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Dangerous Fruits & Vegetables For Dogs

Breeding Business is passionate about all sorts of domesticated pets. They have written dozens of articles across the web.
Published on
Wednesday 21 January 2015
Last updated on
Tuesday 9 May 2023
Dangerous Veggies & Fruits For Dogs (Nuts, Avocados, Potatoes, Garlic, Onions, Nectarines, etc.)
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Unlike humans, dogs can’t choose what kind of food they’re going to eat or not. They’re not fully aware if those foods are dangerous for their health. That’s why as owners, it’s in our hands to have the right awareness of what type of fruits and vegetables are toxic for dogs.

Although recommended for us humans, there are various fruits and vegetables that are dangerous for dogs in some cases. While most of them are fine in small quantities, the ones we listed have to be avoided for the risks they represent.


Dangerous fruits and vegetables for dogs can represent a risk of hallucinations, choking, kidney failure, vomiting, or even gastric intestinal distress. And for you guys to avoid these incidents, we listed what fruits and vegetable dogs SHOULD avoid

Can Dogs Eat Grapes, Raisins, Potatoes, Nuts, Mushrooms, Avocados, Peaches, Fruits and Vegetables? Are they dangerous or edible? Infographic for Dog Breeders!
Dangerous fruits and vegetables for your dogs

Toxic Fruits Dogs Can’t Eat

There are healthy fruits that dogs CAN eat, some of them are apples, bananas, mangoes, and oranges. But as mentioned above, owners should know that listed below are fruits poisonous to dogs:

Avocado

First on our list is the avocado. This fruit is a big no for dogs since its pit, skin, and leaves contain persin, a toxin that’s poisonous to dogs. causes vomiting, poisoning, diarrhea, and myocardial damage.

Besides this, avocado has a high-fat content that can lead to gastrointestinal upset, weight gain, and pancreatitis in dogs if they consume too much. Another concern is the avocado pit that doesn’t digest well in dogs, if eaten it can cause choking or gastric/intestinal blockage.

Citrus Fruits (Lemons, Limes, Grapefruits, and Oranges)

Though citrus fruits are not that toxic to dogs, they can be very acidic and can cause digestive problems when eaten in large amounts. All citrus fruits have essential oils and chemical compounds that can be toxic to dogs especially if they have a sensitive digestive system.

For example, limes have high citric acid and sugar that can cause vomiting and diarrhea, while grapefruit can be safe for dogs except for its skin.

According to The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), the grapefruit plant and its peel are toxic to dogs. The flesh of the grapefruit is not that dangerous, but it can cause tummy irritation to dogs if a large amount is eaten.

Dried Fruits

The process of fruit dying like raisins, apricots, figs, and dates concentrates the sugar that makes it too sweet for dogs. Experts also found out that these fruits contain chemical compounds that can be harmful to dogs.

If eaten, your dogs can experience vomiting, diarrhea, or even dried-fruit poisoning that can cause kidney failure – but take note that these effects may vary depending on dog breeds and body size.

Wild Berries

Some berries contain nutrients and disease-fighting antioxidants to keep your body healthy but not all of them are safe to eat. Wild berries like holly, juniper, elderberries, and rowan are considered poisonous to dogs.

If ingested by your dogs, they can experience excessive drooling, seizures, breathing complications, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Plums, Peaches, Apricots

The seeds, leaves, and stems of apricot plants are toxic to dogs since it has a small amount of cyanide and can be harmful if eaten in large portions, cyanide poisoning includes panting, difficulty in breathing, and dilated pupils.

While pits of plums are sharp and can damage the stomach, intestines, and esophagus of your dogs. Peaches contain sugar-cyanide compounds called amygdalin that can cause temporary diarrhea and stomach upset in some dogs.

Apple seeds

Apples are considered a safe and healthy snack for dogs. However, the core and seeds of apples are considered toxic to dogs. Just like apricots, apple seeds contain cyanide that’s released once chewed, this can cause cyanide poisoning to dogs and instantly harm your dog.

To prevent this, make sure to remove apple seeds and core before feeding an apple to your dogs.

Cherries

Cherry’s pit, stems, and leaves contain cyanogenic glycosides that are dangerous to dogs. Cyanide delays the cellular oxygen transport of the dog’s blood cells that causes insufficient oxygen.

Once your dogs eat cherries they can experience difficulty in breathing, red gums, and dilated pupils which are common signs of cyanide poisoning. Cherry pits can also cause a problem once it’s swallowed by dogs since it can clog the dog’s digestive tract and cause intestinal blockages.

Grapes

Grapes and raisins are very toxic to dogs. No matter what breed, age, and size your dog is, these fruits are extremely dangerous for them. Dogs can experience effects like vomiting and diarrhea within 6-12 hours of ingestion and can develop anuric renal failure.

These fruits are so toxic that untreated grape poisoning can lead to kidney failure within 72 hours after eating. In fact, indigestion of grapes, zante currants, and raisins which belong to the family of Vitis genus has been associated with the development of renal failure in dogs.

Nuts

Not all nuts are harmful to dogs but it’s better to avoid them as much as possible. Generally, most nuts are not easily digested by dogs and can easily cause an upset stomach and gastric intestinal distress.

Besides these effects, nuts are high in calories and cause weight gain that can lead to obesity. Next is the high-fat content of nuts and high salt content that can cause gastrointestinal (GI) upset that can develop pancreatitis where the dog’s pancreas becomes irritated and inflamed.

As mentioned earlier there are nuts that are safe and toxic to dogs. Below are the different types of nuts that you can and cannot feed to your dogs.

Types of nuts that are safe and toxic to dogs

Types of NutsSafe
(but with moderation)
Toxic
Peanut Butter/almond butter
English walnuts
Black walnuts 
Macadamia Nuts
Pistachios
Cashews
Pecans
Almonds
Types of nuts that are safe and toxic to dogs

Poisonous Vegetables Dogs Can’t Eat

We are taught to eat our vegetables to grow healthy and bright but that’s not the case when it comes to dogs. Though they can eat some vegetables safely, there are toxic vegetables you shouldn’t feed to your furry friends.

Tomatoes

Even if the ripened tomato fruit is considered safe for dogs, the green parts of this plant have a toxic substance called solanine. Since tomatoes belong to the nightshade family of vegetables, it means that solanine is found in its stem and leaves – just like other related plants – which are harmful to animals like dogs.

When solanine is eaten by dogs, especially in large amounts, it can cause severe poisoning, tremors, seizures, cardiac effect, weakness, and gastrointestinal distress like vomiting and diarrhea.

Raw Potatoes

Raw potatoes’ sprout or green parts can cause diarrhea, drooling, and vomiting when ingested by dogs. Since raw potatoes have high levels of Solanine it can easily cause solanine poisoning to your pet. 

The only way to remove the solanine so your dogs can safely eat it is by boiling or baking the raw potatoes. Though diabetic dogs should not eat even cooked potatoes since it can cause an increase in blood sugar.

Potato skin contains oxalates that are okay for dogs, however, too much oxalate intake can cause kidney problems. Mashed and baked potatoes are totally fine as long as they are peeled, cooked thoroughly, unseasoned, and with a limited portion.

Mushroom

There are 50,000 mushroom species of mushroom worldwide and 50-100 of them are known to be toxic for dogs. Wild mushrooms such as Amanita phalloides and Inocybe spp are very toxic to dogs, but why do they eat these? Simply because these mushrooms have a fishy odor that’s very attractive to dogs.

Since there are many types of wild mushrooms, they also have different effects on your dogs:

  • Amanita mushrooms – contains amanitin toxins that can cause severe gastrointestinal symptoms, liver failure, acute kidney injury, and death.
  • Other types of Amanita mushrooms – can cause tremors, “drunk walking”, and seizures.
  • False morel – can cause diarrhea and severe vomiting.
  • Inocybe spp. and Clitocybe dealbata mushrooms – can cause eye watering, salivation, diarrhea, neurological signs, and increase urination.

Garlic, Onion and Chives

All these vegetables belong to the Allium Genus family that can be poisonous to pets especially cats and dogs. When dogs ingest onions it can cause their red blood cells to rupture that can develop into vomiting, diarrhea, nausea, and stomach pain.

If not treated it can develop to hemolytic anemia that destroys the dog’s red blood cells that lead to anemia and inflammation on your pet’s whole body. Onion poisoning can be more severe in Japanese breed dogs like Shiba, Akita, Shikoku, etc. 

Rhubarb

Rhubarb’s leaves can cause irritation of the mouth that increases salivation or drooling. Since this vegetable contains soluble calcium oxalate crystals that cause intense pain and irritation in the mouth and when absorbed, it’s better to keep this vegetable away from your dogs.

When chewed or swallowed, rhubarbs can cause vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, weakness, tremors, and bloody urine when eaten by dogs.

Dangerous Fruits and Vegetables for Dogs: FAQ


How can I help my dog with food poisoning?


When you’ve confirmed that your dog has been poisoned, you should try fasting your dog for 24 hours when they start vomiting. You can offer them water but not any solid food. You can also use salt water to induce vomiting but only when instructed by your veterinarian.


What is the most toxic fruit to dogs?


Grapes and raisins are extremely toxic for dogs. This fruit can cause rapid kidney failure, in fact, there are 180 reported cases of dogs that died after eating a handful of raisins.


How long does it take dogs to recover from food poisoning?


Mild poisonings can take a few days of recovery. But according to The ASPCA Poison Control, almost 25% of poisoned pets recover within two hours. 


What are the signs of food poisoning in dogs?


Food poisoning can cause vomiting and diarrhea in your dogs. In some severe cases, they can experience uncontrolled peeing, dizziness, nausea, and severe thirst.


How to “Reset” Your Dog’s Upset Stomach?


You can reset your dog’s upset stomach in 3 easy ways: withhold any food for 12 to 24 hours, keep your dog dehydrated, and prepare a bland diet. But take note that this may vary depending on the size of your dog. For more information, you can check this article or ask your veterinarian about it.

As pet owners, we are responsible for our dogs’ health. To prevent these incidents and to save lives, spread the word and share this page link on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and others!

Dangerous fruits and vegetables can be found in any home, so make sure your friends do not let their dog eat dangerous or poisonous foods even if these foods are veggies and fruits!

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