With holiday meals fast approaching, November is the perfect month to brush up on the foods in your kitchen that may pose a risk to your dog’s health. Many of the foods that can make your dog ill are far more common than you might think. Some of these are potentially fatal to a dog, so knowing which ones are the riskiest will help you keep your kitchen safe.
In this article, we will discuss five of the most harmful foods and a brief explanation of what symptoms they cause in a dog. Some of these foods might seem like something your dog would have no interest in. However, foods like onions and grapes/raisins are often hidden in prepared foods that otherwise taste great to your pup.
Also, if your dog is prone to raiding the trash can, you might assess how you’ve prepared your apartment. When dogs get into trash, they assume an eat first and ask questions later mentality. Many dogs are not discerning when it comes to trash can raids and may inadvertently ingest something harmful.
Grapes
Grapes have been on the no-go list for dogs for the past few decades. This is due mainly to reports of kidney failure after ingesting them. These reports detail fairly severe illness immediately after ingesting even a few grapes. Symptoms included vomiting, listlessness and signs of kidney failure including excessive urination with high protein content.
However, some research has found conflicting evidence. One report found that extracts of grape and blueberries were well tolerated by dogs. The report found that grape extract did not induce any measurable loss of kidney function. This indicates that if grapes are indeed harmful to dogs that it may be something other than the soluble chemicals found in the fruit.
We recommend keeping them away from your dogs to be on the safe side.
Xylitol
Xylitol is a sugar substitute found in some candies, chewing gum and dental products. Its taste is sweet like sugar, but is less calorically dense. It also has the ability to slow bacterial growth since most bacteria are incapable of digesting xylitol. This is why xylitol is used in many dental products.
Unfortunately for us dog owners, xylitol comes packaged in tasty sweet products like chewing gum. If left out, these could pose an irresistible temptation for a dog.
So what happens when a dog eats products containing xylitol? Essentially, the sugar induces a release of insulin many times greater than other sugars like glucose or sucrose. High circulating insulin draws sugars into the tissues, triggering a sudden drop in serum blood sugar also known as hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia can present as shakiness, unusual behavior and weakness. At higher doses, xylitol can induce outright liver failure. Either of these symptoms can be quite dangerous for your pup. If you even suspect that he/she got into something containing xylitol, it’s time to head to the veterinarian.
Onions
Onions are a kitchen staple, and find their way into dozens of different dishes. What is Thanksgiving stuffing without the flavor of onions? With these pungent veggies in use in the kitchen, there is a significant risk that your dog might get into them.
Onions induce a condition called hemolytic anemia in dogs, where in your dog’s body starts to destroy its own red blood cells. Some research has shown that gut bacteria contribute to the development of hemolytic anemia from onions. They do this by metabolizing compounds in onions into more toxic forms in the gut.
Hemolytic anemia is a serious condition in dogs. Signs of this condition include pale oral mucosa and weakness or tiring out easily. If the conditions progresses, the breakdown of red blood cells causes bilirubin to build up in the body. This leads to jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes) and dark Coca Cola-colored urine. These are signs of a serious condition. If you dog shows these signs consult your vet immediately.
Be mindful of foods that contain high amounts of onions as well as the scraps that make it into the garbage or fall on the kitchen floor.
Alcohol
Alcohol is easy to understand as a toxin because it affects dogs the same way that it affects humans. The main risk is that many humans overestimate the amount that dogs can ingest before getting sick.
Reasoning this out comes down to volumes and percentages. For the average human, it might take two drinks in an hour to reach the legal limit to drive in most states. This is roughly .08% alcohol by volume (ABV). So, let’s say one beer gets a 180lb person to about 0.4% ABV. A dog that weighs 40lbs is roughly ¼ the weight of a 180lb human. This means that the same beer might bring the dog to an ABV roughly four times as much, roughly 1.6%.
If you have ever seen a human with an ABV of 1.6% you have seen the toxic effects of alcohol first hand. Slurred speech and poor coordination highlight the toxic effects have on the brain. In particular, alcohol effects the cerebellum, the region of the brain that coordinates movement. Acute intoxication in your dog may present as your dog being unable to walk or coordinate movements.
Acute intoxication by alcohol also damages the liver and can induce a toxic form of hepatitis.
Other signs of acute alcohol toxicity in dogs include listlessness, inability to wake or get up and drooling.
Beer, sweet cocktails and wine are tempting to some dogs. If left unattended a dog can drink far more alcohol than their system can tolerate. It is important to keep alcoholic beverages well out of reach of dogs.
Chocolate
Chocolate is a well-known toxins to dogs. With the holidays nearing, chocolates may start to show up around the house posing a risk for your pup.
Theobromine is one of the active compounds in cacao beans. Some chocolates, particular dark chocolates contain high levels of theobromine. Theobromine effects dogs quite differently than humans. It affects a dog’s digestive system, inducing nausea and GI upset. Theobromine is also stimulating to a dog’s heart causing a rapid heart rate. Theobromine also impacts a dog’s central nervous system. It can cause seizure-like conditions if eaten in sufficient quantities.
With holiday meals fast approaching, this is the time of year to be aware of those foods that can be harmful to your dog. Social distancing may force your celebrations to be quite small this year. While you may revel in sharing holidays with just your pup, it may be more difficult to keep an eye on him/her.
If you suspect your dog got into anything harmful, or if he/she is acting unusual or displaying symptoms, consult your veterinarian right away.
Disclaimer: This post is not intended as a substitute for direct, personalized medical advice from a trained and licensed veterinarian. This post is merely for your own entertainment and education. If you suspect your dog has ingested a harmful substance, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.