Fruits & veggies generally feel harmless to us because we consume them on a daily basis without much thought. However, when it comes to our dogs, some of the most common household fruits & veggies can actually poison them and make them very sick.
You might think this is uncommon yet each year, millions of pet poisoning cases still occur globally. That’s why you want to be prepared with all the best information on fruits & veggies to avoid.
In this guide, we outline a cheat sheet of the 16 Fruits & Veggies you should never feed your dogs to help keep your fur buddy safe from any possible intoxication.
1. Apples 🍎 (Cores & Seeds)
Apple flesh is actually great for dogs. It is sweet & juicy and also a great source of Vitamin A & C for their health. However, when it comes to Apple cores and seeds, they are actually not safe for dogs.
The Apple seeds are known to contain a compound known as amygdalin, which is a cyanide-and sugar-based molecule. When this molecule comes into contact with enzymes found in our dog’s stomach, it gets broken down into poisonous cyanide. Cyanide toxicity can lead to stomach upsets, seizures and even death.
Though small amounts of Cyanide will not cause fatal damage, it is best to avoid them at all costs as a preventive measure. So if you’re serving Apples to your dog, make sure to slice up the flesh only and not give your dog the whole Apple to munch on (this will also prevent them from choking on the Apple core!).
2. Apricots (Cores & Seeds)
Just like apples, apricots fall into the same category of having potentially dangerous pits & seeds that can cause cyanide poisoning. The apricot flesh is fine for consumption but just as a caution for most, serve your dogs only sliced apricot to prevent making a mistake.
3. Avocados 🥑
While avocados are considered healthy for people, they are toxic to dogs because they contain a substance called persin throughout the skin and flesh of the fruit. Persin toxicity causes dogs to vomit and have diarrhoea.
Avocados can also result in fluid congestion in the chest and lungs if eaten. This may cause your dog to have difficulty breathing and subsequent death from oxygen deprivation.
4. Brocolli 🥦
Large quantities of broccoli are dangerous to dogs because they contain isothiocyanates. Given that so many healthy foods are available, it is probably best to avoid broccoli even though a small amount occasionally may be okay.
Isothiocyanates can irritate your dog's gastrointestinal system and result in nausea, bloating, and even diarrhoea.
5. Cherries 🍒
Like apples & apricots, cherries are also toxic to dogs because of their seeds. It would be best to avoid cherries in general because of their small size and large seeds, which can cause choking in your dogs.
6. Chives
Chives are examples of herbs that belong to the Allium family, which are not safe for dogs. Allium plants contain sulfoxides and disulfides, which can harm red blood cells and result in anaemia in dogs.
Anaemia is a condition in which dogs lack enough healthy red blood cells to carry sufficient oxygen to the rest of their body and can be fatal in the long run.
7. Dates
Are dates safe for dogs? While dates may not be toxic, they are not recommended as a common snack because of the fact that only the flesh is edible and it does not have much nutritional value. Due to its high fibre and sugar content, there is a danger of diarrhoea in high consumption.
Dates are also potentially dangerous because they include pits, which, if eaten whole, may cause obstructions in the bowel.
8. Garlic 🧄
Like Chives, Garlic is another herb that belongs to the Allium family and can potentially cause anaemia. As garlic is more common in prepared foods, be sure to read the labels before serving them to your pet to prevent any pet poisoning.
9. Grapes 🍇
Veterinarians are not sure why grapes are hazardous to dogs, but these fruits can cause kidney failure. In some dogs, a few bites are enough to cause a significant problem. Vomiting and diarrhoea, a reduced appetite, or urination problems may indicate grape poisoning.
10. Leeks
Similar to chives & garlic, leeks also belong to the Allium family and contain sulfoxides and disulfides, which can cause anaemia. Enough said.
11. Onions 🧅
Also belonging to the Allium family as its counterparts, onions should be avoided for dogs.
As onions are also commonly found in foods like garlic, be sure to check the ingredients label before feeding any food to your dog.
12. Peaches 🍑
You don't have to panic if your dog takes a bite of a peach, as it contains a good amount of vitamin A to boost its immune system. While peach flesh is fine for your pooch, the pit is what’s dangerous again. The pit is huge enough to get stuck and cause life-threatening intestinal blockages. And, it also contains toxic cyanide.
13. Plums
Plums similarly have pits and seeds that are huge and contain cyanide. So, it’s best to avoid them for our dogs.
14. Potatoes 🥔
Potatoes are safe to eat in certain forms and not in others. Raw potatoes should stay away from your dogs as they contain solanine, which is harmful to canines. Solanine poisoning could result in heart problems, difficulty breathing, and gastrointestinal upset. However, if potatoes are baked or boiled and free of additives, they are generally safe to feed in small amounts.
15. Raisins
Similar to grapes, raisins can also potentially result in kidney failure in our dogs. The reason for this is not exactly clear but as a rule of thumb, it should just be avoided at all costs to keep our dogs healthy.
16. Tomatoes 🍅
Tomatoes also fall into the same category as potatoes. They are safe to eat in some forms, and not in others. It’s okay to feed your dog ripened red tomatoes. However, unripened green tomatoes contain solanine, which can result in poisoning in dogs to cause heart problems, difficulty breathing, and gastrointestinal upset.
Final Thoughts
Understanding your dog’s diet is extremely important to ensure they stay healthy and happy. You can avoid unexpected trips to the vet and have peace of mind.
If you found our article helpful, please share our ‘14 Fruits & Veggies You Should Never Feed Your Dogs’ article with other fellow dog owners to spread awareness.
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