Food Not to Feed a Dog

Fat and Fatty Foods

• Fat trimmings, chicken and turkey skin, bacon grease --- in fact, any fatty or greasy food --- can bring on acute pancreatitis in a dog. The pancreas is an organ located behind the stomach and the first section of the small intestine, or the duodenum. Pancreatitis occurs when the pancreas becomes inflamed. The precise reason an overindulgence in fat causes pancreatitis is not known at this time, but the condition is extremely painful and can be life-threatening. Signs of pancreatitis in a dog include fever, depression, vomiting and lack of appetite.

Raw Eggs

• While cooked eggs might be an excellent source of protein, raw eggs can cause problems, particularly when given to a dog for an extended period. Raw eggs contain avidin, an enzyme that interferes with the absorption of biotin. The B vitamin biotin is necessary for healthy hair and skin. A deficiency can result in poor coat quality, dry skin and diarrhea. Another problem with raw eggs is the threat of salmonella infection, a bacterial disease that affects the intestinal tract, causing fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps.

Grapes and Raisins

• Grapes and raisins can cause acute kidney failure in dogs, with symptoms that include vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, lethargy and signs of abdominal pain. Affected dogs will likely be hospitalized, monitored and placed on intravenous fluids. It isn't understood exactly what compound in grapes causes this reaction in dogs, or if all dogs are at risk for this reaction or only susceptible breeds or individuals. It's safest, therefore, to simply never allow your dog grapes or raisins in any amount.

Onions and Garlic

• Onions and garlic, whether raw, cooked or powdered, contain sulfoxides and disulfides. These chemicals can increase a dog's heart rate and cause vomiting and diarrhea, weakness, liver damage and damage to the red blood cells that can lead to anemia. If your veterinarian determines that emergency treatment is needed, she may induce vomiting in your dog, give intravenous fluid therapy and monitor its red blood cell count. She may continue to monitor the red blood cell count for two to three weeks afterward. While cats appear to be more susceptible to these chemicals than dogs, and garlic is considered less toxic than onions, it is generally best to avoid giving your dog onion or garlic in any form.

Macadamia Nuts

• Macadamia nuts contain an unknown substance that can cause problems in dogs. Within three to 12 hours of eating macadamia nuts, a dog may begin showing symptoms such as lethargy, hyperthermia and vomiting. These progress to ataxia, then paralysis of the hind quarters, along with tremors, abdominal pain and joint stiffness. If your dog ingests macadamia nuts, you should contact a veterinarian to determine if emergency care is needed. Unless your dog has a pre-existing condition or displays any uncommon symptoms, the veterinarian will probably recommend home observation. The prognosis is usually good, and symptoms often resolve within 24 to 48 hours.

Xylitol

• Sugar-free candies, mints, gum and baked goods, as well as some toothpastes, dental floss and chewable vitamins, can contain the sweetener xylitol. This sugar substitute is very dangerous for dogs. Just 100 mg of xylitol per kg of body weight can cause a rapid release of insulin in a dog, resulting in a sudden decrease in blood glucose. This hypoglycemia can occur within 15 minutes of eating the xylitol-containing product, though the symptoms --- including depression, vomiting, loss of coordination, seizures and coma --- may take up to 30 minutes to appear. It is possible that some dogs will suffer fatal liver failure when exposed to higher doses of xylitol, so be careful to keep all items containing the sweetener out of your dog's reach.