Human foods you should NOT feed your dog

Chocolate Keep those uneaten Easter eggs out of reach! Chocolate

contains theobromine and caffeine which dogs are sensitive to.

The darkerand more bitter the chocolate, the more toxic it is.

What will it do? It acts on the nervous system

(hyperexcitability, tremors, seizures), gastrointestinal system

(vomiting, diarrhoea) and heart (increased rate and abnormal rhythm). Increased thirst, urination

and lethargy may also be seen. Death can follow if a toxic dose is eaten.

What can be done? Induction of vomiting if recently ingested. Severe cases with delayed veterinary

care may require supportive treatment to control tremors, support heart function and flush and bind

the toxins (intravenous fluids, assisted bladder emptying, medications).

Onions, garlic Check your table scraps! These flavoursome additions to our

food can be harmful to our pets. Garlic is more potent than onion

and concentrated onion and garlic powdered products are more

potent than the raw vegetables. Too much of these can cause

damage to your dog’s red blood cells.

What happens? It can cause anaemia (low red blood cells), increased respiratory and heart rate,

pale gums, depression and lethargy.

What can we do? Induction of vomiting if recently eaten, binding and flushing with certain

medications and provision of anti-oxidant therapy. Blood transfusions and supplemental oxygen

might be necessary in severe cases.

Grapes and raisins Some dogs have a bad reaction to these vine-grown fruits so are

best avoided. They can cause kidney damage.

What will happen? Within 24 hours – vomiting, inappetence,

diarrhoea, lethargy, abdominal pain. Kidney failure may progress

days to weeks later.

How can we treat this? If recently eaten, vomiting is induced and binding medications, intravenous

fluids and gastric protectants will be supportive. Blood tests are necessary to assess kidney function.

Macadamia nuts These native Australian nuts, both raw and cooked, are toxic to dogs.

What signs will I see? Macadamias affect the nervous system, joints and

muscles causing limb weakness, depression, joint pain and swelling and

sometimes vomiting and fever.

What do we do if my dog does indeed eat some macadamia nuts? Induction of vomiting if the nuts

were recently eaten and binding agents, enemas and supportive care (pain relief, intravenous fluids)

are provided as necessary. Symptoms generally resolve over 24-48 hours.

Mouldy food Mouldy foods contain mycotoxins in various amounts and potencies.

Signs seen include: muscle tremors and convulsions

What can be done to treat this? Induction of vomiting, medications

that attempt to bind the toxins, anti-seizure medication and other

supportive care.

Raw bread dough Once in their belly, the dough will continue to rise to several times its

original size and produce alcohol and gas during fermentation.

What you might notice: gastrointestinal impact and alcohol poisoning

will cause varying degrees of abdominal pain, bloating,

vomiting/retching (productive or unproductive), incoordination,

depression and collapse. Bowel obstruction and dilation may occur

and twisting might follow (gastric dilitaion and volvulus (GDV)).

What can we do? Induction of vomiting might help if recently eaten.

Cold water might be used to flush the stomach and slow the rising of the dough. Intravenous fluids,

abdominal surgery, heat therapy and close monitoring can be necessary.

Dairy products including cheese, milk, cream, ice cream, butter and

yoghurt Some dogs are more sensitive to dairy products than others. They may be sensitive to lactose and/or

various dairy proteins.

What will we see? Diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal pain may be seen. Allergic reactions are also

possible and may cause the above gastrointestinal signs as well as skin problems (itchyness, rashes

etc).

What should we do? If any of the above signs are noticed,

stop feeding dairy products to your dog and see your vet for

symptomatic treatment.

High-fat foods No, I would not like fries with that! Oily foods, fatty meats

and fat off-cuts, marrow bones (with marrow fat within the

bones exposed), full-fat dairy products and baked goods can all cause problems in your dog.

What will happen? Ongoing dietary inclusions of these foods can cause weight gain and subsequent

liver, joint, metabolic and various other conditions. Sudden ingestion of large quantities can lead to

gastrointestinal upset and pancreatitis (bloating, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, depression,

lethargy, collapse).

What should be done? Stop feeding these foods and seek veterinary care. Vomiting may be induced

if recently ingested and supportive care may be necessary if there are gastrointestinal and

pancreatic signs. Pancreatitis can be a life-threatening condition in dogs.

Bones Cooked bones are a definite no-no. These shatter when

eaten and can lead to gastrointestinal injury,

perforations and blockages.

Raw bones can potentially cause problems if your dog

ingests large quantities of the bone (blockages can

occur) and dental problems such as fractured teeth may

be seen.

How do I know if there is a problem? Your dog might

vomit, show signs of abdominal pain, depression,

weakness, fever and have diarrhoea or constipation.

Your dog might strain to pass faeces and any faeces passed may be dark brown-black or contain

streaks of blood and possibly shards of cooked bone.

How can we help? Depending on what signs your dog is showing, imaging (xrays, ultrasound,

endoscope), blood tests, abdominal surgery and enemas (liquid and/or manual) may be necessary.

Various gastrointestinal medications may be provided by your vet along with intravenous fluids, pain

relief and antibiotics.

Contact your local vet if you suspect/know that your dog has eaten any of these foods. Please do not

medicate your pet without seeking veterinary advice first.