List of People Foods That Are Bad for Dogs

Onions

• Onions contain a toxin that can cause severe illness and even death if ingested by dogs. This toxin can induce haemolytic anemia, a painful disease that causes red blood cells to burst while circulating through the dog's bloodstream. This can lead to death. Symptoms to look for are vomiting and diarrhea, followed by a darkening of the urine from the burst blood cells, lethargy, disinterest in food and breathlessness. Vigilance is needed as symptoms only appear several days after ingestion of onion and even small amounts, such as that on a pizza, could induce the anemia. Garlic also has the potential to cause these symptoms, although it contains less of the toxin than onions. However, garlic should also be kept away from dogs for the same reason.

Chocolate

• Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine. This is toxic to dogs and, in combination with the caffeine that chocolate contains, stimulates the heart, causing it to race excessively. Symptoms include vomiting and diarrhea as well as the passing of large amounts of urine because the chocolate acts as a diuretic in dogs. Dogs also can experience hyperactivity, seizures and coma, leading to death. As a general rule, the darker chocolate is, the worse it is for your dog. However, the toxin is found in all chocolate, including milk chocolate and white chocolate. Cocoa powder is also very dangerous to dogs.

Macadamia Nuts

• In either their raw or roasted form, macadamia nuts cause difficulties in mobility if eaten by dogs. They can induce paralysis of the dog's hindquarters, meaning they cannot rise, spasms in the muscular tissue surrounding leg joints, resulting in tremors, and sometimes, swelling of the limbs. Symptoms have been observed in dogs who have eaten as few as six macadamia nuts.

Poultry Bones

• While dogs are encouraged to gnaw on large bones, such as those from hoofed animals, smaller bones from chicken and other poultry can be dangerous. These bones can easily splinter upon ingestion, and the shards can puncture the dog's digestive tract. The bones can also perforate the stomach. Without treatment, this can lead to a painful death.

Other Dangers

• There are several other human foods that are hazardous for dogs. These include avocados, which can cause a build-up of fluid in the lungs and heart, and bread dough containing yeast because it can expand in the dog's stomach, which then risks rupturing. Food with a high proportion of fat can induce pancreatitis, while raisins and grapes, even in small amounts, can lead to liver failure.