Foods That Are Harmful To Dogs
chocolate: contains theobromine and caffeine. In dogs it increases the heart rate, causes difficulty breathing, vomiting, diarrhea, excess urination and restlessness. In toxic doses it causes seizures, irregular heart rhythm and death.
caffeine: found in coffee, tea, chocolate, cola and human stimulants. In toxic levels it causes heart and nervous system difficulties.
grapes/raisins: they contain an unknown toxin that leads to acute kidney and liver failure. Severe onset is very quick with little warning. Some dogs are more susceptible to this problem, however there is no way of knowing how your dog will tolerate grapes/raisins and so it is best to avoid them.
macadamia nuts: these are a fatty nut that contain an unknown toxin that affects a dog's muscles, digestive and nervous systems in a negative way.
mushrooms: wild mushrooms contain toxins that affect the nervous system; the symptoms of mushroom poisoning can include vomiting and diarrhea.
onions/members of the allium family: these may cause abnormalities in the red blood cells, which can lead to anemia.
citrus oil extracts: these are used in insecticidal sprays, dips, shampoos, insect repellents, food additives and fragrances. They are toxic to dogs if ingested, and the most common reaction is vomiting, excessive drooling and trembling.
Other foods not good for your dog:
chicken skin with fat
fat crust on roast
heavily spiced foods
overly greasy foods
cow's milk
sugar (some honey or molasses is OK)
refined white flours
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Allergies
Like humans dogs can be allergic to some foods, and an allergy can develop over time. You need to be aware of what's in the foods you are feeding your dog, and how they react to it over their entire life span. The most common dog allergies are to peanuts, wheat, dairy products, corn, beef, chicken eggs and fish. Common symptoms of a food allergy include itchy, flaky skin, scratching excessively, biting their feet and legs, irritated ears and diarrhea.
Many dogs are also lactose intolerant and cannot digest cow's milk. Goat's milk however is easily tolerated by most dogs, so if you are using milk, it is best to use goat's milk for all recipes.