We decided to add this page to help educate people with dogs as to dangerous foods and plants that can make there beloved pets either very sick or could kill them.
Listed below are foods and plants that are harmful to dogs, it is by no means complete, so I will add more to the list as I come across them.
Food
Common Foods That Are Harmful Or Even Fatal to Dogs
Many common foods are actually harmful or even fatal to dogs. Some of these (listed below) will surprise you. Others are things you would never give your dog purposefully, but now you will be more careful to not let them be in your dog's reach. And some just need to be limited to small amounts.
Avocados (fruit, pit, and plant) are toxic to dogs. Avocados contain a toxic component called persin, which can damage heart, lung and other tissue in many animals. They are high in fat and can trigger stomach upset, vomiting and even pancreatitis. Symptoms of toxicity include difficulty breathing, abdominal enlargement, abnormal fluid accumulations in the chest, abdomen and sac around the heart. The amount that needs to be ingested to cause signs is unknown. The effects on dogs and cats are not completely understood. GI signs are commonly seen and should be treated symptomatically. In addition, the animal should be monitored closely for other clinical signs related to the cardiovascular system. (This information comes from veterinarians, the American Veterinary Medicine Association, and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.)
Onions destroy red blood cells and can cause anemia, weakness, and breathing difficulty. Even small amounts can cause cumulative damage over time. This includes onions or chives - raw, powdered, dehydrated, or cooked.
Large amounts of garlic cause the same problems as onions. Garlic contains only a small amount of the problematic substance that is in onions. Just as with people, moderation is the key.
Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs. As little as a single serving of raisins can kill him. If the dog doesn't eat enough at one time to be fatal, he can be severely damaged by eating just a few grapes or raisins regularly.
Tomatoes (plant and fruit) contain tomatine, an alkaloid related to solanine. As the fruit ripens, the tomatine is metabolized. Therefore, ripe tomatoes are less likely to be problematic for animals. Clinical signs of poisoning include lethargy, drooling, difficulty breathing, colic, vomiting, diarrhea or constipation, widely-dilated pupils, paralysis, cardiac effects, central nervous system signs (e.g., ataxia, muscle weakness, tremors, seizures), resulting from cholinesterase inhibition, coma and death. (This information comes from veterinarians, and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.) (All parts of the plant except the tomato itself are poisonous to humans, although some people are sensitive to the ripe fruit also.)
Tomatoes also contain atropine, which can cause dilated pupils, tremors, and heart arrhythmias. The highest concentration of atropine is found in the leaves and stems of tomato plants, with less in unripe (green) tomatoes, and even less in ripe (red) tomatoes.
Nutmeg can cause tremors, seizures and death.
Caffeine (from coffee, coffee grounds, tea, or tea bags) stimulates the central nervous and cardiac systems, and can cause vomiting, restlessness, heart palpitations, and even death within hours.
Diet products containing the sweetener Xylitol can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, resulting in depression, loss of coordination and seizures. Unless treatment is given quickly, the dog could die.
Macadamia nuts can cause weakness, muscle tremor and paralysis. These symptoms are usually temporary.
Walnuts. When dogs eat the seed hulls, they can get an upset stomach and diarrhea. The real problem is the fungus or mold that attacks walnuts after they get wet (from rain or sprinklers), which produces toxins. If the fungus or mold is ingested by your dogs, they can become very ill and possibly die. Signs that should alert you to walnut poisoning are vomiting, trembling, drooling, lack of coordination, lethargy, loss of appetite, and jaundice indications such as yellowing eyes and gums. Severely affected dogs can produce blood-tinged vomit or stools. Dogs can take several days to exhibit serious signs of illness.
Chocolate can cause seizures, coma and death. Baker’s chocolate is the most dangerous. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is. But any chocolate, in large enough amounts, can kill a dog. An ounce of chocolate can poison a 30-pound dog, and many dogs will happily consume more than this. The symptoms may not show up for several hours (and so might make you think all is well), with death following within twenty-four hours. A dog can consume milk chocolate and appear to be fine because it is not as concentrated, but it is still dangerous.
Apple seeds, cherry pits, peach pits, pear pips, plums pits, and apricot pits contain cyanide, which is poisonous. While a few apple seeds may not cause a problem, the effects can accumulate over time if they are given to dogs regularly. Dogs should not be allowed to chew on a peach pit, cherry pit, apricot pit, or plum pit. Chewing can allow ingestion of cyanide. Chewing could also result in the pit being swallowed, causing continuous exposure to cyanide, or could cause the dog to choke.
Too much salt can cause kidney problems. Also, large breeds of dogs that eat salty food may then drink too much water and develop bloat, which is fatal unless emergency treatment is given very quickly.
Too much fat or fried foods can cause pancreatitis.
Ham and bacon contain too much fat and too much salt, and can cause pancreatitis. Also, large breeds of dogs that eat salty food may drink too much water and develop a life-threatening condition called bloat. This is where the stomach fills up with gas and within several hours may twist, causing death.
Raw liver or too much cooked liver (three servings a week) can lead to vitamin A toxicity. This can cause deformed bones, excessive bone growth on the elbows and spine, weight loss, and anorexia. Check the label of your canned dog food to be sure that it does not contain liver if you are giving your dog liver also.
Wild mushrooms can cause abdominal pain, drooling, liver damage, kidney damage, vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, coma, or death.
Raw egg whites contain a protein called avidin, which can deplete your dog of biotin, one of the B vitamins. Biotin is essential to your dog’s growth and coat health. The lack of it can cause hair loss, weakness, growth retardation, or skeleton deformity. Raw egg yolks contain enough biotin to prevent the deficiency, so this is not a problem with raw whole eggs. Raw egg yolks could contain salmonella, so you should get your eggs from a reliable source or cook the eggs.
Grains should not be given in large amounts or make up a large part of a dog’s diet, but rice is generally safe in small amounts.
Cooked bones can splinter and tear a dog’s internal organs.
Dogs can't digest most vegetables (carrots, green beans, lettuce, potatoes or yams) whole or in large pieces. Potato peels and green potatoes are dangerous.
Dairy products are high in fat, which can cause pancreatitis, gas and diarrhea. A small amount of non-fat, plain yogurt is usually safe.
Pennies made from the 1980s to today contain zinc, which can cause kidney failure and damage to red blood cells. A dog that consumes even one penny can become quite sick, or even die, if the penny is not removed.
Note: According to the ASPCA, "Some dogs can eat [avocadoes] without having any adverse reactions. .... The Guatemalan variety, a common one found in stores, appears to be the most problematic. Other strains of avocado can have different degrees of toxic potential."
"My dog ate ______ lots of times and didn't die, so ______ don't kill dogs." That logic is no better than "My dog runs in the street all the time and has never been hit by a car, so dogs never get hit by cars."
Plants
The following contains a list of known plants and bulbs that are poisonous to dogs, in some cases even a plants roots can be poisonous as is the case of Monks Hood.
Bulbs:
Amaryllis, Autumn Crocus, Daffodil, Day Lily, Elephant Ears, Gladiolas, Hyacinth, Iris, Lily of the Valley, Narcissus, Orange Day Lily, Tulip
Ferns: Aparagus Fern, Australian Nut, Emerald Feather (aka Emerald Fern), Emerald Fern (aka Emerald Feather), Lace Fern, Plumosa Fern
Flowering Plants: Cyclamen, Hydrangea, Kalanchoe, Poinsettia
Garden Perennials: Charming Diffenbachia, Christmas Rose, Flamingo Plant, Foxglove, Marijuana, Morning Glory, Nightshade, Onion, Tomato Plant, Tropic Snow Dumbcane
House Plants:
Ceriman (aka Cutleaf Philodendron), Chinese Evergreen, Cordatum, Corn Plant (aka Cornstalk Plant), Cutleaf Philodendron (aka Ceriman), Devil's Ivy, Dumb Cane, Golden Pothos, Green Gold Nephthysis, Marble Queen, Mauna Loa Peace Lily, Nephthytis, Peace Lily, Red-Margined Dracaena, Striped Dracaena, Taro Vine, Warneckei Dracaena
Lillies: Asian Lily (liliaceae), Easter Lily, Glory Lily, Japanese Show Lily, Red Lily, Rubrum Lily, Stargazer Lily, Tiger Lily, Wood Lily
Shrubs: Cycads, Heavenly Bamboo, Holly, Jerusalem Cherry, Mistletoe "American", Oleander, Precatory Bean, Rhododendron, Saddle Leaf Philodendron, Sago Palm, Tree Philodendron, Yucca
Succulents:
Aloe (Aloe Vera)
Trees: Avocado, Buddist Pine, Chinaberry Tree, Japanese Yew (aka Yew), Lacy Tree, Macadamia Nut, Madagascar Dragon Tree, Queensland Nut, Schefflera, Yew (aka Japanese Yew)
Vines: Branching Ivy, English Ivy, European Bittersweet, Glacier Ivy, Hahn's self branching English Ivy, Needlepoint Ivy
Misc/Uncategorized:
American Bittersweet, Andromeda Japonica, Azalea, Bird of Paradise, Buckeye, Caladium hortulanum, Calla Lily, Castor Bean, Clematis, Fiddle-Leaf Philodendron, Florida Beauty, Fruit Salad Plant, Golden Dieffenbachia, Gold Dust Dracaena, Heartleaf Philodendron, Horsehead Philodendron, Hurricane Plant, Mexican Breadfruit, Mother-in-law, Panda, Philodendron Pertusum, Red Emerald, Red Princess, Ribbon Plant, Satin Pothos, Spotted Dumb Cane, Sweetheart Ivy, Swiss Cheese Plant, Variable Dieffenbachia, Variegated Philodendron, Yesterday/Today/Tomorrow
Poison
A leaflet from the BVA on this subject is available here as a free download in PDF format:-
http://www.bva-awf.org.uk/grants/projects/pets.asp
A typical household has a variety of chemicals and other substances which are capable of causing serious harm to our pets. This article outlines the common hazards, how to avoid them, how to recognise the signs if your pets have been exposed to a poison and the action that you should take.
There is an endless list of substances which might be responsible for rare cases of poisoning in pets, but some of the more common poisons include - in roughly alphabetical order - alcohol, antifreeze, aspirin, carbon monoxide, chocolate, drugs and medicines of many kinds (including illegal substances, contraceptive pills, and all sorts of other medicines including such things as cough linctus and indigestion remedies), fertilisers, insecticides, lead (mainly from paints or old car batteries), metaldehyde (slug bait), mushrooms and toadstools, onions, other plants (both indoor and outdoor), rat and other vermin poisons, and weedkillers.
This list is by no means exhaustive and there are many other items around the house, garage and garden which can cause rare episodes of poisoning - however, the addition of bittering agents (which make many products such as bleach and other common household cleaning chemicals almost impossible to swallow in quantity) has reduced the likelihood of accidental ingestion. Other poisons, which were historically important, such as strychnine, are no longer generally available in the UK.
Many suspected poisoning incidents remain unresolved because no one knows what has been swallowed. In other cases, the poison is known and action can be taken before any signs actually develop.
First Things First
The most important thing to do with poisons is, of course, to avoid them by proper and safe storage. Whereas high shelves and lockable cupboards may be enough to protect children from the risks, cats can reach the most inaccessible of places and dogs can chew through most materials if they are determined enough. To protect pets, the only answer is to store any known poisons in firmly closed or locked containers made of chew-resistant materials and to keep drugs or medicines of any kind in a locked cupboard or drawer (and, remember to lock it). This, of course, applies in the house, in the garage and in any garden stores or sheds. While some substances may require substantial amounts to be ingested before they become dangerous, other poisons can be dangerous in very small quantities.
Chocolate poisoning tends only to occur after relatively gross overeating but fatal episodes have been recorded, so again careful storage is essential (or perhaps the answer is to finish the box yourself!). Onion poisoning is commonly seen in Australia when dogs help themselves to the fried onions from the BBQ. Symptoms are usually mild, with blood in the urine being the main sign.
If accidental access to poisons is prevented by proper storage, and products such as insecticides, fertilisers and weedkillers are used carefully in accordance with the manufacturers' instructions, there should, in theory, be few risks while your pets are on your own property.
The majority of poisonings occur either as a result of careless storage (particularly of medicines) or when animals are away from their own home or garden. Typical examples include dogs going into farm buildings or stables and eating spilled rodenticides, or cats visiting neighbouring gardens where slug baits have been left out in quantity. You may be very careful in your own garden, but neighbouring gardeners may well not be as cat-conscious.
First Aid
In the event of a suspected poisoning, you should first of all remove any suspect material (including any vomit) which remains uneaten and keep it for possible investigation. Any skin contamination should be washed off as far as possible, using just water if it appears to be water-soluble material, or a product such as Swarfega or a detergent if it appears oily.You should use a large volume of water to ensure that the substance is thoroughly washed away, otherwise you might accelerate its absorption into the skin by dissolving it.
Experience in general practice suggests that the most common incidents involve anticoagulant rat poisons, organophosphorous insecticides, fertilisers and slug pellets, and common medications.
Attempts can be made to induce vomiting if the poison is known to have been eaten less than three to four hours ago, but are not advisable if the poison is thought to be anything corrosive like creosote or petrol products. Attempts to make the animal vomit are usually rather unsuccessful but you can try a couple of teaspoons of salt or mustard in a cup of warm water, or a crystal of washing soda placed on the back of the tongue. It is not a good idea to make repeated attempts to induce the animal to be sick.
Prompt veterinary treatment is essential for all cases of suspected poisoning and you should not do anything which delays getting the patient to the veterinary surgery unless you have been given instructions over the phone by your veterinary practice. (Do remember to telephone before going to the surgery - there is not much point arriving at an unattended surgery with a critically ill pet.) If the pet appears cold (as might, for example, occur with alphachlorolose [rodenticide] poisoning), keep it warm on the way to the surgery. Conversely, if the patient is overheated (eg, if convulsions are continuing), you may need to use ice or cold water to keep the temperature down. If you have good evidence of poisoning, such as a packet from a rat poison or a medicine bottle - remember to take it with you in case there is a specific antidote which can be used for that particular chemical.
At The Surgery
In many cases, treatment of poisoning is based on controlling the signs, such as convulsions. Specific antidotes may not be available or may not exist, but your vet has access to information in many forms and will be able to find out what form of treatment is most appropriate. In many cases, treatment of an unknown poison will involve sedation or anaesthesia (if the patient is still fully conscious), and washing the stomach of the remaining poison; activated charcoal may be used to absorb as much as possible from the bowel. Intravenous fluids (a drip) may be needed to support the circulation and correct dehydration. In some cases, treatment may need to be continued for several days or longer. In some instances it may take a few days before the full effects of the poison are seen; for example, where damage has been caused to the kidneys or the liver, for example, by paracetamol. Rat poisons, which stop the blood clotting and cause death by internal bleeding, may take several days to show their effects. In some cases, the first sign of trouble may be laboured breathing due to haemorrhage (bleeding) within the chest cavity. The majority of cases of rodenticide poisoning involve young dogs. Cats are rarely affected because they are generally much more selective feeders. In many cases of poisoning due to rat poison, treatment with the specific antidote, vitamin K, is successful. Success, however, depends on early recognition of the signs and on the amount of poison eaten in the first place. In some cases poisoning can be caused by an animal eating the carcass of a rat which has itself been killed by poison.
Ever Present Risk
In conclusion, it is probably true to say that suspected cases of poisoning are common but fatal or even serious incidents are actually quite rare. The risk is ever present, however, and, if poisoning is suspected, especially when there is good evidence of access to a toxic substance, prompt intervention is essential to minimise the chances of serious harm. If in doubt, call your vet for advice but, above all, take care with the storage of potentially harmful materials.
What to do if you suspect poisoning
It is important to realise that the symptoms of poisoning can be very variable, even for one particular poison. Signs can include:
Abdominal pain, blindness, collapse, coma or sudden death, effects on the heart rhythm, convulsions, diarrhoea, difficulty breathing, incoordination, muscle tremors, paralysis, drooling and vomiting.
In many cases it can be very difficult even for your vet to decide whether the cause of the signs is a poison, and circumstantial evidence may be very important in reaching a diagnosis. For example, fits or incoordination may be due to an epileptic seizure and vomiting may be due to a bowel infection rather than any sort of poison. Poisoning by plants tends to happen to young puppies or kittens which are not very discriminating about what they eat, but it is unusual for enough to be eaten to cause anything more than vomiting and diarrhoea. Plants such as laburnum, berries or toadstools can occasionally be the source of a problem and this author has seen one case in a cat which showed very bizarre signs after eating cannabis plants. If in any doubt about the possible effects of eating something unusual, the best advice is to contact your local vetranary surgery.
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