Years ago, I knew about only a few substances that could be
toxic to dogs. Internet research has taught me that there are many (many!)
substances that can be toxic to dogs. So far, I've found that the following are
dangerous and, many times, deadly!
Flouride –
Flouride can cause many nutritionally-oriented problems, according to Cusick. I filter our drinking water, and Valentina's
drinking water with Zero Water in the US to eliminate the flouride. In Mexico,
we all drink bottled water. Our neighborhood in Mexico has its own wells,
though, and I understand that although there is no fluoride put in the water,
there is still chlorine added .
Vitamin C -- Unlike humans, dogs make their own Vitamin C in the liver. It is interesting that many dog foods use ascorbic acid as a preservative, just because it is cheap! According to Cusick, supplemental Vitamin C can aggravate skeletal disease in labrador retrievers, cause an imbalance in the pH in dog's kidneys, affect the use of other essential nutrients, can cause the liver to stop working as it should.
POISONOUS HOUSEHOLD PLANTS
Lillies -- Can cause kidney damage
Marijuana -- Depresses the central nervous system causing incoordination as well as vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, increased heart rate, and even seizures and coma.
Sago Palm -- All parts of Cyas Revoluta are poisonous, but the seeds or nuts have the most toxin. Ingestion of one or two seeds can do serious damage: vomiting, diarrhea, depression seizures, and liver failure.
Bulbs -- tulips narcissus (daffodils, paperwhites, etc.), -- Gastrointestinal irritation, drooling, loss of appetite, depression of central nervous system, convulsions and cardiac abnormalities.
Azalea/ Rhododendron -- Contain gryantoxins, which cause vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, weakness, depression of the central nervous system in animals. In severe cases: coma and death from cardiovascular collapse.
Oleander -- Contain cardiac glycosides: gastrointestinal irritation, abnormal heart function, hypothermia, and death.
Castor Bean -- Contains ricin, a highly toxic protein that can cause severe abdominal pain, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, weakness and loss of appetite. Severe cases can result in dehydration, muscle twitching, tremors, seizures, coma and death.
Cyclamen -- Contain cyclamine, with the highest concentration in the roots. Can produce significant gastrointestinal distress, intense vomiting, and in some cases death.
Kalanchoe -- Can cause gastrointestinal irritation, can seriously affest cardiac rhythm and rate.
Can cause gastrointestinal irritation, can seriously affest cardiac rhythm and rate.
Yew -- Affects the central nervous system. Causes trembling, incoordination, difficulty breathing, as well as significant gastrointestinal irritation, cardiac failure, death.
Amaryllis -- Can cause vomiting, depression, diarrhea, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, anorexia, tremors.
Autumn Crocus -- Cause oral irritation, bloody vomiting, diarrhea, shock, multi-organ damage and bone marrow suppression.
Chrysanthemum -- Cause gastrointestinal upset, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, loss of coordination.
Ivy -- English Ivy, brnching ivy, glacier ivy, needlepoint ivy, sweetheart ivy, California ivy -- can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, and diarrhea.
Peace Lily -- Causes oral irritaion, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty in swallowing, intense burning and irritation of the mouth, lips and tongue.
Pothos -- causes mechanical irritation and swelling of the oral tissues and other parts of the gastrointestinal tract.
Schefflera and brassaia actinophylla -- Contain calcium oxalate crystals that can cause oral irritation (mouth, lips, tongue), excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty in swallowing, and intense burning.
Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane) -- With its broad variegated leaves, the dieffenbachia is often recommended as an ideal houseplant for natural air purification.
Poinsettias --
Aloe -- if you choose to have one in your home, be sure it's well out of your dog's reach. When eaten, it not only burns the mouth and throat but causes the esophagus to swell, potentially blocking the dog's airway.
Ferns
FOODS
Chocolate -- Theobromine in chocolate is toxic to dogs. Chocolate and cocoa contain a chemical called theobromide that can adversely affect the heart, lungs, kidney and central nervous system. Pure baking chocolate is most toxic, while milk chocolate requires a higher quantity to cause harm. A 20 pound dog can be poisoned after consuming about 2 ounces of baking chocolate, but it would take nearly 20 ounces of milk chocolate to cause harm. Ingestion of cacao bean mulch can also be toxic. Signs include excitement, tremors, seizures, vomiting, diarrhea, abnormal heart rate/rhythm, drunken gait, hyperthermia and coma. Your vet may induce vomiting or perform gastric lavage. Treatment includes administration of activated charcoal and aggressive supportive care with fluid therapy and medications.
Peach Pits -- (This one I do not understand. Cusick suggests giving an apple core to a dog as a treat. Apple cores are supposed to be a wonderful treat for dogs. ) Apple seeds , by the way, are believed to be poisonous to humans because apple seeds contain B-17. (This is true for bitter apricot pits, bitter almonds, etc. In the molecule, there is cyanide LOCKED INTO the molecule. According to Griffin, in his book A World Without Cancer, the cyanide does not unlock unless it encounters a rogue cancer cell, in which case, it unlocks and attacks it. There is a very interesting video about this on YouTube, also entitled A World Without Cancer.
Grapes and raisins -- Can cause irreversible damage to the kidneys, possible resulting in death. Ingesting as few as 4-5 grapes or raisins can be poisonous to a 20 pound dog, though the exact toxic dose is not established. Signs of toxicity include vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, abdominal pain, decreased urine production (possibly leading to lack of urine production), weakness and drunken gait. Onset of signs typically occurs within 24 hours (though they can start just a few hours after consumption). Your vet may start by inducing vomiting, or the stomach might be pumped (gastric lavage). Treatment involves aggressive supportive care - particularly fluid therapy and medications.
Onions -- Onions can cause a form of hemolytic anemia called Heinz body anemia, a condition that causes the destruction of red blood cells. Kidney damage may follow. Toxicity may occur from similar foods such as garlic (I’m not sure, but I believe I have heard that raw garlic is toxic and cooked garlic is okay.) and chives. It is not clear what quantity of onions is poisonous, but the effects can be cumulative. Poisoning can result from raw, cooked and dehydrated forms. Avoid feeding table scraps and any foods cooked with onions (including some baby foods). Check your ingredients! Signs are anemia, such as pale gums, rapid heart rate, weakness and lethargy. Other signs include vomiting, diarrhea, and bloody urine. Treatment: blood transfusions and/or oxygen administration may be necessary, followed by specific fluid therapy.
Caffeine -- Caffeine is quite similar to the toxic chemical in chocolate. It can damage the heart, lungs, kidney and central nervous system.Commons sources of toxicity include caffeine pills, coffee beans and coffee, large amounts of tea, and chocolate.Signs typically begin with restlessness, hyperactivity and vomiting. These can be followed by panting, weakness, drunken gait increased heart rate, muscle tremors and convulsions.Your vet may induce vomiting or perform gastric lavage. Treatment includes administration of activated charcoal and supportive care with fluid therapy and medications.
Vitamin C -- Unlike humans, dogs make their own Vitamin C in the liver. It is interesting that many dog foods use ascorbic acid as a preservative, just because it is cheap! According to Cusick, supplemental Vitamin C can aggravate skeletal disease in labrador retrievers, cause an imbalance in the pH in dog's kidneys, affect the use of other essential nutrients, can cause the liver to stop working as it should.
POISONOUS HOUSEHOLD PLANTS
Lillies -- Can cause kidney damage
Marijuana -- Depresses the central nervous system causing incoordination as well as vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, increased heart rate, and even seizures and coma.
Sago Palm -- All parts of Cyas Revoluta are poisonous, but the seeds or nuts have the most toxin. Ingestion of one or two seeds can do serious damage: vomiting, diarrhea, depression seizures, and liver failure.
Bulbs -- tulips narcissus (daffodils, paperwhites, etc.), -- Gastrointestinal irritation, drooling, loss of appetite, depression of central nervous system, convulsions and cardiac abnormalities.
Azalea/ Rhododendron -- Contain gryantoxins, which cause vomiting, drooling, diarrhea, weakness, depression of the central nervous system in animals. In severe cases: coma and death from cardiovascular collapse.
Oleander -- Contain cardiac glycosides: gastrointestinal irritation, abnormal heart function, hypothermia, and death.
Castor Bean -- Contains ricin, a highly toxic protein that can cause severe abdominal pain, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, weakness and loss of appetite. Severe cases can result in dehydration, muscle twitching, tremors, seizures, coma and death.
Cyclamen -- Contain cyclamine, with the highest concentration in the roots. Can produce significant gastrointestinal distress, intense vomiting, and in some cases death.
Kalanchoe -- Can cause gastrointestinal irritation, can seriously affest cardiac rhythm and rate.
Can cause gastrointestinal irritation, can seriously affest cardiac rhythm and rate.
Yew -- Affects the central nervous system. Causes trembling, incoordination, difficulty breathing, as well as significant gastrointestinal irritation, cardiac failure, death.
Amaryllis -- Can cause vomiting, depression, diarrhea, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, anorexia, tremors.
Autumn Crocus -- Cause oral irritation, bloody vomiting, diarrhea, shock, multi-organ damage and bone marrow suppression.
Chrysanthemum -- Cause gastrointestinal upset, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, depression, loss of coordination.
Ivy -- English Ivy, brnching ivy, glacier ivy, needlepoint ivy, sweetheart ivy, California ivy -- can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, and diarrhea.
Peace Lily -- Causes oral irritaion, excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty in swallowing, intense burning and irritation of the mouth, lips and tongue.
Pothos -- causes mechanical irritation and swelling of the oral tissues and other parts of the gastrointestinal tract.
Schefflera and brassaia actinophylla -- Contain calcium oxalate crystals that can cause oral irritation (mouth, lips, tongue), excessive drooling, vomiting, difficulty in swallowing, and intense burning.
Dieffenbachia (Dumb Cane) -- With its broad variegated leaves, the dieffenbachia is often recommended as an ideal houseplant for natural air purification.
Poinsettias --
Aloe -- if you choose to have one in your home, be sure it's well out of your dog's reach. When eaten, it not only burns the mouth and throat but causes the esophagus to swell, potentially blocking the dog's airway.
Ferns
FOODS
Chocolate -- Theobromine in chocolate is toxic to dogs. Chocolate and cocoa contain a chemical called theobromide that can adversely affect the heart, lungs, kidney and central nervous system. Pure baking chocolate is most toxic, while milk chocolate requires a higher quantity to cause harm. A 20 pound dog can be poisoned after consuming about 2 ounces of baking chocolate, but it would take nearly 20 ounces of milk chocolate to cause harm. Ingestion of cacao bean mulch can also be toxic. Signs include excitement, tremors, seizures, vomiting, diarrhea, abnormal heart rate/rhythm, drunken gait, hyperthermia and coma. Your vet may induce vomiting or perform gastric lavage. Treatment includes administration of activated charcoal and aggressive supportive care with fluid therapy and medications.
Peach Pits -- (This one I do not understand. Cusick suggests giving an apple core to a dog as a treat. Apple cores are supposed to be a wonderful treat for dogs. ) Apple seeds , by the way, are believed to be poisonous to humans because apple seeds contain B-17. (This is true for bitter apricot pits, bitter almonds, etc. In the molecule, there is cyanide LOCKED INTO the molecule. According to Griffin, in his book A World Without Cancer, the cyanide does not unlock unless it encounters a rogue cancer cell, in which case, it unlocks and attacks it. There is a very interesting video about this on YouTube, also entitled A World Without Cancer.
Grapes and raisins -- Can cause irreversible damage to the kidneys, possible resulting in death. Ingesting as few as 4-5 grapes or raisins can be poisonous to a 20 pound dog, though the exact toxic dose is not established. Signs of toxicity include vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, abdominal pain, decreased urine production (possibly leading to lack of urine production), weakness and drunken gait. Onset of signs typically occurs within 24 hours (though they can start just a few hours after consumption). Your vet may start by inducing vomiting, or the stomach might be pumped (gastric lavage). Treatment involves aggressive supportive care - particularly fluid therapy and medications.
Onions -- Onions can cause a form of hemolytic anemia called Heinz body anemia, a condition that causes the destruction of red blood cells. Kidney damage may follow. Toxicity may occur from similar foods such as garlic (I’m not sure, but I believe I have heard that raw garlic is toxic and cooked garlic is okay.) and chives. It is not clear what quantity of onions is poisonous, but the effects can be cumulative. Poisoning can result from raw, cooked and dehydrated forms. Avoid feeding table scraps and any foods cooked with onions (including some baby foods). Check your ingredients! Signs are anemia, such as pale gums, rapid heart rate, weakness and lethargy. Other signs include vomiting, diarrhea, and bloody urine. Treatment: blood transfusions and/or oxygen administration may be necessary, followed by specific fluid therapy.
Caffeine -- Caffeine is quite similar to the toxic chemical in chocolate. It can damage the heart, lungs, kidney and central nervous system.Commons sources of toxicity include caffeine pills, coffee beans and coffee, large amounts of tea, and chocolate.Signs typically begin with restlessness, hyperactivity and vomiting. These can be followed by panting, weakness, drunken gait increased heart rate, muscle tremors and convulsions.Your vet may induce vomiting or perform gastric lavage. Treatment includes administration of activated charcoal and supportive care with fluid therapy and medications.
Macadamia Nuts
-- Macadamia nuts, while generally not considered fatal, can cause your dog to
experience severe illness. The actually toxin is not known, nor is the
mechanism of toxicity. Ingestion of just
a handful of nuts can cause adverse effects in any dog. Signs include vomiting,
weakness, depression, drunken gait, joint/muscle pain, and joint swelling. Onset
of signs typically occurs within 6-24 hours. Dogs are typically treated
symptomatically and recover within 24-48 hours. In-hospital supportive care may
be recommend for dogs that become very sick.
Xylitol --Xylitol is a sugar-free sweetener most often found in chewing gum and candy. In dogs, it stimulates the pancreas to secrete insulin, resulting in hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Xylitol ingestion can also cause severe liver damage. As few as two pieces of gum can be hypoglycemia to a 20 pound dog. A pack of gum can cause liver damage. Signs of toxicity can occur within 30-60 minutes and include weakness, drunken gait, collapse and seizures. Your vet may induce vomiting or perform gastric lavage. The affected dog will likely need to be treated intravenously with dextrose (sugar) and monitored closely for 1-2 days. Many dogs improve with supportive care if treated early enough, though liver damage can be permanent.
Alcohol and Yeast Dough -- Alcoholic beverages contain ethanol - a seriously toxic chemical compound that causes central nervous system and respiratory depression. Uncooked yeast doughs also produce ethanol. Even small amounts of ethanol can cause toxic effects. Signs include sedation, depression, lethargy, weakness, drunken gait and hypothermia (low body temperature). Ethanol is rapidly absorbed into the system, so it is important to seek medical attention quickly. It is not usually helpful to induce vomiting. Treatment includes aggressive supportive care with fluid therapy and medications. Under controlled circumstances, alcohol is used by veterinarians as an antidote for antifreeze (ethylene glycol) poisoning.
Fruit Pits and Seeds Apple seeds, cherry pits, peach pits, and plum pits contain the toxin cyanide. Signs of cyanide poisoning include vomiting, heavy breathing, apnea tachycardia, cardiac arrhythmias, coma, skin irritation. In some cases, antidotes are available. Other treatments include oxygen therapy, fluids and supportive care. Also take note that the leaves, fruit, seeds and bark of avocados contain Persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. Also, the fat content is not healthy for dogs.
Rotten or moldy foods -- Moldy or rotten foods can cause many problems for your dog, some more serious than others. Any food that seems "past its prime" should be kept out reach. Be especially careful to keep your dog away from trash cans. Botulism, often from garbage, can cause paralysis, slow heart rate, constipation, and urine retention. An antitoxin is effective only if poisoning is caught early enough.
Rotten fruit produces ethanol, causing the same effects associated with alcohol or dough ingestion.
Moldy foods contain toxins that may cause muscle tremors, convulsions and drunkenness. Therapy depends on the toxin. Your vet may induce vomiting. Sometimes, treatment includes activated charcoal. Supportive care with fluids and medications is often necessary.
Black walnuts-- Dropping from black walnut trees by the thousands, the nuts themselves don't contain anything that can harm your dog. But once they start to decompose, they grow molds that can cause tremors and seizures. If you have one of these trees in your yard and your dog seems attracted to the nuts, it might be a good idea to rake them up on a regular basis.
Mushrooms -- While there are plenty of great-tasting, perfectly safe mushrooms out there, dogs just don't seem capable of discerning the difference between the edible and the toxic. To be on the safe side, it's best not to allow dogs to eat any wild mushrooms at all, unless you can confidently identify the species yourself. Amanita, Galerina and Lepiota species are especially dangerous because they contain toxins that cause a series of worsening symptoms, from vomiting to swelling in the brain. Amanita phalloides, the Death Cap mushroom, is responsible for most of the reported fatal mushroom poisoning cases in dogs.
TOXIC CHEMICALS -- If you suspect your pet has ingested a caustic substance, do NOT induce vomiting. Caustic substances damage flesh on contact, and do fatal damage to your dog's innards within minutes.Seek emergency veterinary care immediately!!
Battery Acid/ Batteries, Bleach, Carbolic Acid, Motor Oil , Drain Cleaner, Fertilizer, Glue, Household Cleaners, Kerosene, Laundry Detergent/ Fabric Softeners, Turpentine, Plaster, Sidewalk Salt, Putty, Pine Cleaners, Paintbrush Cleaner, Nail Polish, Nail Polish Remover, Paint Thinner
Antifreeze -- Smells and tastes sweet and appealing. It will kill your dog!
Mothballs -- Powerfull insecticide. Can cause central nervous system excitement and seizures. Can cause liver failure.
Mouthwash/ Contact Lens Cleaner/ Denture Cleaner -- Include boric acid, which is highly toxic to dogs.
MEDICATIONS -- Keep all medications away from your dog. Never try to give a human medication to your dog.
Tylenol/ Acetominophen (in most other countries: Paracetamol) -- As little as 2 capsules can kill your dog. They do not have the liver enzymes to digest it.
Xylitol --Xylitol is a sugar-free sweetener most often found in chewing gum and candy. In dogs, it stimulates the pancreas to secrete insulin, resulting in hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Xylitol ingestion can also cause severe liver damage. As few as two pieces of gum can be hypoglycemia to a 20 pound dog. A pack of gum can cause liver damage. Signs of toxicity can occur within 30-60 minutes and include weakness, drunken gait, collapse and seizures. Your vet may induce vomiting or perform gastric lavage. The affected dog will likely need to be treated intravenously with dextrose (sugar) and monitored closely for 1-2 days. Many dogs improve with supportive care if treated early enough, though liver damage can be permanent.
Alcohol and Yeast Dough -- Alcoholic beverages contain ethanol - a seriously toxic chemical compound that causes central nervous system and respiratory depression. Uncooked yeast doughs also produce ethanol. Even small amounts of ethanol can cause toxic effects. Signs include sedation, depression, lethargy, weakness, drunken gait and hypothermia (low body temperature). Ethanol is rapidly absorbed into the system, so it is important to seek medical attention quickly. It is not usually helpful to induce vomiting. Treatment includes aggressive supportive care with fluid therapy and medications. Under controlled circumstances, alcohol is used by veterinarians as an antidote for antifreeze (ethylene glycol) poisoning.
Fruit Pits and Seeds Apple seeds, cherry pits, peach pits, and plum pits contain the toxin cyanide. Signs of cyanide poisoning include vomiting, heavy breathing, apnea tachycardia, cardiac arrhythmias, coma, skin irritation. In some cases, antidotes are available. Other treatments include oxygen therapy, fluids and supportive care. Also take note that the leaves, fruit, seeds and bark of avocados contain Persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs. Also, the fat content is not healthy for dogs.
Rotten or moldy foods -- Moldy or rotten foods can cause many problems for your dog, some more serious than others. Any food that seems "past its prime" should be kept out reach. Be especially careful to keep your dog away from trash cans. Botulism, often from garbage, can cause paralysis, slow heart rate, constipation, and urine retention. An antitoxin is effective only if poisoning is caught early enough.
Rotten fruit produces ethanol, causing the same effects associated with alcohol or dough ingestion.
Moldy foods contain toxins that may cause muscle tremors, convulsions and drunkenness. Therapy depends on the toxin. Your vet may induce vomiting. Sometimes, treatment includes activated charcoal. Supportive care with fluids and medications is often necessary.
Black walnuts-- Dropping from black walnut trees by the thousands, the nuts themselves don't contain anything that can harm your dog. But once they start to decompose, they grow molds that can cause tremors and seizures. If you have one of these trees in your yard and your dog seems attracted to the nuts, it might be a good idea to rake them up on a regular basis.
Mushrooms -- While there are plenty of great-tasting, perfectly safe mushrooms out there, dogs just don't seem capable of discerning the difference between the edible and the toxic. To be on the safe side, it's best not to allow dogs to eat any wild mushrooms at all, unless you can confidently identify the species yourself. Amanita, Galerina and Lepiota species are especially dangerous because they contain toxins that cause a series of worsening symptoms, from vomiting to swelling in the brain. Amanita phalloides, the Death Cap mushroom, is responsible for most of the reported fatal mushroom poisoning cases in dogs.
TOXIC CHEMICALS -- If you suspect your pet has ingested a caustic substance, do NOT induce vomiting. Caustic substances damage flesh on contact, and do fatal damage to your dog's innards within minutes.Seek emergency veterinary care immediately!!
Battery Acid/ Batteries, Bleach, Carbolic Acid, Motor Oil , Drain Cleaner, Fertilizer, Glue, Household Cleaners, Kerosene, Laundry Detergent/ Fabric Softeners, Turpentine, Plaster, Sidewalk Salt, Putty, Pine Cleaners, Paintbrush Cleaner, Nail Polish, Nail Polish Remover, Paint Thinner
Antifreeze -- Smells and tastes sweet and appealing. It will kill your dog!
Mothballs -- Powerfull insecticide. Can cause central nervous system excitement and seizures. Can cause liver failure.
Mouthwash/ Contact Lens Cleaner/ Denture Cleaner -- Include boric acid, which is highly toxic to dogs.
MEDICATIONS -- Keep all medications away from your dog. Never try to give a human medication to your dog.
Tylenol/ Acetominophen (in most other countries: Paracetamol) -- As little as 2 capsules can kill your dog. They do not have the liver enzymes to digest it.
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