Poison For Dogs **********

[amanda622]

Chocolate toxicity
Chocolate contains theobromine, a compound that is a cardiac stimulant and a diuretic.

When affected by an overdose of chocolate, a dog can become excited and hyperactive. Due to the diuretic effect, it may pass large volumes of urine and it will be unusually thirsty. Vomiting and diarrhoea are also common. The effect of theobromine on the heart is the most dangerous effect. Theobromine will either increase the dog’s heart rate or may cause the heart to beat irregularly. Death is quite possible, especially with exercise.

After their pet has eaten a large quantity of chocolate, many pet owners assume their pet is unaffected. However, the signs of sickness may not be seen for several hours, with death following within twenty-four hours.

Cocoa powder and cooking chocolate are the most toxic forms. A 10-kilogram dog can be seriously affected if it eats a quarter of a 250gm packet of cocoa powder or half of a 250gm block of cooking chocolate. These forms of chocolate contain ten times more theobromine than milk chocolate. Thus, a chocolate mud cake could be a real health risk for a small dog. Even licking a substantial part of the chocolate icing from a cake can make a dog unwell.

Semi-sweet chocolate and dark chocolate are the next most dangerous forms, with milk chocolate being the least dangerous. A dog needs to eat more than a 250gm block of milk chocolate to be affected. Obviously, the smaller the dog, the less it needs to eat.


Onion and garlic poisoning
Onions and garlic are other dangerous food ingredients that cause sickness in dogs, cats and also livestock. Onions and garlic contain the toxic ingredient thiosulphate. Onions are more of a danger.

Pets affected by onion toxicity will develop haemolytic anaemia, where the pet’s red blood cells burst while circulating in its body.

At first, pets affected by onion poisoning show gastroenteritis with vomiting and diarrhoea. They will show no interest in food and will be dull and weak. The red pigment from the burst blood cells appears in an affected animal’s urine and it becomes breathless. The breathlessness occurs because the red blood cells that carry oxygen through the body are reduced in number.

The poisoning occurs a few days after the pet has eaten the onion. All forms of onion can be a problem including dehydrated onions, raw onions, cooked onions and table scraps containing cooked onions and/or garlic. Left over pizza, Chinese dishes and commercial baby food containing onion, sometimes fed as a supplement to young pets, can cause illness.

Onion poisoning can occur with a single ingestion of large quantities or with repeated meals containing small amounts of onion. A single meal of 600 to 800 grams of raw onion can be dangerous whereas a ten-kilogram dog, fed 150 grams of onion for several days, is also likely to develop anaemia. The condition improves once the dog is prevented from eating any further onion

While garlic also contains the toxic ingredient thiosulphate, it seems that garlic is less toxic and large amounts would need to be eaten to cause illness.


The danger of macadamia nuts
Macadamia nuts are another concern. A recent paper written by Dr. Ross McKenzie, a Veterinary Pathologist with the Department of Primary Industries, points to the danger of raw and roasted macadamia nuts for pets.

The toxic compound is unknown but the affect of macadamia nuts is to cause locomotory difficulties. Dogs develop a tremor of the skeletal muscles, and weakness or paralysis of the hindquarters. Affected dogs are often unable to rise and are distressed, usually panting. Some affected dogs have swollen limbs and show pain when the limbs are manipulated.

Dogs have been affected by eating as few as six macadamia kernels (nuts without the shell) while others had eaten approximately forty kernels. Some dogs had also been given macadamia butter.

Luckily, the muscle weakness, while painful, seems to be of short duration and all dogs recovered from the toxicity. All dogs were taken to their veterinary surgeon.

Pets owners should not assume that human food is always safe for pets. When it comes to chocolate, onions, garlic and macadamia nuts, such foods should be given in only small quantities, or not at all. Be sure that your pets can’t get into your stash of chocolates, that food scraps are disposed of carefully to prevent onion and garlic toxicity and that your dog is prevented from picking up macadamia nuts if you have a tree in your garden.



Other potential dangers
Pear pips, the kernels of plums, peaches and apricots, apple core pips (contain cyanogenic glycosides resulting in cyanide posioning)
Potato peelings and green looking potatoes
Rhubarb leaves
Mouldy/spoiled foods
Alcohol
Yeast dough
Coffee grounds, beans & tea (caffeine)
Hops (used in home brewing)
Tomato leaves & stems (green parts)
Broccoli (in large amounts)
Raisins and grapes
Cigarettes, tobacco, cigars

[Magnum]

Thanks Amanda622 for posting this. There are some people that think just because they can eat it or drink it, then it must be okay for Fido....Wrong!! I play it safe and not feed my kids any people food at all. It's just not worth losing a loving family member over.

[DachshundDuo]

That's frightening! I knew about the chocolate, but not about the others. My dogs LOVE broccoli and raw potatoes. I guess I have to take that off of theie list of snacks.

Thanks so much for the information!

[cricket]

I've always known that choclate was very bad for a dog. But I didn't know that garlic and onions were. I worked for a breeder who was very well known, throughout the Us and in the dog show circuit. In her days, she had judged the Westminster many times, including the best in show. Like many at her level of expertise she had developed her own home made dog food which included garlic and onion, along with a host of vitamins that included garlic tablets. All her dogs wer happy healthy and lived long lives.

Garlic is a natural form of flea repellant. Giving the tablet or fresh form in they're diet doring the flea season, the taste of the garlic in the dogs blood repels them from biting, and can also be smelled through there skin.

I'm not saying that you are wrong, but only this is what I was taught.

Cricket

[amanda622]

yea cricket i thought the same thing i have those garlic tablet never gave it to them tho

[Sassyblonde]

Thank you thank you thank you for posting this list. There are so many common things that are toxic to animals that you wouldn't expect. We had a dog come into the hospital a couple of weeks ago that had hemolytic anemia, and they discovered that the dog had partaken in a vegetable casserole the night before. I've also been to one to many college house parties where guests think it "funny" to try to get the resident dog drunk. Believe me, they got an EARFULL from me! Thanks again.
-Sassyblonde

[Eve_Ogrod]

Ronnie LOVES tea! I give him little sips all of the time. I need to tell hubby about the alcohal, in college he had an alcohalic wolf...

[Kubrickgal]

I agree that all of the aforementioned are dangers EXCEPT for garlic cloves. Here's a bit of information on them (though not much)

Garlic Cloves: A potent antioxidant that helps to thin the blood, strengthen the heart and maintain good circulation. It contains a natural antibiotic and antiseptic called allicin. It is also known to help protect against cancer.

Now, that being said, garlic is still something that animals should not have a lot of. When used in moderation, or given a smaller amount, this ingredient actually has priceless benefits for animals. But again, you have to know how much to give or it can be harmful.

[Kubrickgal]

Potatoes are also good as long as they're human-grade and fresh, and whole, preferably sweet potatoes. These are a better source of carbohydrates for energy than most other carbs in pet foods (like corn, wheat, soy, gluten, dried beet pulp, etc) which are actually indigestible and potentially harmful (allergens, fillers, dieuretics, etc).

[Kaye]

Stickified.

[krazy4birds]

I give Pepper (TAG) a small portion of peanut butter on the side of his plate about 2-3 times a week. I would say it was about a quarter size around and puffy on top. He just loves it and there have been times that doing the peanut butter with his meds crushed up eal good was the only way he would take them.

[DiegoDog]

I have to watch diego then. Twice he has gotten into alcohol. But I knew that was bad for dogs lol, its bad for anyone.

[amanda622]

i here peanut butter is really good for dogs my dogs love it

[skimanjohn]

I have a mixed scottie,dachy and she loves grapes and has never shown any negative reaction to them.Please inform me of the problem if you can.

[Britta]

Yesterday we found that our siberian husky had eaten an entire tray of fudge. She had thrown up all over the house and continued to throw up throughout the day. It's a miracle she survived I think. She is always eating obscure things such as blankets and belts and pooping them out miraculously. She is constantly giving us a heartattack. Haha