10 Common Aussie Foods That Are Toxic to Dogs

You are well aware of the nutritious foods you should consume, but occasionally (or frequently) you find yourself knee-deep in a bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos and are baffled as to how you got there. You might decide to permanently stop eating junk food after just one more chip. You may have gone through this process more than once, consuming more food than you would care to admit at times and less-than-healthy food at other times.

You can choose what you eat. Where, when, and what you eat are all completely up to you. On the other side, your dog isn’t given this option and as a responsible pet parent you always want to give your pets the best food possible, but many dog parents are unaware of the lengthy list of things that dogs cannot eat.

Not to worry, we’ve compiled the most comprehensive list of harmful foods for dogs commonly found in Australia. It will become simpler with some practice to keep your dog away from harmful foods.

Here’s a list of harmful foods to dogs commonly found in Australia:

1 – Alcohol

Alchohol and dogs

Even very small amounts of alcohol can be quite bad for your dog. It could cause diarrhea and nausea. Similar to humans, it will result in central nervous system depression, which can also cause breathing issues, tremors, a coma, and even death. Don’t leave your glasses out of your sight because this is riskier with tiny dogs and puppies.

2 – Macadamia nuts

It is usually present in baked products including trail mix, cookies, muffins, and cakes.  It is one of the top common human foods that you should never give your dog. Vomiting, ataxia (loss of coordination), weakness, hyperthermia (overheating), and sadness are side effects of consuming macadamia nuts.

3 – Onion & Garlic

Onion and garlic

These common seasonings include a mix that makes dogs anemic. Overeating by your dog can result in severe toxicity.

4 – Chocolate

Theobromine, an ingredient in chocolate, can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and, in severe cases, heart issues, tremors, and even death.

5 – Caffeine

Caffeine in dogs, especially little dogs, causes rapid heartbeat and possibly death. Keep your cups away from your dog because only one or two sips are enough to warrant an emergency visit.

6 – Sweets

Sugar on its own can cause obesity, dental issues, and even diabetes. This is in addition to the fact that many sweets contain artificial sweeteners, which can be harmful. So make sure your dog should not have any Tim Tams!

7 – Grapes and raisins

We should be concerned about raisins in other foods besides simply their fruit form because they are present in many of the foods we enjoy, including cereal, cakes, and biscuits. Although the toxin’s actual active element is unknown, both grapes and raisins have the potential to seriously harm the kidneys and the liver.

8 – Avocados

It may be a superfood for humans, but it’s not a good fit for dogs. Although they don’t have as much trouble as horses and birds do, they nevertheless have a hard time digesting it. Moreover, it can lead to cardiovascular problems if used in big amounts.

9 – Xylitol

This artificial sweetener causes liver failure and a reduction in blood sugar in dogs. It can be found in diet meals, gum, toothpaste, and lollipops. This kind of sweetener is extremely harmful to your dog.

10 – Home-cooked food and table scraps

Dogs shouldn’t eat human food because it contains too many ingredients, salt, and spices. For instance, while chicken may be okay for dogs on its own, it becomes a big no-no when combined with tomatoes, onion, and cheese. Home-cooked food poisoning can result in hospitalization, death, and gastrointestinal problems (such as vomiting and diarrhea).