Chocolate, this is probably what every dog owner and even some of our dog-less counterparts knows. The same chemical that gives chocolate especially dark chocolate it distinctive taste can be fatal to dogs.And when we say fatal, we mean fatal, because there have been numerous dog fatalities due to chocolate.

Grapes, this is a snack you may not expect to be dangerous for dogs. After all, its a fruit! But some dogs are especially sensitive to grapes and raisins and can suffer kidney damage from eating the sweet food. The cultivation of the domesticated grape began 6,0008,000 years ago in the Near East and fairly early on it was discovered that they should not be given to dogs. The reason some dogs develop renal failure following ingestion of grapes and raisins is not known. Types of grapes involved include both seedless and seeded, store bought and homegrown, and grape pressings from wineries. Their toxicity to dogs can cause the animal to develop acute renal failure the sudden development of kidney failure with anuria a lack of urine production.

Garlic and onions, allium sativum, commonly known as garlic, is a species in the onion genus, Allium. Strangely enough, Allium is the substance thats toxic to dogs. With a history of human use of over 7,000 years, garlic is native to central Asia, and has long been a staple in the Mediterranean region, as well as a frequent seasoning in Asia, Africa, and Europe. Garlic has been used as both food and medicine in many cultures for thousands of years, dating at least as far back as when the Giza pyramids were built. The onion is most frequently a biennial or a perennial plant, but is usually treated as an annual and harvested in its first growing season. Although its rare for a dog to eat enough garlic or onions to hurt themselves, you should be aware of the possible dangers such as damaging their red blood cell production.

Macadamia nuts are very healthy for humans, they have the highest amount of monounsaturated fats of any known seed and contain approximately 22 of omega-7 palmitoleic acid, which has biological effects similar to monounsaturated fat. They also contain 9 protein, 9 carbohydrate, and 2 dietary fiber, as well as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, selenium, iron, thiamine, riboflavin and niacin. However, we must warn you that these delicious Hawaiian nuts can be dangerous to dogs although theyre not usually fatal. A dog that has eaten macadamia nuts could experience weakness in his legs and even suffer tremors for up to 48 hours. So if you notice these symptoms, rush your dog to the vet immediately.

The avocado Persea americana is a tree native to Mexico and Central America, classified in the flowering plant family Lauraceae along with cinnamon, camphor and bay laurel. Fortunately, cinnamon, camphor and bay laurel are not as toxic to dogs as avocado is. He owes that to one chemical that makes him probably the worst food your furry friend can accidentally eat. All parts of avocados contain the chemical persin, one of the chemicals that was discovered relatively recently in human history but its somewhat late discovery does not diminish its negative effects. This substance can be highly toxic to dogs and are also dangerous to many other animals. Birds also seem to be particularly sensitive to this toxic compound.

Alcohol the thing that is found in alcoholic beverages and is toxic to dogs is ethanol. Ethanol, also called ethyl alcohol, pure alcohol, grain alcohol, or drinking alcohol, is a volatile, flammable, colorless liquid. Its also a psychoactive drug and is one of the oldest recreational drugs still used by humans. It can cause alcohol intoxication when consumed. They cant process the substance nearly as well as humans and can be fatal for them. Of course, same goes for humans, some of us are willing to let alcohol destroy our bodies, but our pets do not have the cognitive ability to make that choice and distinction. With the holidays coming up, keep in mind that dogs are especially tempted by eggnog.Although some people think that theres nothing funnier than a dog who had something to drink, this unusual and cruel practice is actually hurting the dogs very seriously, especially if it becomes the habit. So pay close attention to your younger friends and relatives who might try to do something similar and prevent them from hurting those poor, defenseless animals.

Bread dough, this may seem obvious, but the yeast found in dough is dangerous for dogs. This also means that you shouldn't, under any circumstances give your dog bread dough, not even in small quantities. The enzymes in the yeast convert the sugar in the dough to ethanol alcohol and carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide is what makes the dough rise and if happens after the dough had been eaten by your pet, you know where and what will happen. After eating, the yeast can multiply in your dogs stomach causing pain or even as bad as destroying tissue. The kitchen can be a dangerous place for a dog. However, by continuously expanding your knowledge and being aware of the hazards, your dog can live a long and healthy life!

Anything with caffeine in it, while caffeine is something that we consume on a daily basis, this substance is very toxic for dogs. Caffeine poisoning is something that cannot be treated, and for now there is no known cure for this condition. When consumed in large quantities it can cause an almost instant death, so be very careful with anything that has caffeine as its main ingredient. This especially goes for energy drinks that besides caffeine also contain alcohol, taurin and other ingredients that may harm and even kill your furry friend, if youre not careful. List includes coffee, tea, Coca-Cola and energy drinks, especially Red Bull that seems to be quite popular among the younger generations, but is highly toxic to dogs.

Bones and leftovers, give a dog a bone, as the old saying goes, but that is exactly what it is: an old saying and it should be left where it belongs: in the past! We have come a long way and now we have an almost full understanding of the way body works and what substances are healthy and what substances are hazardous. You may think that its only natural to give lunch leftovers, usually bones with some meat on them, to your dog but this may cause some serious health problems. Some of them even include pancreatitis that can lead to problems with regulating blood sugar levels and digestion. All these problems are very serious and should not be taken lightly, so be very careful when it comes to leftovers.

Ice cream, dogs love flavors and intriguing smells but dont be tempted to give them ice cream. Ice cream is sometimes the easiest choice for dog owners when it comes to treats, but dont be that lazy person thats willing to sacrifice its beloved dogs health only to remain home and watch TV half an hour longer. It can cause relatively serious intestinal problems that can lead to internal bleeding and when this happens the chances of survival drop pretty steeply. Although its not lethal in small amounts, its still something that you just shouldn't do. Usually, after eating ice cream, dogs will get diarrhea and start scratching themselves like crazy.

Raw meat and fish, as we get closer to the end of our list, one general rule can be determined: dont give your dog food you wouldn't eat yourself. Raw meat can cause various bacterial infections, and the same goes for fish. Salmon is especially dangerous since it can cause salmon poisoning disease that can kill your best friend in two weeks. Salmon poisoning disease is caused by infection with a type of rickettsia, Neorickettsia helminthoeca. Symptoms of SPD begin about one week after eating the salmon and include vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, depression, high fever, and enlarged lymph nodes.

Plums belong to the Prunus genus of plants and are relatives of the peach, nectarine and almond. They are all considered drupes, fruits that have a hard stone pit surrounding their seeds. So, actually, its any fruits that have large seeds or pits, for obvious reasons, as inflammations and intestinal obstructions are caused by them. In addition, dogs, especially if older, can break their teeth on these pits while they are trying to chew them down enough. The thing you should do is to put pits or seeds in one separate bag that will be tightly tied and immediately disposed of, as stray dogs are often going through garbage they shouldn't eat things that might harm them too.

Salt is a mineral substance composed primarily of sodium chloride NaCl, a chemical compound belonging to the larger class of ionic salts. In its natural form as a crystalline mineral is known as rock salt or halite. We are certain that you wouldnt feed your dog raw salt, but it is good to know just how dangerous this substance is for them, just in case something happens. Salt and salty snacks that are more likely to be eaten can cause vomiting, excessive shaking and dehydration. These are the very symptoms you should keep an eye out for, because the sooner you can recognize them, the sooner the treatment may begin, the treatment that may save your pets life.

Candy, deeply rooted in our culture, this habit has to be changed, for the sake of the dogs. The thing with our culture is that we are extremely lazy, and although this characteristic may have benefited us in a way that we looked for easier ways to get things done, saving precious time it also posed and poses a problem when it comes to our health. Its much easier to grab some of the human treats like chocolate balls, candy or even gum and toss it to the dog as a reward then to buy specific candy, especially made for our furry friends that does not contain any harmful ingredients. Of course, its okay to give your dog a treat, but you have to be careful with the kind of the treat.

Chicken jerky products, even the FDA Food and Drug Administration had to issue an official report concerning these products that are highly toxic to dogs. Some of them can even be found in stores today. Imported from China, these products can cause death and illness, but theres no clear explanation why this is happening. The important thing is that it is happening and that you should not buy these products.