Nine surprising foods that are toxic for dogs 'even in small amounts'

Daily Record

07-05-2025

Dogs are known for getting their paws on forbidden treats- but be careful to make sure they never eat these nine things.
Being a dog parent comes with a lot of responsibility. Being able to walk, feed, groom and love your pet are all non-negotiables for owning a furry friend.
And while we sometimes want to share the love by offering some food off our plate to our pooch, there are certain foods that are completely toxic for dogs. So it's vital to make sure your dog never gets their paws on something they're not supposed to eat.
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With this in mind, Battersea Dog and Cat Home have listed nine surprising foods that your dog should never eat under any circumstances, as they could become extremely unwell. So definitely never feed these to your dog on purpose, and if they get some by accident, take them to the vet.
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Battersea said on their website: "If consumed, even small amounts of these items can be fatal so always act immediately and take your dog to the vets."
Nine surprising foods that are toxic for dogs
1. Onions, garlic and chives
The onion family, whether dry, raw or cooked, is particularly toxic to dogs, said the pet experts.
Eating onions, garlic or chives can cause gastrointestinal irritation and red blood cell damage in your pooch.
Signs of illness caused by eating toxic foods are not always immediate and can occur up to a few days later, so keep an eye on your pet if they've recently eaten a forbidden snack.
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2. Chocolate
Battersea said: "However enticing chocolate is for humans and dogs alike, chocolate is another poisonous food for dogs.
" Chocolate contains a stimulant called theobromine (dark chocolate has the highest content of this) which is toxic to dogs and can cause kidney failure."
3. Macadamia nuts
Macadamia nuts contain a toxin that can affect your dog's muscles and nervous system.
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If eaten, this can result in weakness, swollen limbs and panting, said the dog experts.
4. Corn on the cob
Battersea added: "Corn on the cob could potentially be fatal if eaten by your dog.
"Although the corn is digested by dogs, the cob can cause a blockage in your dog's intestine."
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5. Avocado
Avocados are another poisonous food for dogs, as their plants contain a substance called Persin.
This substance, which is found in the plant's leaves, fruit and seed can cause vomiting and diarrhoea in our four-legged companions.
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6. Artificial sweetener (Xylitol)
"Our desire for sweet treats, chewing gum and drinks together with low-fat, diet and sugar-free products (including some peanut butters so always check the label before using this as a treat) are often laced with an artificial sweetener called Xylitol", said Battersea.
This causes an insulin release in our bodies, but if your dog digests one of these sweetened foods they can go into hypoglycaemia, which is linked to liver failure and blood clotting disorders.
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7. Alcohol
Even in small amounts, alcohol has a huge impact on dogs.
It not only causes intoxication as it does in humans, but it can lead to sickness, diarrhoea and can even damage the central nervous system.
8. Cooked bones
Giving your dog a raw uncooked bone to chew on is a great treat idea for your pet.
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But the dog experts say to avoid giving your pooch cooked bones at all costs.
When chewed or eaten, these can easily splinter and in large quantities cause constipation or at worst, a perforation of the gut which can be fatal.
9. Grapes and raisins
Raisins are in many of the foods that we love to eat, such as cakes, biscuits and cereals.
So it's not just the fruit form of raisins we should be concerned with when trying to prevent our dogs from getting their peckish paws on them.
The active ingredient in raisins which causes the toxin for dogs is unknown, however both grapes and raisins may cause severe liver damage and kidney failure for our precious pets.
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