corn gluten. Corn in any form is not good for dogs because they have a difficult time digesting it. Food fragments are often waste products of other food manufacturing processes, which are used as filler in dog foods to keep the costs down.

    Artificial Preservatives

    • Be careful of what preservatives your dog is eating. Some of these include BHA, BHT or ethoxyquin. While some preservatives are not harmful, others like sulfites, are known to destroy thiamin (vitamin B1) in animals. According to researchers at Oregon State University, BHA has been shown to produce tumors in some animals.

    Sweeteners and Colors

    • Your dog doesn't care if his food is red or yellow. He may like sweets but corn syrup and sugars promote tooth decay. The Seattle Animal Shelter lists sweeteners, artificial food colors and other harmful foods in their "Foster Dog Manual."