by S.R. Davis

Created on: December 11, 2009   Last Updated: December 12, 2009

There are specific ingredients that should be avoided at all costs when feeding your dog to avoid illness or undesirable reactions.  Some of these ingredients are so toxic that permanent health complications or death can occur.  It is always best to choose food that has been developed specifically for the nutritional needs of canines and usually developed by veterinarians. 

Chocolate, coffee and tea contain caffeine and other toxic substances such as theobromine, which affects the nervous system and the heart muscles.  If enough of these substances are ingested by the dog seizures, coma or death can occur.

Mushrooms are often very dangerous to dogs because of the toxins that affect the dogs different organs causing them to malfunction and then shut down.  This will lead to permanent organ damage and possibly death.

Both garlic and onions contain enough disulfides and sulfoxides to be toxic to dogs and cause anemia by affecting the blood cells.  Since both onion and garlic are used in many other foods it is important not to feed your dog table scraps or human food.

Raw fish is especially toxic to dogs in large quantities or when fed on multiple occasions.  A vitamin deficiency can occur which will lead to shock, coma or death.  Loss of appetite and seizures have also been reported in dogs eating a toxic level of raw fish.

Yeast dough is very dangerous for dogs because once consumed the dough expands and can rupture the intestines of the dog.  For this reason it is recommended not to allow a dog to eat any kinds of bread to prevent injury.

Xylitol is a chemical in artificial sweeteners that will cause liver failure in dogs.  Many diet sodas and foods are made with this sweetener making seemingly healthy foods very unhealthy for a dog.

Raw eggs have been shown to produce skin and coat abnormalities in dogs.  Besides the enzymes which cause a vitamin imbalance, raw eggs also contain salmonellae which can cause the dog to become very ill or is possibly fatal if not treated.

Dairy products are never good for a dog, whether cheese or milk and even ice cream.  These products cannot be properly digested by dogs and will result in diarrhea and other digestive problems.

Both grapes and raisins have been shown to cause severe damage to the kidneys.  The toxic substances in the grapes can cause kidney failure resulting in death if they are ingested on a regular basis.

As tempting as it may be to feed human food to a dog, it is always in the best interest of the dog's health to eat only dog food.  Not only are many of these foods dangerous to dogs but they do not provide the proper nutritional content that specifically formulated dog food does.  The health and longevity of your dog's life depends on following these food rules.

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