Items to avoid |
Reasons to avoid |
Alcoholic beverages
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Can cause intoxication, coma, and death.
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Baby food
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Can contain onion powder, which can be toxic to dogs. (Please see onion below.) Can also result in nutritional deficiencies, if fed in large amounts.
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Bones from fish, poultry, or other meat sources
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Can cause obstruction or laceration of the digestive system.
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Cat food
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Generally too high in protein and fats.
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Chocolate, coffee, tea, and other caffeine
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Contain caffeine, theobromine, or theophylline, which can be toxic and affect the heart and nervous systems.
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Citrus oil extracts
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Can cause vomiting.
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Fat trimmings
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Can cause pancreatitis.
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Grapes and raisins
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Contain an unknown toxin, which can damage the kidneys. There have been no problems associated with grape seed extract.
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Hops
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Unknown compound causes panting, increased heart rate, elevated temperature, seizures, and death.
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Human vitamin supplements containing iron
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Can damage the lining of the digestive system and be toxic to the other organs including the liver and kidneys.
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Large amounts of liver
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Can cause Vitamin A toxicity, which affects muscles and bones.
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Macadamia nuts
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Contain an unknown toxin, which can affect the digestive and nervous systems and muscle.
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Marijuana
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Can depress the nervous system, cause vomiting, and changes in the heart rate.
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Milk and other dairy products
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Some adult dogs and cats do not have sufficient amounts of the enzyme lactase, which breaks down the lactose in milk. This can result in diarrhea. Lactose-free milk products are available for pets.
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Moldy or spoiled food, garbage
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Can contain multiple toxins causing vomiting and diarrhea and can also affect other organs.
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Mushrooms
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Can contain toxins, which may affect multiple systems in the body, cause shock, and result in death.
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Onions and garlic (raw, cooked, or powder)
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Contain sulfoxides and disulfides, which can damage red blood cells and cause anemia. Cats are more susceptible than dogs. Garlic is less toxic than onions.
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Persimmons
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Seeds can cause intestinal obstruction and enteritis.
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Pits from peaches and plums
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Can cause obstruction of the digestive tract.
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Potato, rhubarb, and tomato leaves; potato and tomato stems
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Contain oxalates, which can affect the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems. This is more of a problem in livestock.
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Raw eggs
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Contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin). This can lead to skin and hair coat problems. Raw eggs may also contain Salmonella.
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Raw fish
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Can result in a thiamine (a B vitamin) deficiency leading to loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death. More common if raw fish is fed regularly.
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Salt
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If eaten in large quantities it may lead to electrolyte imbalances.
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String
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Can become trapped in the digestive system; called a “string foreign body.”
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Sugary foods
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Can lead to obesity, dental problems, and possibly diabetes mellitus.
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Table scraps (in large amounts)
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Table scraps are not nutritionally balanced. They should never be more than 10% of the diet. Fat should be trimmed from meat; bones should not be fed.
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Tobacco
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Contains nicotine, which affects the digestive and nervous systems. Can result in rapid heart beat, collapse, coma, and death.
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Yeast dough
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Can expand and produce gas in the digestive system, causing pain and possible rupture of the stomach or intestines.
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