Yes, it can! Dog poisons come in many guises, some innocent, like food meant for humans, and some not so innocent, such as rat poisons, or poisonous plants.
We love our dogs, and would never knowingly harm them; however, there are many every-day foods that are tasty and nutritious for us humans, but are dog poisons when fed to our pets, and should be avoided wherever possible.
Some of the more common foods to avoid feeding to your dog are listed below:
Fatty Foods Can Cause Pancreatitis
Dogs love fatty foods, and will root amongst the rubbish for a tasty morsel, or steal leftovers from dinner plates if the opportunity presents itself.
Too much fat in your dog's diet can cause a condition known as pancreatitis, which can be a life-threatening condition. A normal pancreas produces enzymes to help digest fat. However, in a high-fat diet the pancreas produces too many enzymes, causing the pancreas to become swollen and inflamed.
Cocker Spaniels are especially prone to pancreatitis, and symptoms include vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. Your dog may also become dehydrated and subsequently die if not treated quickly.
Pancreatitis in dogs can easily be avoided by not feeding your dog fatty foods, such as chicken skin, fatty meats, or leftovers, and by keeping rubbish bins securely fastened.
Did You Know That Chocolate Is A Dog Poison?
Dogs like sweet things and, once your dog has tasted chocolate, it's very likely that he'll want more. Unfortunately, chocolate can be a dog poison and, chocolate meant for humans can be fatal for your dog as it contains theobromine, a naturally occurring stimulant found in the cocoa bean.
Chocolate used for baking, and dark chocolate, are more toxic than milk chocolate because they contain more cocoa solids, and consequently, more theobromine.
Theobromine is poisonous to dogs; it increases urination and can affect the central nervous system, as well as the heart muscle.
If your dog has eaten a toxic dose of chocolate, you will see within a few hours symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea, panting and hyperactivity.
As the theobromine is further absorbed, your dog's heart rate may increase, causing arrhythmia, restlessness, hyperactivity, muscle twitching, and increased urination. It can also lead to hyperthermia, muscle tremors, seizures, coma, and even death.
Please note that chocolate is a potentially harmful dog poison and, therefore, may be more dangerous to a young puppy than it would be to an older dog.
If you wish to feed chocolate to your dog, or your puppy, you can buy chocolate drops specially formulated for dogs.
Too Much Salt Is Another Dog Poison
Excessive salt intake can be a poison to dogs and can cause kidney problems and can also cause seizures, dehydration, loss of appetite, and death within 24 hours.
Always ensure your puppy has access to water, and don't forget to keep his bowl topped up with fresh water each day.
Bread Dough Can Be A Toxic Food For Dogs
If you regularly bake your own bread, you'll know that the dough needs a warm, moist environment to 'prove', and that it will expand to at least twice its original size. If your dog eats bread dough, it will do the same in his stomach; it will expand, causing his stomach to 'bloat', and cause him considerable pain and discomfort.
In addition, the yeast in the dough causes a fermentation process which produces alcohol, and can cause alcohol poisoning.
Tomatoes And Potatoes Can Be Harmful To Your Dog
Unripe tomatoes, tomato leaves, and stems, are toxic to dogs and should be kept locked in the greenhouse!
They contain atrophine which can cause gastrointestinal problems such as drooling, vomiting and diarrhoea. Additionally, more serious symptoms are tremors, seizures, and a decreased heart rate.
The potato, and rhubarb plant can have similar effects as the tomato plant, and all green parts should be avoided.
Some Mushrooms Can Cause Dog Poisoning
Not all mushrooms are poisonous, but those that are can cause mild vomiting and diarrhoea and can lead to severe digestive problems, liver disease, and neurological disorders.
If mushrooms grow on your lawn, or in your garden, check that they're not poisonous, or better still remove them altogether, and be extra vigilant when walking your dog in woods or in the countryside.
Tea And Coffee - Another Potential Dog Poison
It's best not to give your dog tea or coffee as they contain caffeine and a substance similar to that found in chocolate called xanthine. Symptoms are similar to chocolate poisoning.
Warning! Raw Salmon Can Cause Dog Poisoning
Salmon (and certain other fish) sometimes carry parasites called flukes. When raw fish (contaminated with parasites) is eaten, the flukes attach themselves to the dog's intestines and release bacteria into the bloodstream, causing the dog to become ill.
Symptoms of salmon dog poisoning are diarrhoea, dehydration, and depression.
Fortunately, the cooking process kills any bacteria that may be present so, as long as the fish is cooked, you can safely feed it to your dog.
Raisins And Grapes - Another Dog Poison To Avoid
Raisins and grapes can be lethal if eaten in large amounts as they can cause acute renal kidney failure, and death. Symptoms of raisin or grape poisoning are vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and lethargy.
Macadamia Nuts
Macadamia nuts should never be fed to your dog as they can cause temporary paralysis in the hind legs. Recovery is usually between 2 and 3 days, and it's not a very pleasant experience for your dog.
Onions And Garlic
Onions and garlic are poisonous to dogs if eaten in large quantities; however, moderate amounts eaten on a regular basis can cause a build-up of the toxin thiosulphate. Symptoms of toxicity are vomiting and diarrhoea, and there may be blood present in the urine.
It is said that a small amount of garlic is good for your dog as it can act as a natural flea repellent, and we've seen it listed as an ingredient in many dog biscuit recipes.
We're happy to give Max some homemade healthy dog snacks, containing small amounts of garlic, however, if you are at all concerned about feeding garlic to your Cocker Spaniel, we recommend you speak to your veterinary and ask his or her opinion.
Sugar-Free Sweets Can Cause Dog Poisoning
According to the National Animal Poison Control Center, it's thought that xylitol in sugar free sweets can be toxic to pets, causing liver damage and, in a number of cases, death.
If your dog manages to drink some alcohol, left out after a party, for example, or after knocking over a bottle, it can make him ill fairly quickly.
Symptoms may be confusing as they can resemble a number of other illnesses, but generally they will reflect those seen in a drunken human; staggering, lethargy, excitement, and/or vomiting.
Dogs don't usually like the taste of alcohol, but if it's sweet or flavoured, with lemonade perhaps, they may enjoy it. If your dog manages to drink enough alcohol, he could go into a coma, or suffer a heart attack.
Dog Poisoning Through Eating Brewing Hops
Used hops from home brewing kits can be fatal to dogs. They may cause panting, elevated temperature, increased heart rate, and seizures. It's said that in some breeds it can cause malignant hyperthermia, (a condition caused by an excess of drugs or alcohol) and potentially death.
Used hops should always be disposed of very carefully to avoid accidents.
Spoiled Food Can Also Be A Dog Poison
We normally associate food poisoning with humans, but, believe it or not, it's also fairly common in dogs. You see, dogs like to forage and will rummage in dustbins if they're hungry.
Our dogs sometimes come into contact with decomposing animals and foodstuffs, and may pick up harmful bacteria, such as salmonella and e-coli, and, as a result, could get food poisoning.
If your dog contracts food poisoning, his symptoms may be vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea. Normally, these symptoms may only last a couple of days unless he develops a bacterial infection, in which case he may go into shock.
Keep your pet safe from dog poisoning - don't feed him anything you wouldn't eat yourself, ie food past its sell-by date; if it's not good enough for human consumption, it's not good enough for your dog.
We don't recommend giving any of the above poisonous foods or 'dog poison' to your pets - if you want to treat them, you can occasionally reward them with small morsels of chopped liver or chicken.
Please take care when feeding your dog human foods such as those above - there are many foods that are nutritious and very good for us, but can harm dogs if eaten in large enough quantities.
We all know it's tempting to give in to your dog's appealing eyes at dinner time but think twice - you could be killing him with kindness!
