Many foods that are perfectly safe for us to eat ourselves can cause problems in dogs and some treats that are supposed to be made for dogs can actually be harmful in certain individuals. Below is a list of the most common treats
that are likely to be troublesome, followed by a more detailed description of each one individually. Some of these cause only minor problems; others can be extremely dangerous.
- Chocolate
- Rich, fatty foods
- Dairy products
- Onions
- Alcoholic beverages
- Over-eating in general
- Beware of the candy dish
Chocolate
The toxicity of chocolate is dose-dependent; in other words, a large dog eating a small amount of chocolate is not likely to have any trouble. However, a small dog eating a large amount of chocolate may become seriously ill or even die. Baker's chocolate (pure, unsweetened chocolate or cocoa powder) is the most dangerous.
Chocolate to which milk or other ingredients have been added is less toxic. The toxic substance which chocolate contains is called theobromine,
a compound which is very similar to caffeine. Smaller quantities of chocolate may cause only a little hyperactivity, similar to what we might experience if we drank a bit too much coffee. In toxic quantities, chocolate causes vomiting, rapid and sometimes irregular heartbeats, muscle tremors, and even death.
The amounts of chocolate that are toxic are as follows: (1) for milk chocolate, approximately 1 oz. per pound body weight is toxic; (2) for bakers chocolate, only 1/10 oz. per pound is toxic. There are also individual variations among dogs. In addition to the toxicity of the theobromine in chocolate, the foods in which chocolate is found tend to be rich in fat. Excessively fatty foods are prone to cause pancreatitis, a serious, sometimes life-threatening inflammation of the pancreas, which is the organ that produces digestive enzymes and also contains the cells that produce insulin. Even if a dog survives an attack of pancreatitis, long term sequellae may include digestive enzyme deficiency and/or diabetes (in which high blood sugar is caused by a lack of insulin).
If your dog does eat chocolate-containing foods or candy, first find out the kind of chocolate that was consumed (i.e. pure dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or chocolate flavored bakedgoods). If you feel comfortable estimating the toxic amount for your particular dog and believe that the dog consumed significantly less than a toxic amount, you may not need to do anything other than monitor for minor GI upsetscommon with any abrupt change of diet. However, if there is any doubt as to the content of the chocolate in the food, or you are unsure of your calculations, consult your vet, an emergency hospital, or the Animal Poison ControlCenter as soon as possible. If the chocolate was consumed within the past hour, it might help to induce vomiting, but consult your vet first. Earlier consumption might require intensive treatment at an emergency facility. If your dog is showing signs of agitation, heavy panting, muscle tremors, vomiting, hyperactivity, or even marked lethargy, consult a veterinarian right away.
Rich Fatty Foods
Rich, fatty foods, such as turkey skin, bacon, sausages, hot dogs, fruit cake, plum pudding, or deep-fried foods can be quite dangerous to dogs susceptible to attacks of pancreatitis. Often you may not know that your dog is susceptible
until he is very sick with his first attack. As breed predispositions go, it is often the smaller, more energetic breeds like miniature or toy poodles, cocker spaniels, miniature schauzers, and other small terrier-type dogs who seem particularly prone. However, any dog may have a problem. It is best to avoid these foods altogether. Signs of pancreatitis generally include an acute onset of vomiting (sometimes with diarrhea) and abdominal pain, which may be evidenced as a hunched posture or "splinting" of the abdomen when picked up. The dog may become very sick quickly and often needs intensive fluid and antibiotic therapy.
Dairy Products
Dairy products are not generally dangerous, unless they contain a lot of fat, but they are usually digested poorly by both dogs and cats, who have little or none of the enzyme required to digest the lactose
in milk. Just like lactose-intolerant people, lactose-intolerant dogs can develop excessive intestinal gas (flatulence) and may have foul-smelling diarrhea. It is best to avoid most dairy products altogether, although small amounts of cheese or plain yogurt are tolerated by most dogs, since these products have less lactose than most.
Onions
Most people do not realize that onions can actually be toxic to dogs and cats (especially cats) when consumed in large quantities. There was an article in a prominent veterinary journal several years ago about a cat that actually
died from eating onion soup (which has a high concentration of onions in it)! Small amounts of onion are not a problem for most animals, but large quantities cause some changes in the red blood cells (which are the blood cells that
carry oxygen) such that they cannot perform their usual function. The individual cells acquire a structural defect called Heinz bodies that make the body think the cells are defective and remove them from circulation. The resulting
anemia (=deficiency in oxygen-carrying red blood cells) is called Heinz body anemia. Another reason not to give onions is that the foods that contain them are often rich and fatty (e.g. fried onion rings, onion gravy, turkey stuffing with
onions) and rich foods may bring on an attack of pancreatitis [see Rich, Fatty Foods above].
Alcoholic Beverages
It may seem odd to include these in our list of treats, but you would be surprised to know the number of dogs who manage to drink these beverages, either because some well-meaning owner thinks it is "cute" to offer a holiday drink
to their dog or because some thieving little canine has stolen a few laps from a drink left on the coffee table! One vet’s very own Labrador retriever, years ago, drank an entire Kalhua and Cream at a staff Christmas party and slept through the entire party. Although alcohol itself is not particularly toxic to dogs (except in really excessive amounts), their tolerance to its effects is very low. Pound for pound, a dog gets "drunk" on far less alcohol than a human of the same weight. It is wise to exercise caution when consuming alcoholic beverages around pets.
Over-Eating in General
The holiday "pig out" is not just confined to people. There are many instances of dogs doing the same thing, either because some owners want their dogs to have their share of holiday goodies or because the dogs have stolen some
goodies of their own. As discussed above, some of these goodies are rich enough to cause pancreatitis in susceptible individuals. However, overeating, coupled with excitement, exercise, and/or excessive water drinking, can cause a life-threatening condition (primarily, but not exclusively in large breed dogs) called "gastric dilatation and volvulus" syndrome, known more commonly as "Bloat." You should learn the symptoms, so that you can call an emergency facility IMMEDIATELY if you see the symptoms.
Typical signs of bloat are:
- A distended abdomen, which, when thumped with a finger, sounds like a tight, air-filled drum
- Intense abdominal discomfort (possibly seen initially as a very "preoccupied" look on the dog's face)
- Non-productive retching or vomiting
- A rapid development of severe weakness and shock.
This is a rapidly lifethreatening emergency. You MUST contact your veterinarian or emergency clinic IMMEDIATELY.
The Candy Dish on the Coffee Table
Last, but not least, do NOT leave candy dishes on the coffee table! Even small dogs are very creative in figuring out ways to get on a low table and decimate the candy supply. If some of this candy is chocolate, this can be a very dangerous
situation (see above). Even nuts, although not toxic, can cause a pretty severe (or at least messy) GI upset from the change in the dog's regular diet. Use common sense when leaving out dishes and trays of food. Never underestimate
your dog's ability to ferret out food when given half a chance!!