Nov 19, 2024
Food poisoning is quite common in dogs, especially those with sensitive digestive systems. Understanding what foods make dogs sick is an important part of your dog’s diet and nutrition. By knowing which foods to avoid, you can prevent any fatal emergencies and keep your dog eating well and happy!
What Foods That Make Dogs Sick?
While it’s very tempting to give your dogs a treat or two, some foods can be very dangerous for them. These foods can lead to some serious health conditions and issues, such as vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy.
Let's take a look at some of the most common foods that make dogs sick, their symptoms, and why they should be avoided.
Chocolate
Chocolate is one of the most famous foods. It looks like a good, sweet treat, but it is actually very toxic for dogs. It contains theobromine, a compound that dogs cannot metabolize effectively, leading to toxic buildup. It also has caffeine, another compound that is very toxic for dogs.
The darker the chocolate, the higher the amount of these compounds, making it more dangerous. But to be safe, never give your dog any chocolate, even if it’s just a tiny amount.
What Happens When Dogs Eat Chocolate?
When dogs eat chocolate, they experience a variety of symptoms that all translate to an inability to process and digest the food. This food not only makes dogs sick but can also lead to very dangerous health problems. They will have a series of symptoms such as:
High blood pressure
Vomiting
Excessive urination
Diarrhea
Rapid breathing and anxiety
Lethargy
Seizures
Panting
If your dog has eaten chocolate, even in small amounts, bring it to the vet immediately. Urgent care is needed to help your dog recover before the compounds in the chocolate develop much worse symptoms.
When your dog reaches the hospital, we’ll immediately proceed with decontamination. We’ll use noninvasive treatment options and keep monitoring your dog during the process. Induced vomiting, activated charcoal, and further hospitalization if things get worse.
Grapes and Raisins
Grapes and raisins are also among the most dangerous fruits to give to your dogs. Not only are they full of sugar, but they can also cause serious damage to your dog’s kidneys. While the cause of these fruits' danger still hasn’t been fully uncovered, it’s still better to avoid giving raisins as these can make dogs sick.
What Happens When Dogs Eat Grapes and Raisins?
Some of the signs of grape and raisin poisoning can start in a few hours. More severe symptoms can appear after 24 hours. Here are some of the common symptoms you’ll notice when your dog eats grapes and raisins:
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Lethargy
Stomach upset
Dehydration
Acute kidney failure
Increased thirst
Loss of appetite
When treating grape-related food poisoning, our vets start by blocking the toxins from entering and causing more damage. Through immediate decontamination, we’ll empty your dog’s stomach and ensure that nothing worse happens to it.
Onions and Garlic
Onions and garlic are among the deadliest foods for dogs. They contain dangerous chemicals such as N-propyl disulfides and thiosulfates, which can lead to some severe symptoms. Even foods with garlic, such as garlic bread, can make dogs sick.
What Happens When Dogs Eat Onions and Garlic?
Even in small quantities, onions and garlic can pose some deadly health risks. Here are some of the signs of onion and garlic poisoning in dogs:
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Lethargy
Abdominal pain
Pale gums
Increased heart rate
Red or brown urine
Loss of appetite
If your dog only ate a small amount, make sure to check for any symptoms while contacting your vet. If a considerable amount is to be consumed, bring your dog to the vet immediately. Onion and garlic poisoning is a serious matter that should be addressed immediately before anything worse happens.
When your dog reaches us, we’ll start with some urine and blood tests in the pet laboratory. In some severe cases, decontamination, oxygen therapy, and blood transfusions can be valid options.
Xylitol
Xylitol is a sugar substitute commonly found in sugar-free gum, candy, toothpaste, ice cream, cookies, and even peanut butter brands. In dogs, xylitol triggers a rapid release of insulin, which leads to a dangerous drop in blood sugar and, in some cases, liver failure.
What Happens When Dogs Eat Xylitol
When dogs eat foods with xylitol, they can get into some deadly health issues. Xylitol makes dogs sick, with some symptoms ranging from mild to severe. Here are some of the signs of xylitol poisoning in dogs:
Vomiting
Weakness
Lack of coordination
Tremors and seizures
Collapse
Difficulty standing
If your dog eats foods with xylitol, the most important step is to contact the vet. Xylitol poisoning should be treated immediately, and our vets can help. We’ll provide fast treatments to catch up with the toxins of xylitol.
Inducing vomiting is one of the steps we’ll initially do. If this proves to be ineffective, blood work and other tests will be used to monitor your dog’s condition. Further steps will need to take time, as your dog will be monitored while given IV fluids and liver protection medications.
Avocado
While avocado is not a super deadly fruit, it is still a food that can make dogs sick. Avocados contain persin, a fungicidal toxin found in the leaves, skin, and pit of the avocado. While the flesh of the avocado is less toxic, it can still cause digestive upset in dogs, and the pit presents a choking hazard.
What Happens When Dogs Eat Avocado
The flesh of avocado is good in small amounts, but when your dog eats a lot, including the pit, it could lead to some health issues. Here are the common symptoms your dog will have:
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Stomach pain
Choking
If your dog has ingested the pit, an endoscopy might be needed to find and remove the pit. When dealing with persin, IV fluids, and medications will be administered accordingly based on your dog’s condition.
Alcohol
Alcohol has the same effect on a dog’s liver and brain as it does on humans, but it only takes a small amount to cause some serious harm. Even small amounts of alcohol can lead to ethanol poisoning, which affects the central nervous system.
What Happens When Dogs Drink Alcohol
Alcohol, whether it’s ethanol, methanol, or isopropanol, can make dogs sick. While the effects may depend on your dog’s weight, fullness, or organ structure, alcohol still proves to be dangerous. Here are some of the symptoms of alcohol poisoning in dogs:
Vomiting
Frequent urination
Diarrhea
Weakness
Loss of balance
Tremors
Seizures
Slow heart rate
If your dog has ingested alcohol, our vets may recommend bringing your dog in for immediate treatment, which can include inducing vomiting, administering activated charcoal to prevent further absorption of alcohol, or providing IV fluids to maintain hydration and support liver function.
In some cases, we might require hospitalization to help us monitor your dog. Throughout the process, supportive treatments will be used to help relieve the pain and control the symptoms.
Raw Meat
Raw meat and fish can pose significant health risks to dogs due to the potential presence of harmful bacteria and parasites. While raw diets for dogs have gained popularity, it’s important to understand that the risk of contamination of raw meats can make dogs sick.
What Happens When Dogs Eat Raw Meat
If your dog consumes raw meat, sickness is to be expected. Bacterial and parasitic infections can cause severe health symptoms that require veterinary care. Here is what happens when dogs eat raw meat:
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Lethargy
Dehydration
Reduced appetite
Infections
In this case, vet action is required so we can diagnose your dog’s condition. After a few diagnostic tests, such as blood and fecal tests, antibiotics and antiparasitic medications will be used to help treat your dog’s condition.
Macadamia Nuts
Macadamia nuts are a popular snack for humans but a deadly treat for dogs. While the exact reasoning behind why they are toxic to dogs is still unknown, it’s better to avoid giving this food to your dog as it can make them sick.
What Happens When Dogs Eat Macadamia Nuts
The signs of macadamia nut toxicity can appear anywhere from a few hours to 3 hours and can last up to 48 hours. This depends on the amount consumed and your dog’s sensitivity to the food.
Weakness
Vomiting
Fever
Difficulty Standing
Muscle tremors
Lethargy
When treating these symptoms, our vets may use IV fluids, activated charcoal, and induced vomiting in order to help your dog recover. We do this to help contain the effects of the macadamia nut poisoning in your dog.
Conclusion
As our dogs’ caretakers, we must take steps to know and understand the different foods that make dogs sick. From common snacks to lesser-known foods, we must make sure these are safe for our dogs so we can keep them happy and healthy.