12 Surprisingly Dangerous Treats for Dogs

It never fails. You start eating a tasty treat, and your dog’s eyes are suddenly fixed on you, pleading for you to share. It’s hard not to give in to those sweet little faces but be careful about sharing human food with your pet. Many common foods, additives, and seasonings can be harmful or even toxic for our furry friends. The best way to protect your dog’s health is to watch out for foods like the ones on this list.

1. Peanut Butter with Xylitol: Dogs love peanut butter and it’s usually safe for them but check the label. Xylitol is a common artificial sweetener, and it’s fatally toxic to dogs. If you’re going to give your dogs peanut butter, choose a brand with no added sweeteners.
2. Grapes and Raisins: Even small amounts of grapes or raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs. Early signs include vomiting, being sluggish and depression.
3. Onions and Garlic: It doesn’t matter in what form; powered, dehydrated, cooked or raw it is dangerous for your dog. They can kill red blood cells which cause anemia. In large amounts they can be poisonous.
4. Chicken Wings: Cooked bones of any kind can splinter and cause internal damage. Even if you’re eating boneless wings, don’t feed them to your dogs. Fried foods aren’t good for dogs and the seasonings often contain onion or garlic, which dogs can’t eat.
5. Bacon: There’s nothing wrong with a bite of bacon every now and then but limit it to occasional treats. Dogs can’t process fat as easily as humans can, so don’t let the dogs lick the grease off the plate, either.
6. Sweetened Yogurt: If you’d like to give your dog yogurt, choose yogurt that’s plain and unsweetened.
7. Chocolate: Even treats covered in a thin layer of chocolate can be fatal for dogs. Keep all chocolate, including chocolate-covered nuts, pretzels, and candy out of your dogs’ reach. In fact, avoid any food that contains chocolate, cocoa, cocoa butter, or cacao.
8. Pickles: Fresh cucumber is fine for dogs, but pickles have high levels of sodium and spices like onions and garlic, which are poisonous for canines. Vinegar, too, can be hard on their stomachs.
9. Black Licorice: Dogs shouldn’t eat candy, and black licorice is harmful. It can raise your dog’s blood pressure and cause muscle weakness and vomiting.
10. Nuts: There’s little nutritional value in nuts for your dogs, and some nuts can be toxic. Be careful when you’re walking, and don’t let your dog eat any fallen tree nuts. These can be moldy and are extremely dangerous.
11. Chips & Dip: These can be high in sodium and dangerous spices, making them harmful for dogs.
12. Milk and Other Dairy Products: Milk and milk-based products can be tempting to give to a dog, but they can cause diarrhea, digestive problems, and can also cause food allergies.

When you’re striving to keep your pets healthy trust Reed Animal Hospital. We treat your pet as if they were our own. Our goal is to help you and your pet enjoys a healthy, fulfilling life together. Our extraordinary team offers a wide range of services. We have veterinarians, technicians, assistants, and receptionists, all trained to help you and your pet. We even offer referrals to specialty surgeons, many of whom travel to our office for consultations. For more information or to make an appointment, call us in Campbell at 408-369-1788, in Saratoga at 408-647-2906, or contact us through our website.