Moldy foods- may contain mycotoxins that can cause muscle troemors, ataxia, and convulsions that last for several days.
Chocolate- contains theobromine and caffeine which can increase heart rate, cause tremors and potentially death. Other effects may be vomiting, diarrhea, increased thirst, increased urination, and lethargy.
Onions- cause damage to red blood cells which could result in anemia.
Macadamia Nuts- cause weakness, depression, vomiting, ataxia, tremors, and hyperthermia.
Rising Bread Dough- the animal's body heat causes the dough to rise in the stomach. Ethanol is produced during the process causing severe abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, incoordination, and depression.
Grapes and Raisins- cause kidney faulure in dogs when eaten in large quantities. The reason for this is unclear and the quantity that may cause renal failure is unknown. For this reason avoid feeding them all together.
Tobacco Products- it does not take as much nicotine as you would expect to cause toxic effects to a pet. Most cigarettes contain 13-30mg. Butts contain about 25% of the total nicotine content. The minimum lethal dose to dogs and cats is 20-100mg. Signs of toxicity develop quickly and include the following: excitability, salivation, vomiting, diarrhea, muscle weakness, twitching, depression, increased heart and respiratory rates but shallow breathing, collapse, coma, cardiac arrest, and/or possibly death.
Xylitol (additive in sugar free gum)- this ingredient which is common in sugar-free gum, candy, and other foods can cause low blood sugar and liver concerns.
Fried and Fatty Foods- i.e. potato chips, french fries, steak, hamburger meat, etc. have the potential to cause pancreatitis. Pancreatitis has signs taht vary in severity and that overlap with acute gastroenteritis, inflammatory bowel diseas, gastrointestinal obstruction, kidney failure, no appetite, lethargy, vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
