Poisonous Foods & Harmful Products

Harmful Products for Pets

  • Alcoholic Beverages
  • Apple Seeds-contain cyanide compounds
  • Apricot Pits-contain cyanide compounds
  • Avocados-may cause heart irregularities, difficulty breathing
  • Cherry Pits-contain cyanide compounds
  • Chocolate-all forms but the darker the chocolate, the more poisonous
    -contains Theobromine, a stimulant
  • Coffee (grounds, beans, chocolate covered beans)-caffeine
  • Grapes-unknown compound but leads to liver failure
  • Hops (used in home brewing)
  • Household Cleaners—read the label
  • Human Medications—especially tylenol, unless directed by your veterinarian to give to your pet Garlic in larger amounts- may cause hemolytic anemia
  • Macadamia Nuts
  • Moldy Foods
  • Mushroom Plants
  • Mustard Seeds
  • Onion in all forms-may case hemolytic anemia
  • Peach Pits-contains cyanide compounds
  • Raisins-unknown compound but may cause liver failure
  • Raw Yeast Dough—will expand in the Pet’s stomach and cause pain and possible stomach rupture Rhubarb leaves
  • Rodent poisons
  • Salt-dehydrating
  • Sugar-Free Gum and Candy containing Xylitol
  • Tea-caffeine
  • Tea Tree Oil—especially harmful for cats, don’t apply where a dog can lick it
  • Tomato leaves and stems-may cause tremors, heart irregularities
  • Walnuts
  • Xylitol-this is an artificial sweetener-may cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, tremors, depression

This is not a complete list. Whenever you are in doubt, please call your veterinarian ASAP!
Keep the below number for Poison Control and the number of your closest emergency vet close by (it’s helpful to program them into your cell phone so you can call as you are running out the door, or are away from home):

ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: (888) 426-4435. A $60 consultation fee may be applied to your credit card.
To save time, drive to all of the 24 hour emergency vets in your area so that you know the best routes to take depending on the time of day and traffic.

Remember to dog-proof your home just as you would child-proof your home. Also, keep an unopened bottle of Hydrogen Peroxide in your home to use if poison control directs you to induce vomiting. They will instruct you on the proper dose for your dog.