Is It Toxic to Dogs?

Causes liver damage and impairs the blood's ability to carry oxygen (brown gums, swollen face). It is even more dangerous to cats, but it is genuinely toxic to dogs too.

What to do: Emergency. Call APCC (888) 426-4435 — there is an antidote that works best given early.

Dogs are far more sensitive than people. Causes vomiting, loss of coordination, dangerously low body temperature and blood sugar, and breathing problems. Raw bread dough produces alcohol internally as it ferments.

What to do: Call APCC (888) 426-4435 or head to a vet. Never give a dog alcohol intentionally.

Ethylene glycol tastes sweet and is one of the most lethal common poisons. A few licks of a spill can cause fatal kidney failure, and the window for treatment is short — hours, not days.

What to do: Absolute emergency. Call APCC (888) 426-4435 and go to a vet immediately — every minute counts.

Grayanotoxins affect the heart and nervous system. A few leaves can cause vomiting, drooling, weakness, abnormal heart rhythm, and collapse.

What to do: Call APCC (888) 426-4435 — cardiac effects make this an emergency.

A methylxanthine like chocolate. Coffee grounds, tea bags, and energy drinks are the usual culprits. Signs: hyperactivity, racing heart, tremors, seizures.

What to do: Call APCC (888) 426-4435 with the source and amount. Coffee grounds and tea bags are concentrated — treat seriously.

The pits contain cyanide compounds and are also a choking and intestinal-obstruction hazard. The flesh of these fruits (pit removed) is not toxic, but the pit is the real danger.

What to do: One swallowed pit can lodge in the gut. Watch for vomiting or straining and call APCC (888) 426-4435 if a pit was eaten.

Theobromine and caffeine. Dark and baker's chocolate are 5–10× more dangerous than milk chocolate. Signs: vomiting, restlessness, racing heart, tremors, seizures. Warning line is roughly 1 oz of milk chocolate per 10 lb of dog, or 1 oz of dark per 30 lb.

What to do: Call APCC (888) 426-4435 with your dog's weight, the type of chocolate, and the amount eaten. Don't wait for symptoms.

Can cause acute kidney failure, and sensitivity is unpredictable — some dogs react to a single grape. The toxic agent is thought to be tartaric acid, which varies by source. There is no established safe dose.

What to do: Treat any amount as an emergency. Call APCC (888) 426-4435 right away.

Spent and fresh hops (home brewing) can trigger malignant hyperthermia — a rapid, dangerous spike in body temperature. Greyhounds and other breeds prone to this are at higher risk.

What to do: Emergency. Call APCC (888) 426-4435 and get to a vet — a sudden high temperature is life-threatening.

Human medicines are the #1 category of poison-control calls. ADHD stimulants, antidepressants, blood-pressure drugs, and sleep aids are all dangerous and act differently. A dropped pill is a common cause.

What to do: Call APCC (888) 426-4435 with the exact drug name, strength, and amount. Keep all pill bottles out of reach.

Human anti-inflammatories cause stomach ulcers and kidney failure in dogs at doses that seem small to us. Never give human pain relievers to a dog.

What to do: Emergency. Call APCC (888) 426-4435 with the milligrams and your dog's weight.

True lilies cause fatal kidney failure in CATS even from pollen or vase water. In dogs they are less catastrophic — usually GI upset — but a multi-pet home should treat lilies as off-limits.

What to do: If you also have a cat, treat any lily exposure as an emergency. For dogs, call APCC (888) 426-4435 if a large amount was eaten.

Cause weakness (especially in the hind legs), tremors, vomiting, and elevated temperature, usually within 12 hours. The exact mechanism is unknown. Most dogs recover, but it's miserable and worth a call.

What to do: Call APCC (888) 426-4435. Note many macadamia treats are also chocolate-covered, which compounds the risk.

Causes wobbliness, lethargy, dribbling urine, low temperature, and sometimes a startle response. Edibles are doubly dangerous because they often also contain chocolate or xylitol.

What to do: Be honest with the vet — they aren't the police, and the truth speeds treatment. Call APCC (888) 426-4435.

Naphthalene mothballs are the more dangerous type, causing red-blood-cell damage, liver injury, and seizures. Even one can be toxic to a small dog.

What to do: Emergency. Call APCC (888) 426-4435 and note which type if you can (naphthalene vs paradichlorobenzene).

Allium plants cause oxidative damage to red blood cells, which can lead to anemia. Concentrated forms (powders, broths, dehydrated flakes) are far more dangerous than fresh. Signs can be delayed several days: weakness, pale gums, dark urine.

What to do: A small lick of garlic-seasoned food is usually low-risk; a real ingestion or any powdered form warrants a call to APCC (888) 426-4435.

U.S. pennies minted after 1982 are mostly zinc. A swallowed penny sitting in stomach acid releases zinc, which destroys red blood cells (hemolytic anemia). Also an obstruction risk.

What to do: Call APCC (888) 426-4435. An X-ray finds the coin; removal is often needed.

Two hazards at once: the dough expands in the warm stomach (risk of bloat and a twisted stomach), and the yeast ferments into alcohol. Both are emergencies.

What to do: Call APCC (888) 426-4435 immediately — a distended, unproductive-retching dog needs an emergency vet now.

Different active ingredients cause very different problems — internal bleeding, brain swelling, or high calcium and kidney failure — and they need different antidotes. The product packaging is critical information.

What to do: Emergency. Bring the product packaging and call APCC (888) 426-4435 — the treatment depends entirely on the active ingredient.

Every part is toxic and the seeds are the worst. Causes severe liver failure and is frequently fatal even with treatment. A popular landscaping and houseplant.

What to do: Emergency. Call APCC (888) 426-4435 immediately — survival depends on fast, aggressive care.

Metaldehyde causes severe tremors and seizures very quickly. Sometimes called 'shake and bake' toxicity because of the tremors plus dangerous overheating.

What to do: Emergency. Call APCC (888) 426-4435 and get to a vet — seizures can start within an hour.

Some wild species cause fatal liver failure; others cause severe GI or neurological signs. Identification is unreliable in the field, so all wild mushrooms are treated as potentially deadly. Store-bought culinary mushrooms are safe.

What to do: Photograph the mushroom if you can and call APCC (888) 426-4435 — early treatment matters for the deadly species.

Sugar substitute in gum, mints, sugar-free peanut butter, and many baked goods. Causes a rapid, dangerous drop in blood sugar and, at higher doses, liver failure. A single piece of sugar-free gum can be fatal to a small dog.

What to do: Emergency. Call APCC (888) 426-4435 or go to a vet immediately — onset can be within 15–30 minutes. Always read peanut-butter labels before sharing.

Persin is mostly a problem for birds and livestock; in dogs the flesh usually causes only mild stomach upset. The bigger risks are the high fat content (can trigger pancreatitis) and the large pit, which can cause choking or obstruction.

What to do: Keep the pit away entirely. A little flesh is usually fine; skip it for dogs prone to pancreatitis.

Decomposing food and compost can contain tremorgenic mycotoxins that cause tremors and seizures. Garbage raiding is a common, underrated cause of poisoning.

What to do: Secure compost and trash. If your dog raided either and is twitchy or vomiting, call APCC (888) 426-4435.

Concentrated or undiluted cleaners cause chemical burns to the mouth and esophagus. Phenols (Pine-Sol, Lysol) and benzalkonium chloride (disinfecting wipes) are especially harsh. Diluted, rinsed surfaces are generally fine.

What to do: Do NOT induce vomiting with corrosives — it burns twice. Rinse the mouth with water and call APCC (888) 426-4435.

Not a poison, but cooked bones splinter and can cause choking, mouth injuries, or a perforated gut. Cooked poultry bones are the most notorious.

What to do: If your dog swallowed cooked bone, watch for gagging, drooling, vomiting, or straining and call your vet or APCC (888) 426-4435.

Concentrated oils — tea tree, pennyroyal, wintergreen, pine, eucalyptus, citrus — can cause drooling, tremors, and liver issues, by skin contact or diffuser exposure. 'Natural' does not mean pet-safe.

What to do: Move the dog to fresh air, wash any oil off the coat, and call APCC (888) 426-4435 for concentrated exposures.

Contains myristicin. A tiny culinary sprinkle is low-risk, but large amounts can cause disorientation, a racing heart, and tremors. Watch for baked goods that pair nutmeg with raisins or xylitol.

What to do: Trace amounts in food are usually fine; a spilled jar or large dose warrants a call to poison control.

Risk of Salmonella and other bacteria for both the dog and your household. Raw egg whites also contain avidin, which can interfere with biotin absorption over time. This is a debated topic; cook to be safe.

What to do: Cook meat and eggs plain (no seasoning). If your dog ate spoiled raw meat and is vomiting, call your vet.

Large amounts cause salt poisoning: excessive thirst, vomiting, tremors, and seizures. Homemade play dough and rock salt / ice melt are common sources of a big dose.

What to do: A few chips are usually fine. A large or concentrated dose (play dough, ice melt) warrants a call to APCC (888) 426-4435.

The bulb concentrates the toxins. Digging up and chewing bulbs causes intense drooling, vomiting, and, in large amounts, heart and breathing changes. Daffodil bulbs are similar.

What to do: Watch dogs around freshly planted bulbs. Call APCC (888) 426-4435 for a real ingestion.

The flesh is a sweet, crunchy, vitamin-rich treat. Only the seeds and core are a concern (trace cyanide plus a choking risk), so core it first.

What to do: Slice it, remove the core and seeds. Fine in moderation.

Soft, sweet, potassium-rich treat dogs love. High in sugar, so keep portions small.

What to do: A few small slices. Moderation because of the sugar.

Antioxidant-rich, low in calories, and most dogs love them frozen. A genuinely good treat.

What to do: Fine in moderation as part of the 10% treat allowance.

Low-calorie, crunchy, good for teeth. Raw or cooked, plain. A solid training-treat swap.

What to do: Fine in moderation. Cut into bite-size pieces for small dogs to avoid choking.

Crunchy, hydrating, almost no calories. A great hot-weather treat for dogs watching their weight.

What to do: Cut into bite-size pieces. Fine in moderation.

Low-calorie and filling — vets often recommend them to bulk up meals for dogs on a diet. Plain, fresh, steamed, or canned with no added salt.

What to do: Plain only, no salt, butter, or seasoning.

A classic high-value treat and a great way to stuff a chew toy — but ONLY if it does not contain xylitol (birch sugar). Always read the label.

What to do: Check the ingredient list for xylitol/birch sugar every time. If it's clean, it's a great treat.

Boneless, skinless, unseasoned cooked chicken is a vet-recommended bland-diet staple and a high-value training reward.

What to do: No bones, skin, onion, or garlic. Plain and cooked through.

Cooked egg is a good source of protein. Cook it plain — no butter, salt, or oil — and skip raw egg (Salmonella, avidin).

What to do: Cooked and plain. A whole egg is a lot for a small dog; portion accordingly.

Cooked, plain, no skin — fiber and vitamins. A common ingredient in quality dog foods. Never raw, and never with butter or marshmallow.

What to do: Cooked and plain. Introduce slowly to avoid loose stool.

A small amount of plain, unsweetened yogurt is fine for most dogs and adds probiotics — but it must be xylitol-free, and very lactose-sensitive dogs may get loose stool.

What to do: Plain and xylitol-free only. Start with a small spoonful to check tolerance.

Plain canned pumpkin (not pie filling) is fiber that helps with both loose stool and mild constipation. Pie filling has added sugar and spices — avoid it.

What to do: A spoonful for small dogs, a few for large. Plain only, never pie filling.

Plain cooked white rice is the other half of the classic bland diet (with boiled chicken) for an upset stomach.

What to do: Plain, cooked, no seasoning. Useful for short-term GI upset alongside a vet's advice.

Vitamin-rich and most dogs enjoy them. Higher in sugar than some fruits, so keep it to a few.

What to do: Wash, cut, and serve in moderation.

Hydrating summer treat. The rind can cause GI upset or obstruction and the seeds are a minor choking risk, so serve the flesh only.

What to do: Flesh only, seedless or de-seeded. Skip the rind.