Before you read this list understand that some of the foods listed below:
- Are, without exception seriously bad for your dog and cat;
- Are only bad for your dog and cat if provided in quantities that exceed safe dosage as noted;
- Are only bad for your dog and cat under specific conditions as noted.
In addition it is important to understand that even a food that is normally safe for your dog or cat can become dangerous if:
- The food has come into contact with a poisonous substance (i.e. chemical-based cleaners that you have used on food prep surfaces);
- If the food has not been stored safely (i.e. raw food has been left un-refrigerated) and has become contaminated with harmful bacteria;
- If the food has started to rot;
- If the food is from a source (i.e. meat) which was from an animal that was feed growth hormones, ABX, and yes, genetically modified foods;
- If the food was grown with high levels of pesticides and herbicides
- etc.
And just a warning – for those feeding your dogs a raw-food diet…read all of the text provided below under raw food/meat/bones, not just some of the textand then take what I say out of context…
- Raw, species appropriate food (i.e. fresh meat, fresh bones) when:
- From a truly good source:
- When stored properly;
- When prepared properly:
- When selected properly;
- Is not bad for your dog – it is a species appropriate diet.Â
- However if the origin of the raw food, its preparation. etc. is not safe then the end product (the raw food( is not safe either.Â
- If the source of the raw meat is a large factory farm, or a smaller farm that is not organic in its practices…
- The animal (chicken, cow, lamb, etc.) may have been on a diet that included:
- GMO corn, GMO soy;
- Antiobiotics;
- Growth Hormones;
All of the above are toxins, some are carcinogens.  Â- And that in anutshell is why raw meat is on this list.Â
- Not becasue it is, by nature bad for your dog – in fact quite the opposite…but instead;
- Becasue if YOU do not employ common sense it can become BAD for your dog.Â
And BTW, even if you do feed your dog raw, you will still need to supplement you dog’s diet for optimal health…for example:
- AdditionalOmega-3 Fatty Acids;
- And other items like Probiotics.
And don‘t assume just because you are paying alot of $ for a pre-prepared raw food that it is nutritionally complete. I have looked at many, and the claim (by the companies) that they are complete is not an accurate statement. The Omega fatty acids are never present in the correct ratio and that creates some serious issues! Buyer beware - nutritionally complete is not a government regulated term. If anything ‘nutritionally complete’ may be used as an AAFCO regulated term. AAFCO is an association of pet food manufacturers, lobbyist, etc. whose first priority is profit always.
What you supplement should dependon the what conditions your dog or cat is exposed to. So for example if you are:
- Over-innoculating your dog;
- Using chemical-based household cleaners;Â
- Using dog shampoo;
- Using dog toothpaste;
- Have your dog on pesticide-based Heart worm, Flea, Tick , etc. preventatives.
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There are multiple foods on this list that I do feed my dogs, i.e.
- Dairy Products – Cheese (i.e. cheddar), Cottage Cheese, Yogurt and/or Kefir
- Garlic;
- Eggs;
- Fish;
Broccoli…Â- But I feed my dogs these foods the right way and in beneficial quantities to the advantage of their health.
So make sure you do not just read part of the text under the items listed below – read all of the text or you will not be properly informed.Which can then:
- Put your dog’s and cat’s health at risk, or;
- Leave you with the impulse to leave a stupid out-of-context comment on my blog, which only makes you look ridiculous, ill-read and uninformed. In which case I will help you save-face by promising not to publish your stupid comment.Â
- All logical, non-aggressive, non-rude and/or informative comments and questions will be published :>)
I am also including commercially manufactured dog and cat kibble and treats on this list becasue:
- I want to walk you through the ingredients that you should avoid,Â
- So that you can be in a position to choose a (relatively speaking) good dog kibble.
Foods to AVOID and/or Use Within Safe Guidelines
Avocado      Â
Alcoholic Beverages
Any type of alcohol can be poisonous to your dog and cat and aside from intoxication, can cause a coma or even death.
Bones
Employ caution when giving bones to your dog.
- Some bones can be very dangerous – as they can splinter and cause obstruction or laceration of the digestive system.
- Bones from many types of fish are dangerous for dogs just as they are for people.Â
- The cooked bones of salmon are not harmful, in fact they are good for your dog.
When on a raw diet, bones are very important as they provide an excellent and necessary source of:
- Calcium;
- Phosphorous and;
- Trace minerals.Â
A safe substitute for raw, fresh or frozen bones is high-quality healthful source bone meal or or microcrystalline hydoxyapatite - MCHA (freeze dried bone).
- Do not ever use the type of bone meal sold in garden centers – garden center bone meal is poor quality from unspecified sources and can be full of toxins and carcinogens;
Edible, safe bones for dogs are:
- Non-weight bearing, hollow, raw bones of birds:
- Chicken wings;
- Turkey necks;
- These bones are soft, bendable (as opposed to brittle) and there fore can be chewed without fear of damaging teeth or creating bone splinters that can cause damage to the dogs innards.
- Large, fresh raw or frozen-raw bones such as beef or bison femur of hip bones are good for a dog to chew on to exercise their jaw;
Good for dental care - If the bone has some meat and cartilage attached the dog will get his/her teeth ‘brushed’ naturally be gnawing on the bone;Â- However these are hard bones that can splinter;
- These type of bones should not be given to a dog that chews with great intensity:
- The pressure can result in chipped and broken teeth;
- The bone may splinter and chip into fragments that can cause severe internal damage to a dog;
- If your dog has a very sensitive stomach the marrow in these large raw bones can cause diarrhea.Â
- You can remove the marrow and just give the bone to the dog;
- You can remove most of the marrow only leaving a little in the bone, until the dogs digestive system acclimatizes to digesting the fat and nutrient rich marrow.
If ingested in large amounts – and please remember large amounts must be considered in relation to your dog’s or cat’s size – can cause problems with electrolyte levels (low calcium, low potassium, high sodium), muscle spasms and/or congestive heart failure. Also avoid giving your dog large amounts (again size is relative) of raw dough that contains leavening agents. Remember heat is a catalyst for the leavening agent – raw dough can swell in your dogs stomach and cause serious if not lethal damage.
Candy containing the sweetener Xylitol
Xylitol can cause liver damage and even death.
Corn and Soy – in particular non-organic genetically engineered
Corn, soy, grains in large quantities as found in many commercially made dog and cat food are not part of a species appropriate diet – this poses health hazards of itself. Most dog and cat foods that do contain corn, corn derivatives, soy and soy derivatives (at least in North America) are made from Genetically Engineered (GE), Round-up Ready Seeds. These GE seeds in addition to the glyphosate herbicides that the seeds are designed to tolerate have serious and multiple health and life-span shortening impacts. You can read about that in detail here.
Chocolate
Dogs and cats should never have any type of chocolate. Milk chocolate is not as dangerous for dogs as semi-sweet or unsweetened bakers chocolate. Chocolate poisoning can cause irregular heart rate and rhythm, restlessness, hyperactivity, diarrhea, vomiting, panting, muscle tremors, abdominal pain, bloody urine, increased body temperature, seizures, coma and death.
Coffee
Can result in increased breathing and heart rate, restlessness and affects the central nervous system.
Dairy Products – in large amounts, small amounts are OK for most dogs and cats
If consumed in large amounts may cause diarrhea. Some dogs and cats are lactose intolerant. If your dog or cat is not lactose intolerant, plain yogurt or kefir is an excellent immune system booster. A little hard cheese or cottage cheese on a daily basis is a good source of nutrition. As noted above my dogs and cats eat yogurt, hard cheese and cottage cheese on a daily basis.
Dog and Cat Dry Food (Kibble), Wet Food and Treats  Â
Dog and cat kibble and commercially manufactured treats can contain an overwhelming amount of:
- Carcinogens;
- Toxins;
- Species inappropriate ingredients which can of itself rob your dog of his/her health and shorten his/her life.
I have to be honest with you:
I have to-date not found a nutritionally complete dog kibble;
Even the most expensive brands of dog kibble includes some ingredients that cut corners to save the manufactuer money while posing health risks for your dog, for example;
- Using whole white fish which may be high in mercury, rather than using salmon.Â
And BTW if you live in the USA genetically modified (GM) salmon has just been approved for use – not good!- Using a cheap source Omega 6 oil (i.e.) sunflower oil rather than a good quality oil such as coconut oil.Â
Even worse when for example safflower or canola oil is used as these are both derived from GM crops.
Contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin). This can lead to skin and hair coat problems. Raw eggs may also contain Salmonella, although the chance of contamination for your dog is low as a dogâs stomach acids are very strong and dogâs also produce a lot of bile. You can cook the eggs to avoid this issue. Due to the avidin it is best not to give eggs every day, but a couple of times a week is fine.
Fat – in large amounts, small amounts of good fat are absolutely necessary in a dog’s diet!
However large amounts (relative to the dog’s and cat’s weight, health and genetically inherited constitution) can casue very serious and, at worst fatal damage. Large amounts of fat such as butter, margarine, lard, fat trimmings and oil are a health hazard. Ingesting any substantial amount of these fats can cause failure of the internal organs such as the liver.
On a daily basis my dog get healthy fats from:
- Olive oil;
- Coconut Oil,
- Ground flax seed or flax oil;
- Milk Fat from dairy products as mentioned above;
- Fat from the poultry and fish that they eat.
A dogs ancestral diet – and therefore a species appropriate diet consists of +/- 57 to 60% protein, 30% fat and 10 to 14% carbohydrates.Â
Many commercially made dog food products (kibble and treats) contain poor quality fats. Most commercial dog kibble (and commercially made raw food preparations) do not provide a safely balanced ratio of Omega-3 fatty acids to Omega-6 fatty acids. For this reason it is important to supplement your dog’s diet.
Fish – in large quantities are dangerous, small quantities are beneficial fr dogs
If fed exclusively or in large amounts can result in a thiamine (a B vitamin) deficiency leading to loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death. A small amount of cooked or canned fatty fish such as anchovies, salmon, sardines, shad, smelt, mackerel are very good for your dog (on a daily basis is fine – in small amounts) as these types of fish are nutrient rich and a good source of omega fatty acids.Â
Raw fish can contain flukes, a parasite that infests the liver of animals including dogs and cats. This parasite can cause liver damage and subsequently death. Granted in some places around the world dogs and cats are fed raw fish. Just be aware that in doing so you may put the health of your dog or cat at risk. If you know for certain that the fish in your area is not infested than there is no threat to your dog’s or cat’s health. But remember if fish is fed to dogs exclusively or in large amounts can result in a thiamine (a B vitamin) deficiency leading to loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death. A small amount daily is fine.Â
Check the ingredient list on your dog’s and cat’s kibble and treats – if they contain fish meal you need to check with the manufacturer to ensure that they guarantee there is no ethoxyquin in the fish meal. You have to research this as the ingredient list will not list ethoxyquin on the ingredient list – it is a hidden ingredient. Ethoxyquin is a powerful and lethal pesticide that is also used to stop fat from going rancid. Ethoxyquin is a carcinogen. Ethoxyquin is now banned from use in human food. You can read about ethoxyquin here. Acana and Evo are examples of dog kibble which is supposed to be ethoxyquin-free as stated by the manufactures on their respective websites.Â
Food Coloring
Avoid treats and kibble that contain conventional food coloring. Conventional food coloring is concocted from chemicals that are carcinogenic and cause numerous health issues such as bladder cancer, brain tumors and the inability to concentrate.
Grapes, Currents
Can cause vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, abdominal pain, lack of appetite and kidney damage. Grape seed extract is safe for dogs.
Hops
May cause panting, elevated temperature, increased heart rate, seizures and death.
Liver – small amounts are beneficial, large amounts are dangerous
In large amounts can cause Vitamen A toxity, leading to kidney damage/failure.
Macadamia Nuts
Can cause vomiting, lethargy, hyperthermia, abdominal pain, stiff joints, lameness and tremors.
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Marijuana
Can depress the nervous system, cause vomiting, and changes in the heart rate.
Meat – Raw can be dangerous, use caution
May contain bacteria such as Salmonella and E. coli, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea and even death. Dogs are able to fight off Salmonella and E. coli much better than humans can, however some dogs are severely affected and do die. Raw pork can have worms that may be transferred to your dog by eating raw pork. Many people do feed their dogs raw meat and experience no issues. Working dogs such as sled dogs regularly consume raw meat without issue. Just take precautions – make sure the meat is fresh and has been kept in the refrigerator for no more than a few says or was frozen fresh. Reduce the risk of contamination and don’t feed your dog raw pork.
Moldy Foods
Can have varied effects on pets including vomiting and diarrhea.
Depending on the type of mushroom. The symptoms may vary – depression, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain, tearing, hallucinations, defecation, liver failure, seizures, drooling, urination, kidney failure, heart damage, hyperactivity and in some cases, death.
Mustard Seeds
Can have varied effects on pets.
Onion, Chives, Leeks, Shallots are dangerous, garlic in small amounts is beneficial
Contain thiosulphate, the substance responsible for causing âHeinx Factorâ anemia in dogs and cats. Can also cause gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting and diarrhea. The amount of thiosulphate found in garlic is much lower than in onions, in fact the amount in garlic is barely traceable!  When garlic is ingested in reasonable amounts there are no harmful affects, only beneficial ones! Garlic is known for its antic cancer, diabetes, liver, heart, kidney disease fighting properties as well as its use as a natural flea repellent and de-wormer for dogs. Cats are more sensitive to the active ingredients in garlic. Cats should never have more than 2 or 3 thin slices of a garlic clove a week. The maximum allowable/safe dosage for dogs is higher than the dosage for cats.
Pits from Apricot / Cherry / Peach / Plum, etc.
Can cause respiratory difficulties such as breathing, coughing and sneezing.
Plants that are toxic if ingested by dogs
Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants (ASPCA)
Potato Leaves and Stems
Can cause problems with the digestive, nervous and urinary systems.
Can be poisonous to pets and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, abdominal pain, lack of appetite and kidney damage.
Rhubarb Leaves
Can cause problems with the digestive, nervous and urinary systems.
Salt
In large quantities can cause electrolyte imbalances.
Seeds from Apples / Pears
Contain arsenic and can have a variety of bad affects on dogs.
If a product is really wholesome why does it require sweeteners to be appealing to your dog or cat? Sweeteners are not required in your dogâs or cat’s diet! In fact they are not good for your dog or cat. They are added to many pet foods to make the food more attractive – think about it, some of these products have a lot of fillers – no tasteâ¦so the sweeteners give the food some taste. If the product you are going to buy has any of the following ingredients in it, you know what to do – re-shelve it!
- Cane molasses;
- Corn syrup;
- Fructose;
- Sorbitol;
- Sugar;
- Di-alpha tocopherol acetate.
Remember daily intake of sweeteners is just as bad for dogs as it is for humans. Sugar suppresses the immune system – making it easier for cancer to take hold. Sweeteners also cause allergies, arthritis, cataracts, hypoglycaemia, heart ailments, nervous energy, tooth decay, obesity and so on. The more your dogâs health is compromised the harder it is for your dogâs body to fight disease!
Unlike the negative impacts on health caused by other sweeteners, organic unpasteurized honey does offers many health benefits. Organic unpasteurized honey (bee pollen and propolis) when provided in the proper dosage offers many health benefits for dogs. You can read this article for an example of the benefits derived from including organic unpasteurized honey in your dog’s diet, dosage and cautions.
Tea Derived from Tea Plants (i.e. Earl Grey Tea, Orange Pekoe Tea, etc.)
Can have varied effects in pets - the caffeine and tannin are the culprits as these substances are toxic to dogs and cats. On the other hand, herbal teas such as Green Tea, Rooibos Tea, Camomile Tea:
Do not contain caffeine or tannin, and;
Offer many health benefits for dogs and cats.
Tobacco       Â
Contains nicotine, which affects the digestive and nervous systems. Can result in rapid heart beat, collapse, coma, and death.
Tomato Leaves and Stems are dangerous, tomatoes are fine
Can cause problems with the digestive, nervous and urinary systems.
Vitamins made for human consumption that contain iron
Can damage the lining of the digestive system and be toxic to the other organs including the liver and kidneys.
Walnuts
Can cause gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting and diarrhea, as well as respiratory issues such as sneezing, breathing and coughing.
Yeast Dough – raw, not baked
Can be dangerous as it will expand and result in gas, pain and possible rupture of the stomach or intestines.
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol — an artificial sweetener created from birch, raspberries, plums and corn.1 This sweetener is found in many human “sugar free” products, such as gum, candies and other sweets. Signs of toxicity can be seen as quickly as 30 minutes after xylitol ingestion in dogs. The xylitol causes a rapid release of the hormone insulin, causing a sudden decrease in blood glucose. The following are symptoms of Xylitol poisioning: vomiting
weakness, ataxia (uncoordinated movements), depression, hypokalemia (decreased potassium), seizures, coma, liver dysfunction and/or failure. Ingestion can be fatal.
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If You Think Your Dog Is Suffering From Poisoning (food, chemicals, insect/snake bites)
- Fill the container you are using with warm water;
- Add enough iodine to make the water turn the colour of ice tea;
- Have your dog stand in or otherwise keep their paw in the the water/iodine solution for 30 seconds
- Then pat your dogâs paws dry.
Pet Poison Help Line 24/7 (800-213-6680)
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Cell 613-293-3707
Cell 613-293-3707
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