Poisonous Food List for Cats and Dogs

Updated: 02/07/2008

As pet owners we often like to share with our pet all of the things that we ourselves enjoy in life, including food. However, there are a couple of reasons that you should always be very careful when considering introducing special treats to your pet.' The first reason is that the food you want to share may not be a particularly healthy food item and therefore you should think twice about allowing your pet to acquire a taste for something they shouldn't have.  Secondly and most importantly, although you may very well enjoy a particular food yourself, it might actually be very poisonous for your pet.

The following is a list of foods that your pet should avoid as they are all poisonous to some degree.

Note: Two detoxifying formulas sent by our readers follows this list.

Alcoholic Beverages: Any type of alcohol can be poisonous to your pet and aside from intoxication, can cause a coma or even death.

Apple Seeds:  Can have varied effects on pets.

Apricot Pits:  Can cause respiratory difficulties such as breathing, coughing and sneezing.

Avocado - ? 1/7/2008: Kathleen from Grand Rapids, MI writes: "I was told that avacados are not good for dogs is that true?"

Cherry Pits Can cause respiratory difficulties such as breathing, coughing and sneezing.

Candy containing the sweetener Xylitol: Can cause liver damage and even death.

Chocolate
Although pets should never have any type of chocolate, milk chocolate is not nearly as dangerous for animals as semi-sweet or unsweetened bakers chocolate.  Chocolate poisoning can cause irregular heart rate and rhythm, restlessness, hyperactivity, diarrhea, vomiting, panting, muscle tremors, abdominal pain, bloody urine, increased body temperature, seizures, coma and possibly even death.

Coffee:  Can result in increased breathing and heart rate, restlessness and affects the central nervous system.

Grapes Large amounts of grapes can be poisonous to pets and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, abdominal pain, lack of appetite and kidney damage.

Hops May cause panting, elevated temperature, increased heart rate, seizures and possibly death.

Macadamia Nuts Can cause vomiting, lethargy, hyperthermia, abdominal pain, stiff joints, lameness and tremors.

Moldy Foods Can have varied effects on pets including vomiting and diarrhea.

Mushrooms Different types of mushrooms can have varied effects on pets such as, depression, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, tearing, hallucinations, defecation, liver failure, seizures, drooling, urination, kidney failure, heart damage, hyperactivity and in some cases, death.

Mustard Seeds Can have varied effects on pets.

Onions and Onion Powder Can cause gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting and diarrhea.

Peach Pits Can cause respiratory difficulties such as breathing, coughing and sneezing.

Potato Leaves and Stems: Can cause problems with the digestive, nervous and urinary systems.

Raisins: Large amounts of raisins can be poisonous to pets and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, abdominal pain, lack of appetite and kidney damage.

See Snopes Report for Confirmation: http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/raisins.asp

 

Rhubarb Leaves Can cause problems with the digestive, nervous and urinary systems.

Salt In large quantities can cause electrolyte imbalances.

Tea Can have varied effects in pets.

Tomato Leaves and Stems:  Can cause problems with the digestive, nervous and urinary systems.

Walnuts Can cause gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting and diarrhea, as well as respiratory issues such as sneezing, breathing and coughing.

Yeast Dough Can be dangerous as it will expand and result in gas, pain and possible rupture of the stomach or intestines.

 

NOTE: If you suspect that your pet has been poisoned, contact the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Poison Control Center at 1-888-426-4435.  This is 24 hour a day hotline.  (Note that in some cases a consultation fee may be charged to your credit card.)



QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
ADDITIONAL READER FEEDBACK
REMEDIES TO CURE POISONING IN DOGS




ADDITIONAL READER FEEDBACK

1 YEA   

[YEA]  02/07/2008: cheryl from santa cruz, ca writes: "I read the suggestions about garlic for worms, and i used it on my dog and found no cure and no side effects. But, I was reading an old National Geographic magazine (Oct. 2007) and I came across a list of harmful food for dogs and one of them is garlic. It reads "Garlic breaks down a dog's red blood cells, leading to anemia and possible kidney failure from leaking hemoglobin". And for those of you who are curious.. the list reads on:
1.alcohal-depresses brain function and cause coma.
2.coffee- caffeine in a cup of coffee is a methylxanthine compound that can increase a dog's heart rate and trigger seizures.
3. macadamia nuts- just a couple can cause tremors, and even temporary paralysis in dog's hind legs
4.onions- damages is hemoglubin culmulative, so small tastes over time can be worse than wolfing down the whole bulb.
5. grapes (and that includes raisins)- can cause renal failure.
.. this probably isnt everthing so I hope you read up first before giving your pet something new."


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REMEDIES TO CURE POISONING IN DOGS

2 YEA   

[YEA]  01/27/2008: Wayne from palm springs, california writes: "Hydrogen peroxide. For a dog that has ingested a poisonous substance where vomiting will be the solution to expel the toxin, put 1 tsp' [3%] HP in the mouth.  Take the dog OUTSIDE and throw a pinch of salt in its mouth.  The entire contents of the stomach will be immediately expelled."


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[YEA]  06/13/2007: Angela (kentuckyladya@yahoo.com) from Leitchfeld, kentucky writes: "re: curing poisioning and stomach toxins: I had a full size male doberman pinscher, was poisoned with antifreeze. Tried to take him to the vet, and would not take him said there was nothing they could do. Well being he was my baby i didn't give up. Someone told me to cook bacon, take the grease, a raw egg, and a lemon lime soda, mix it together and force him to eat it, granted he threw up alot, it was bright neon green, but i kept feeding it to him until it was no longer green, then feed him pedialight for dehydration, he lived and is fine today, it seems to force any toxin that is in their system out."

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