Dogs and Food

Dogs should never consume alcohol.

Consuming even small amounts of it may lead to ethanol poisoning in dogs. This causes tiredness, lack of coordination, seizures, vomiting and diarrhea.

If a dog consumes too much alcohol, it can result in more severe symptoms, such as heart attack, lung failure, coma and even death.

Products that contain alcohol, such as alcoholic beverages, perfumes, mouthwash and cleaning products, should always be kept away from your dog.

It is best to limit almonds in your dog's diet.

Although plain, unsalted almonds are generally safe for dogs to eat in small amounts, they are difficult for dogs to digest and may lead to vomiting and diarrhea.

Almonds are also high in fat and calories and have the potential to cause weight gain and pancreatitis in dogs. If you feed your dog almonds, it is best to give very small servings.

Apples that have been sliced are safe and healthy for dogs to eat.

Apples provide a significant amount of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Also, they are high in fiber, which may benefit your dog's digestive system.

However, you should never feed your dog apple seeds, as they contain cyanide, a chemical that can be poisonous in large amounts. You should always remove the seeds before feeding apples to your dog.

Avocados should never be consumed by dogs.

This is because they contain a toxin called persin, which is known to be very poisonous to dogs. It may lead to fluid accumulation in their lungs and chest, which can cause breathing difficulties, oxygen deprivation and even death.

Persin is found in all parts of the avocado, including the fruit, pit, leaves and bark. Thus, you should always keep avocados away from your dog.

Dogs can eat bananas in moderation.

Bananas are high in fiber and many vitamins and minerals. Some people also claim that bananas help relieve nausea in dogs, but this has not been proven by scientific evidence.

You can mix some mashed banana with your dog's regular food or feed him a slice or two as an occasional treat.

Lean beef is safe for dogs to eat.

In fact, beef is a common ingredient in many dog foods. It's an excellent source of protein and many important vitamins and minerals that your dog needs for overall health.

The beef that you feed to your dog should be plain, without any added sauces or seasonings. These often contain ingredients that may be harmful to your dog, such as salt.

You can safely feed your dog blackberries.

Fresh or frozen blackberries are a healthy treat for dogs. They are low in calories and rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Additionally, blackberries are a great source of fiber (26).

If your dog enjoys blackberries, you can feed him a few each day as a treat.

Blueberries are safe and nutritious for dogs to eat.

Blueberries are a rich source of disease-fighting antioxidants and provide a significant amount of vitamins, minerals and fiber, all of which may benefit your dog's health.

Moreover, blueberries are low in calories and small in size, making them an excellent health-conscious treat for your dog.

Plain white or whole grain bread is safe for most dogs to eat as an occasional treat.

Before feeding your dog bread, make sure it doesn't contain any extra ingredients, such as raisins, which could be potentially harmful.

Additionally, keep in mind that bread, along with other foods, adds extra calories to your dog's diet and may cause weight gain if he eats too much.

Dogs can eat raw or cooked broccoli in moderation.

Broccoli is a low-calorie vegetable that contains high amounts of many nutrients, making it a very healthy snack for your dog.

However, broccoli contains isothiocyanates, which are compounds that may irritate your dog's digestive system if he eats too much. Thus, you should only feed broccoli to your dog as an occasional snack.

Both raw and cooked carrots are safe for your dog to eat.

Carrots are low in calories and a good source of vitamins, minerals and fiber. This makes them a very healthy food for your dog to snack on.

Before feeding carrots to your dog, make sure to cut them into bite-size pieces to prevent choking.

You should limit your dog's intake of cashews.

Plain, unsalted and roasted cashews are safe for most dogs to eat in moderation. However, cashews are high in fat and calories and may lead to weight gain and pancreatitis when consumed in excess.

For these reasons, you should limit your dog's intake to one or two cashews a day or less.

In small amounts, celery is a safe snack for dogs to eat.

Also, celery is a health-conscious treat for dogs. It is low in calories and an excellent source of many vitamins and minerals.

Before feeding your dog celery, cut it into bite-size pieces to prevent choking and make it easier for him to digest.

Cheese is safe for most dogs to eat in small quantities.

Due to the fat and lactose content of cheese, some dogs may have digestive symptoms, such as stomach pain and diarrhea, after eating it.

To avoid unpleasant symptoms, it is best to introduce cheese into your dog's diet gradually. It may also help to only feed your dog low-fat cheeses, such as mozzarella.

Dogs can eat fresh, pitted cherries in moderate amounts.

However, you should not allow your dog to eat cherry pits. Cherry pits contain cyanide, which is poisonous to dogs when consumed in large amounts. Additionally, cherry pits are a choking hazard.

Cherries may also cause upset stomach and diarrhea in dogs if they eat too many. If you feed your dog cherries, limit him to one or two cherries at a time.

Cooked chicken is a healthy food that is safe for most dogs to eat.

Chicken is one of the most common ingredients used in dog foods, as it is an excellent source of protein, which your dog needs to stay healthy. You can feed your dog chicken on its own or combine it with his regular food.

It is worth noting that you should always remove chicken from the bone before feeding it to your dog. Chicken bones pose a choking hazard and may puncture his digestive tract.

Additionally, it is important to avoid feeding your dog raw chicken to prevent a Salmonella infection.

Dogs should never eat chocolate.

This is because chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, two stimulants that dogs cannot efficiently metabolize.

If your dog eats chocolate, he may exhibit symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea and dehydration. These symptoms may lead to more serious complications, such as internal bleeding, muscle tremors, seizures and death.

Darker and less sweet varieties of chocolate, such as cocoa powder and unsweetened baker's chocolate, are more poisonous to dogs than sweetened varieties, such as milk chocolate.

Nevertheless, do not feed your dog any type of chocolate.

Cinnamon is non-toxic to dogs, but it should still be limited in your dog's diet.

If dogs consume cinnamon in large quantities, it may irritate their mouths and digestive system. Plus, if your dog inhales cinnamon powder, it may cause coughing, choking and breathing difficulties (45).

Even foods that contain cinnamon as an ingredient, such as baked goods, may lead to adverse effects if your dog consumes too much.

Coconut is safe for dogs to consume.

Additionally, feeding coconut meat or coconut oil to dogs as an occasional treat has been anecdotally claimed to benefit their skin and fur.

It is important to note that coconut oil is high in fat and calories and thus best consumed in moderation by dogs to avoid weight gain. Depending on your dog's size, one-fourth teaspoon to 1 tbsp a day is an appropriate serving size (4).

Coffee and tea are dangerous for dogs to consume due to their caffeine contents.

Caffeine stimulates your dog's nervous system, which can lead to a number of symptoms, including hyperactivity, vomiting, diarrhea, elevated heart rate, seizures and tremors.

Lung failure and abnormal heart rhythm may result from too much caffeine, which can ultimately lead to death.

Even small amounts of caffeine can cause adverse effects in dogs, so you should always keep coffee and tea out of your dog's reach.

Dogs can eat corn in moderate amounts.

Corn is a good source of some vitamins and minerals and common ingredient in many types of dog food. A tablespoon or two of corn per day is an appropriate serving size for dogs.

Although plain, cooked corn kernels are safe for dogs, you should never feed your dog corn on the cob. The cob is a choking hazard and could lead to intestinal obstruction if consumed.

Dogs can eat cottage cheese in small amounts.

However, some dogs may experience digestive issues, such as nausea and diarrhea, after consuming cottage cheese.

For these reasons, you should limit your dog's cottage cheese intake to one or two small spoonfuls per day or less.

Cooked eggs are perfectly safe and nutritious for dogs to eat.

One medium egg provides some of almost every vitamin and mineral, plus lots of protein. There are claims that eggs may also help relieve nausea in dogs, although there is no scientific evidence behind this claim.

It is important to note that you should avoid feeding raw eggs to your dog. While dogs typically do not get sick from eating raw eggs, bacteria, such as Salmonella, can spread from the dog to its human owners, increasing their risk of infection.

You should never feed your dog garlic.

Garlic contains chemicals called thiosulfates, which are toxic to dogs. Thiosulfates may damage your dog's red blood cells and lead to anemia. Garlic consumption may also lead to symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea in dogs.

In severe cases, dogs may need a blood transfusion if they consume high amounts of garlic. Thus, it is important to avoid feeding garlic to your dog, even in small amounts.

---

Studies have found it takes approximately 15 to 30 grams of garlic per kilograms of body weight to produce harmful changes in a dog's blood. To put that into perspective, the average clove of supermarket garlic weighs between 3 and 7 grams, so your dog would have to eat a lot to get really sick. However, some dogs are more sensitive to garlic toxicity than others, and consumption of a toxic dose spread out over a few days could also cause problems.

You should never feed grapes or raisins to your dog.

Grapes and raisins contain toxic compounds that are harmful to dogs. They have the potential to lead to rapid kidney failure and death.

Even small amounts of grapes and raisins can make your dog sick, so it's important to avoid giving them to your dog altogether.

It's generally safe for dogs to consume green peas.

Green peas are a common ingredient in many types of dog food. Not only do dogs find them tasty, but green peas are also low in calories and high in many nutrients, making them a healthy treat for your dog.

However, only feed your dog fresh or frozen peas, not canned ones. Canned peas are often loaded with salt, which is harmful to dogs in large amounts.

You should only feed honey to your dog in limited amounts.

Honey has a high sugar content, which can add up in calories and contribute to weight gain if your dog eats too much.

If you want to feed your dog honey as a treat every once in awhile, it is best to provide him with only a very small amount.

Lemons and limes can be toxic to your dog.

This is because the skins of lemons and limes contain a substance called psoralen, which can cause dogs to have gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea.

If very large amounts of psoralen are consumed by dogs, more severe symptoms, such as muscle tremors, difficulty walking, liver failure and death, can result.

Lemons and limes can be toxic to your dog.

This is because the skins of lemons and limes contain a substance called psoralen, which can cause dogs to have gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea.

If very large amounts of psoralen are consumed by dogs, more severe symptoms, such as muscle tremors, difficulty walking, liver failure and death, can result.

Dogs should never eat macadamia nuts.

Macadamia nuts contain an unknown toxin that may lead to vomiting, muscle weakness, tremors, hyperthermia and depression when dogs consume them, even in small amounts.

Additionally, macadamia nuts have a high fat content, which may elevate your dog's triglyceride levels and potentially lead to pancreatitis.

Dogs can eat mango as an occasional treat.

Mangoes are very healthy for dogs in small amounts, as they provide several vitamins and minerals, in addition to lots of fiber.

Before you feed your dog mangoes, make sure to peel them, as the skin can be hard for him to digest. Additionally, the pit should be removed to prevent choking.

You should prevent your dog from drinking too much milk.

Lactose intolerance is common in dogs, which may cause loose stools, gas, vomiting, stomach pain and diarrhea.

Some dogs are able to tolerate small quantities of milk as an occasional treat, but they should not drink more than a few tablespoons of milk per day.

Store-bought mushrooms, such as portobello mushrooms, are safe for dogs to eat.

However, only feed your dog plain mushrooms that have not been combined with extra ingredients, such as garlic and onions, that may have adverse effects in dogs.

Additionally, it is worth noting that some wild mushrooms are toxic to your dog and may cause mushroom poisoning.

Nutmeg is not safe for dogs to eat.

This is because nutmeg contains myristicin, a compound that is toxic to dogs when consumed in large amounts. It may cause disorientation, increased heart rate, high blood pressure, dry mouth, stomach pain and seizures.

You should keep nutmeg out of your dog's reach and prevent him from consuming baked goods and other foods that contain nutmeg.

Generally speaking, veterinarians don't recommend any nuts for dogs, but the only ones that are considered to be somewhat less harmful are peanuts, cashews, and almonds. These nuts all contain nutrients like fiber and protein, but still can carry a risk of causing stomach distress or intestinal blockages...and you have to be especially careful with any nuts that contain flavorings like salt. You should never offer your dog macadamia nuts, as they are considered to be particularly toxic for dogs.

From: The Spruce Pets

Plain oatmeal is safe for your dog to eat.

Oatmeal provides lots of fiber, as well as some vitamins and minerals.

As with all foods, you should feed oatmeal to your dog in moderation to prevent him from gaining weight.

Additionally, it is important to only feed plain oatmeal to your dog, instead of flavored oatmeal. Flavored oatmeal may have extra ingredients added to it that could be harmful to your dog.

You should never feed your dog onions.

Onions contain N-propyl disulfide, a compound that is toxic to dogs. It can damage your dog's red blood cells, reducing their ability to carry oxygen through the body. This often results in a condition called anemia.

Anemia in dogs is characterized by a variety of symptoms, including lethargy, weakness, decreased appetite and fainting. In severe cases, dogs with anemia may need a blood transfusion.

It is important to note that all components and forms of onions are toxic to dogs, even the leaves, juice and processed powders, such as onion powder.

Dogs can eat oranges in small quantities.

Oranges are an excellent treat for dogs because they are high in nutrients and low in calories (53).

However, oranges have been reported to cause upset stomach in some dogs, and thus, they should eat them in moderation.

Peanut butter is a healthy and safe treat for dogs to eat in moderate amounts.

However, it is best to limit your dog's peanut butter intake. Since peanut butter is high in fat and calories, it may lead to weight gain if he eats too much.

Also, make sure to feed your dog plain, unsalted peanut butter. Peanut butter commonly has extra ingredients added to it, such as salt, which could be harmful to your dog.

Plain, unsalted peanuts are safe for dogs to eat in small quantities.

Similar to other nuts, peanuts are high in fat and may contribute to weight gain and pancreatitis if your dog eats too many of them.

Additionally, peanuts often contain added ingredients like salt that could be harmful to dogs. If you feed your dog peanuts, it is best to only give him a few plain peanuts at a time.

Fresh pineapple is safe for dogs to eat in small amounts.

Additionally, pineapple is full of many vitamins, minerals and fiber, making it an excellent nutrient-dense snack for your dog (21).

Similar to other foods, dogs may experience symptoms like nausea and diarrhea if they eat too much pineapple. Thus, it is best to feed your dog a small amount of pineapple at a time.

Dogs can eat popcorn as an occasional treat, as long as it doesn't contain any extra ingredients.

Salt is often added to popcorn, which can lead to serious complications if your dog eats too much. Butter and oil are other common popcorn ingredients that are high in fat and may lead to pancreatitis in dogs if over-consumed.

For these reasons, it is best to only feed your dog plain, air-popped popcorn.

Popcorn kernels are also a choking hazard and may get stuck in your dog's teeth, so you should only provide your dog with fully-popped kernels.

Cooked pork without added spices, seasonings or sauces is safe for dogs to eat.

However, you should never feed your dog raw or undercooked pork to prevent a bacterial infection, which can make your dog sick.

Furthermore, processed forms of pork, such as ham and bacon, should never be fed to dogs. They're often extremely high in salt, which can be harmful to dogs.

Dogs can eat plain potatoes that have been cooked.

However, you should never feed your dog raw potatoes. Raw potatoes contain solanine, a compound that is toxic to dogs. Cooking potatoes reduces their solanine levels.

Potatoes should only be fed to dogs in small amounts, as their high carbohydrate content may cause dogs to gain weight if they eat them in large quantities.

You should never feed grapes or raisins to your dog.

Grapes and raisins contain toxic compounds that are harmful to dogs. They have the potential to lead to rapid kidney failure and death.

Even small amounts of grapes and raisins can make your dog sick, so it's important to avoid giving them to your dog altogether.

It is extremely unsafe for dogs to eat raw yeast dough.

Raw yeast dough is a concern because yeast cells produce alcohol as they ferment, which may lead to alcohol poisoning and death if your dog consumes it.

Furthermore, dogs that eat raw yeast dough may experience severe bloating, as the dough expands in their stomachs. This can cause difficulty breathing and weakness.

Dogs can eat plain and cooked brown or white rice.

Rice is very easy for dogs to digest and may help relieve an upset stomach.

You can feed rice to your dog on its own or combined with a little bit of chicken or turkey for extra protein.

Cooked, boneless salmon is a safe and healthy food for your dog.

Salmon is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are known to reduce inflammation and may help keep your dog's skin and fur healthy.

However, you should avoid feeding raw salmon to your dog. It may contain a parasite that is known to cause salmon poisoning disease, which can be fatal.

Salt should be limited in your dog's diet.

Excessive salt intake may lead to salt poisoning or water deprivation in dogs, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, vomiting and seizures. In severe cases, high amounts of salt can be fatal.

To prevent adverse effects, you should not feed your dog salty foods, such as chips or pretzels. Furthermore, always make sure your dog has water to drink, which can prevent water deprivation.

Sardines have positive nutritional value for your dog. Purchase sardines packed in water if you plan on feeding them to your dog.

Sardines, like other fish, are a great protein source for dogs and a good source of omega-3 fatty acids-such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Sardines are also rich in Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, calcium, and the antioxidant selenium.

But although sardines are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, they still cannot reach the same levels of EPA and DHA as fortified diets and supplements.

Pet owners may want to consider an omega-3 supplement rather than directly feeding fish like sardines. Supplements contain less calories and fat, while providing more omega-3 benefits. Ask your veterinarian before giving supplements to your dog.

If your dog does not have or is not predisposed to certain conditions such as diabetes, obesity, pancreatitis, or kidney disease, sardines are generally a safe treat to give your dog in small quantities.

Generally, pet parents who are interested in feeding their dogs sardines do not have to worry about mercury poisoning.

Ref: https://www.greatpetcare.com/dog-nutrition/can-dogs-eat-sardines/

You can feed plain, cooked shrimp to your dog.

Shrimp is a healthy treat for dogs, as it's an excellent source of protein and provides a significant amount of vitamins and minerals.

However, you should avoid feeding raw shrimp to your dog, as it may contain harmful bacteria that could make him sick. Always make sure to remove the shell from shrimp to prevent your dog from choking.

Your dog can safely eat strawberries in moderation.

Strawberries make a very healthy treat for dogs, as they are low in calories but high in nutrients, antioxidants and fiber.

Before feeding your dog strawberries, make sure to cut them into small pieces to prevent choking.

Sweet potatoes are a safe and healthy food for dogs to eat in moderate amounts.

Sweet potatoes are easy for dogs to digest and rich in vitamin A, which is important for your dog's eye health and immune system.

You can add a few sweet potatoes to your dog's regular food or feed them to him as an occasional treat.

Keep in mind that too much vitamin A can lead to bone problems and muscle weakness in dogs. Thus, you should avoid feeding your dog excessive amounts of sweet potatoes.

Coffee and tea are dangerous for dogs to consume due to their caffeine contents.

Caffeine stimulates your dog's nervous system, which can lead to a number of symptoms, including hyperactivity, vomiting, diarrhea, elevated heart rate, seizures and tremors.

Lung failure and abnormal heart rhythm may result from too much caffeine, which can ultimately lead to death.

Even small amounts of caffeine can cause adverse effects in dogs, so you should always keep coffee and tea out of your dog's reach.

It's okay to feed your dog tomatoes as an occasional treat, as long as they are ripe.

Green tomatoes, on the other hand, may contain small amounts of tomatine, a toxic glycoalkaloid. While green tomatoes are not toxic to people, anecdotal evidence suggests it may harm dogs.

Dogs that consume too much tomatine from tomatoes may experience nausea, an abnormal heart rate, muscle weakness and difficulty breathing.

Most dogs are able to eat plain turkey without adverse effects.

However, avoid giving your dog turkey that has been seasoned and stuffed to prevent him from eating potentially harmful ingredients, such as onions and garlic.

Additionally, your dog should only eat turkey that is boneless and skinless.

Watermelon is safe for dogs to eat, as long as it doesn't contain the rind or seeds.

Watermelon rinds and seeds could be a choking hazard, and some people claim that they can cause digestive problems in dogs.

However, watermelon fruit on its own is a very healthy treat for dogs, as it is low in calories and packed with nutrients, such as vitamin A and vitamin C.

Dogs should never eat xylitol.

It's a sugar substitute that's often found in candy, chewing gum, baked goods and toothpaste. When dogs consume xylitol, it may lead to a rapid drop in blood sugar levels and symptoms like muscle weakness and seizures.

The effects of xylitol in dogs have the potential to lead to more serious complications, such as liver damage and even death.

Source:
• Healthline: Can My Dog Eat This?
• Written by Brianna Elliott, RD on December 14, 2017

References:
1. Carrots, raw - Nutrition facts.
2. Acute renal failure in dogs after the ingestion of grapes or raisins
3. Fatal hypernatremia in a dog from salt ingestion
4. The Growing Problem of Obesity in Dogs and Cats
5. The relationship of feeding patterns and obesity in dogs
6. Eggs, whole, raw, fresh - Nutrition Facts
7. Perceptions, practices, and consequences associated with foodborne pathogens and the feeding of raw meat to dogs
8. Fish, salmon, Atlantic, wild, cooked, dry heat - Nutrition Facts
9. Responses of dogs to dietary omega-3 fatty acids
10. Salmon poisoning disease in dogs: 29 cases
11. Some food toxic for pets
12. Chocolate poisoning in dogs
13. Adverse food reactions in dogs and cats
14. Diagnosis and management of food allergy and intolerance in dogs and cats
15. Blueberries, raw - Nutrition Facts
16. Total antioxidant power in sled dogs supplemented with blueberries and the comparison of blood parameters associated with exercise
17. Brain aging in the canine: a diet enriched in antioxidants reduces cognitive dysfunction
18. Oxidative stress and food supplementation with antioxidants in therapy dogs
19. Pet food safety: sodium in pet foods
20. Weakness, tremors, and depression associated with macadamia nuts in dogs
21. Pineapple, raw, all varieties - Nutrition Facts
22. Heinz body hemolytic anemia with eccentrocytosis from ingestion of Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum) and garlic (Allium sativum) in a dog
23. Onion poisoning in a dog
24. Canine immune-mediated hemolytic anemia: treatment and prognosis
25. Watermelon, raw - Nutrition Facts
26. Blackberries, raw - Nutrition Facts
27. Corn, yellow - Nutrition Facts
28. Some food toxic for pets
29. Peas, green, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt - Nutrion Facts
30. Cereals, oats, regular and quick and instant, not fortified, dry - Nutrion Facts
31. Household Food Items Toxic to Dogs and Cats
32. Suspected caffeine and ephedrine toxicosis resulting from ingestion of an herbal supplement containing guarana and ma huang in dogs: 47 cases (1997-1999)
33. Apples, raw, with skin - Nutrion Facts
34. Alternative Dietary Fiber Sources in Companion Animal Nutrition
35. The cyanide content of laetrile preparations, apricot, peach and apple seeds
36. Broccoli, cooked, boiled, drained, with salt - Nutrion Facts
37. Chemoprotective glucosinolates and isothiocyanates of broccoli sprouts: metabolism and excretion in humans
38. Chicken, broilers or fryers, breast, meat only, cooked, roasted - Nutrion Facts
39. Pet food safety: dietary protein
40. Raw Meat-Based Diets in Dogs and Cats
41. Safety evaluation of vitamin A in growing dogs
42. Sweet potato, cooked, baked in skin, without salt - Nutrion Facts
43. Xylitol toxicity in dogs
44. Experimental acute toxicity of xylitol in dogs
45. Can Dogs Eat Cinnamon?
46. Mangos, raw - Nutrion Facts
47. Toxicological evaluation of myristicin (found in nutmeg)
48. Beef, ground, 80% lean meat / 20% fat, crumbles, cooked, pan-browned - Nutrion Facts
49. Lemon
50. Bread Dough
51. Bananas, raw - Nutrion Facts
52. Strawberries, raw - Nutrion Facts
53. Oranges, raw, all commercial varieties - Nutrion Facts
54. Mushroom poisoning cases in dogs and cats: diagnosis and treatment of hepatotoxic, neurotoxic, gastroenterotoxic, nephrotoxic, and muscarinic mushrooms
55. Mushroom toxicosis in dogs in general practice causing gastroenteritis, ptyalism and elevated serum lipase activity
56. Potatoes, tomatoes, and solanine toxicity
57. Successful treatment of Solanum dulcamara intoxication in a Labrador retriever puppy
58. Naturally Occurring Food Toxins
59. Effect of peeling and three cooking methods on the content of selected phytochemicals in potato tubers with various colour of flesh
60. Celery, raw - Nutrion Facts
61. Crustaceans, shrimp, mixed species, cooked, breaded and fried - Nutrion Facts
62. Epidemiology of Seafood-Associated Infections in the United States