20 Toxic Foods to Dogs and Cats
Common Foods that are Toxic to dogs and cats, can be poisonous at different levels, and may cause death.
This page may contain affiliate links. Click here to read my affiliate policy.
The majority of us are guilty of tossing our pet a tasty morsel, and of course – they gobble it up. Unfortunately – foods we eat can be toxic and poisonous to our pets – in some cases can make them seriously ill, and might actually kill them.
As a child, I had a Cocker Spaniel, and I remember many, many times I shared my food with my dog. She was my best friend and I did everything with her. We’d lay in the backyard and if I was eating a popsicle – I’d take a lick and she’d take a lick. If I was eating an Oreo cookie – I’d open it up and we took turns licking the cream filling.
Did she ever get sick? No. But foods are different today than they were 30 years ago. The environment is different. ‘Things’ are in food today that weren’t there when I was a child. Even though my dog – at that time – didn’t get sick, there are certain core foods that are dangerous to dogs and cats, and some will kill them if immediate medical attention is not given.
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 a 24 hour a day hotline. (In some cases a consultation fee may be charged to your credit card.)
Here’s a list of foods that are toxic, to some degree to cats and dogs and should be avoided:
| 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 | Apple Seeds can have varied effects on pets, and none of them are good. |
| Apricot Pits | Apricot Pits can cause respiratory difficulties such as breathing, coughing and sneezing. |
| Cherry Pits | Cherry Pits can cause respiratory difficulties such as breathing, coughing and sneezing. |
| Candy or Gum | Candy or Gum - especially Sugarless Gum containing the sweetener Xylitol: can cause liver damage and 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 | 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 will cause vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, abdominal pain, lack of appetite and ultimately, kidney damage. |
| Hops | Hops may cause panting, elevated temperature, increased heart rate, seizures and possibly death. Beer contains Hops. If you have Hops growing in your garden - be sure to fence off so your pet can't access. |
| Macadamia Nuts | Macadamia Nuts may cause vomiting, lethargy, hyperthermia, abdominal pain, stiff joints, lameness and tremors. |
| Moldy Foods | Foods that are Moldy may 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 | Mustard Seeds can have varied ill effects on pets. |
| Onions | Onions and Onion Power may cause gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting and diarrhea. |
| Peach Pits | Peach Pits may cause respiratory difficulties such as breathing, coughing and sneezing. |
| Potato Leaves | Potato Leaves and Stems may cause problems with the digestive, nervous and urinary systems. If you have potatoes growing in your garden - be sure to block access to pets. |
| Raisins | Large amounts of Raisins can be toxic to pets and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, abdominal pain, lack of appetite and kidney damage. |
| Rhubarb Leaves | Rhubarb Leaves may cause problems with the digestive, nervous and urinary systems. |
| Salt | In large quantities Salt will cause electrolyte imbalances. |
| Tea | Tea will have varied effects in pets, may cause slight nausea to kidney damage. |
| Tomato Leaves | Tomato Leaves and Stems will cause problems with the digestive, nervous and urinary systems. |
| Walnuts | Walnuts usually cause gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting and diarrhea, as well as respiratory issues such as sneezing, breathing and coughing. |
| Yeast Dough | Yeast Dough is dangerous because it will expand and result in gas, pain and possible rupture of the stomach or intestines. |
Connect: