20 Things Your Dog Shouldn’t Eat

"People" food and other kitchen hazards
Grapes, raisins, chocolate, artificial food sweeteners containing Xylitol, and macadamia nuts are all considered toxic to dogs.   

It is generally considered safe to feed raw bones to most dogs but avoid cooked bones. They can splinter easily and become lodged in the throat or obstruct the digestive tract, both of which may require surgery to remove. 

Containers of garbage (organic or otherwise) provide an eclectic mix of anything from rancid meat and curdled milk to discarded elastic bands and broken glass. To you, it’s garbage. To Sparky, it’s a smorgasbord of delights to be chewed up and swallowed. Keep all garbage containers safely sealed.     

Many popular household cleaning products contain ingredients such as bleach, ammonia, glycol ether, and formaldehyde. These chemicals have been linked to cancer, anemia, and liver and kidney damage when ingested or, in some cases, inhaled. Check ingredients carefully and keep these products stored in a secure location where your dog can’t possibly reach. Consider replacing them with “natural” alternatives if possible.     

Other household toxins
Antifreeze, commonly used in winter for vehicles, is very sweet-tasting to animals but can deadly if ingested even in tiny amounts. Insecticides, herbicides, rodenticides (bait to kill mice and other rodents), and even some popular fertilizers and other lawn treatments can also be toxic to dogs. Read labels carefully, keep containers tightly sealed, and store all of these products in a safe place.

Plants - outside and inside the home
Many plants can be dangerous to a dog’s health. Lillies, tulip bulbs, azalea, poinsettia, and chrysanthemum are just a few popular types that can be toxic to a dog. For a list of plants that your dog shouldn’t eat, check out 17 Common Posionours Plants by ASPCA.

If a favoured plant is on this list and you simply can’t give it up, place it in a location that is inaccessible to your dog such as atop a tall cabinet or in a hanger. 

Medicine cabinet
Over-the-counter or prescription medication, human or veterinary, can wreak havoc if they fall into the wrong paws and ingested without doctor’s orders.

Avoid overdosing your dog with any veterinary medication by reading the label carefully and asking your veterinarian for clarification if necessary. Pay special attention to any meds - human or animal - that are flavoured for palatability as these can be particularly difficult for a dog to resist. Keep all medication stored far, far away from Sparky’s reach.

Things that defy categorization
Shoes, socks, remote controls, plastic bags, kitty litter... all of these things, and many more, can create digestive tract obstructions.