Toxic Foods and Everyday Dangers

Dogs explore the world with their mouths, and some of the most dangerous things for them are ordinary items in our kitchens, bags and parks. Here are the hazards worth knowing, and what to do if the worst happens.

If your dog eats something it shouldn’t

Call your veterinarian or the nearest emergency vet right away. Do not wait for symptoms. With several of these toxins (xylitol, grapes, some medications), early treatment makes a big difference, and signs can be delayed by hours.

• Have the package handy, and estimate how much your dog ate and when.
• Do not make your dog vomit unless a vet tells you to. It is not safe for every poison.
• If you cannot reach a vet, two 24/7 animal poison lines take calls. Both charge a consultation fee:
  • ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center: 1-888-426-4435
  • Pet Poison Helpline: 1-855-764-7661 (currently US$99 per incident)

Save your vet’s number, your nearest emergency clinic’s number and one poison line in your phone today.

Foods

Xylitol (also called birch sugar or wood sugar). This sweetener is one of the most dangerous things a dog can eat. In dogs it triggers a surge of insulin, and blood sugar can crash within 10 to 60 minutes. It can also cause liver failure. The FDA lists sugar-free gum and candy, breath mints, baked goods, some nut butters, toothpaste, mouthwash, chewable vitamins, cough syrup and other medicines as possible sources. Always check the label on peanut butter before using it for treats or pills, and use only dog toothpaste.

Chocolate (and coffee and caffeine). Chocolate contains methylxanthines, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, a racing heart, tremors and seizures. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous it is. Unsweetened baking chocolate is especially risky. Chocolate was the fourth most common toxin reported to the ASPCA’s poison centre in 2025, and dogs were the most frequent patients.

Grapes and raisins. These can cause sudden kidney failure. Some dogs eat them without problems and others become very ill from a small amount, and no safe amount is known. The ASPCA’s toxicologists suspect tartaric acid is the cause. Watch out for raisin bread, trail mix, granola bars and baked goods.

Onions, garlic and chives. These members of the onion family can upset the stomach and damage red blood cells, leading to anemia. How sick a dog gets depends on how much it eats, and that includes garlic or onion powder in seasoned foods.

Macadamia nuts. These can cause weakness, wobbliness, vomiting, tremors and fever, usually within 12 hours.

Alcohol and raw bread dough. Alcohol is absorbed quickly and can cause vomiting, poor coordination, breathing problems and, in severe cases, coma. Raw yeast dough can expand in the stomach and also produces alcohol as it ferments.

Cooked bones and corn cobs. These are not poisons, but they can break teeth or block the gut and may need surgery. Holiday leftovers and summer barbecues are prime time for these.

Cannabis

Cannabis poisoning is a familiar emergency at Canadian vet clinics. Studies disagree on how much cases rose after legalization in 2018, but in a 2022 survey of Canadian veterinarians led by University of Guelph researchers, most vets who noticed a change reported an increase. Edibles were the most common source, usually eaten while the dog was unsupervised.

Common signs include wobbliness, disorientation, dribbling urine, unusual sensitivity to touch or sound, lethargy and a slow heart rate. Most dogs recover with care, but edibles can also contain chocolate or xylitol, which adds risk.

What helps:

• Store cannabis, edibles and vape products in a locked or high cupboard, the same as medication.
• Watch what your dog sniffs and picks up on walks, including dropped food and litter.
• Be honest with your vet. They need to know what your dog ate to treat it safely, and they are there to help your dog.

Medications

Over-the-counter medicines and supplements were the number one source of pet poisoning calls to the ASPCA in 2025. Human prescription drugs, especially heart medications, antidepressants and ADHD medications, were also near the top.

• Never give your dog human pain relievers such as ibuprofen, naproxen or acetaminophen unless your vet tells you to. The FDA warns they can cause stomach problems and liver or kidney damage in dogs.
• Keep pill organizers, purses and backpacks out of reach. Dropped pills disappear fast.
• Flavoured chewable pet products (joint and calming chews, flea and tick chews) are tasty enough that dogs will eat a whole container. Veterinary products were the ASPCA’s fifth most common toxin in 2025.

Around the house and yard

Other common culprits on the ASPCA’s 2025 list include rodent bait, household cleaners and paints, insecticides, and certain indoor and outdoor plants. If you use rodent bait, put it where your dog cannot possibly reach it. Tell your daycare or dog walker if you have recently used bait, fertilizer or pest products in your yard.

BC seasonal hazards

Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria). In warm weather, lakes and ponds in BC can develop toxic algae blooms. In July 2025 the BC SPCA reported two suspected cases of algae poisoning in pets that swam in Nicola Lake near Merritt. Blooms can look like spilled paint, scum, foam or green globs, but you cannot tell by looking whether a bloom is toxic. Some toxins act very quickly. The BC SPCA notes exposure can be fatal within 15 minutes in some cases.

• Keep dogs out of water that looks discoloured, scummy or foamy, and check local beach advisories before you go.
• Signs include vomiting, diarrhea, drooling, weakness, tremors, trouble breathing, seizures and collapse.
• If your dog may have been exposed, rinse its coat with clean fresh water and go to a vet immediately.

Puddles and salt water. The BC SPCA advises discouraging dogs from drinking from stagnant puddles, which can carry bacteria and parasites. Swallowing a lot of salt water at the beach can also make dogs sick. Bring fresh water on outings.

Holidays. Halloween candy (chocolate and xylitol), Christmas baking (raisins, nuts, chocolate) and summer barbecues (bones, corn cobs, skewers) bring a spike in emergencies. Keep treats and garbage well out of reach.

The short version

Most poisonings happen when something tasty is left within reach. Keep the danger list out of nose range, check labels for xylitol, and if your dog eats something worrying, call your vet or emergency vet right away.

This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. Talk to your veterinarian about your own dog.