6 Summer Food Your Dog Should Not Eat

Nothing says summertime like backyard barbecues and poolside parties. Great food usually goes along with great parties, but what humans consider delicious summertime food may be harmful to our dogs. That bowl of guacamole or plate of grapes could cause a lot of problems should your dog decide to chow down. Here are six summer foods your dog should avoid:

1. Ice Cream

Dogs shouldn’t eat ice cream because they don’t digest dairy very well. They can also have an intolerance to lactose, a sugar found in milk products. Ingestion may cause GI signs such as diarrhea and vomiting.

2. Macadamia Nuts

It is unknown what chemical in these nuts is so toxic to dogs but ingestion can be fatal. Within 12 hours of ingestion, dogs develop weakness, depression, vomiting, ataxia, tremors, and/or hyperthermia, the tremors may be secondary to muscle weakness.

3. Grapes/Raisins

Although refreshing to us humans, this fruit is extremely fatal if ingested by a dog. They can cause rapid kidney failure when consumed and must be treated immediately. Clinical signs of ingestion would be lethargy, dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite.

4. Avocados

Avocado contains a toxin called persin which can have toxic effects on dogs. They can cause upset stomachs in dogs, breathing difficulties, and fluid buildup in the chest. Not only is the fruit part of the Avocado dangerous but the pit as well. The pit is can be swallowed by dogs which can lead to obstruction of the gastrointestinal tract leading to the need of excision of the pit via surgical procedures.

5. Apple Cores

Apple cores contain a chemical called cyanide. This chemical has been shown to be very toxic to dogs. Symptoms after ingestion of the toxin are dizziness, struggling to breath, seizures, collapsing, hyperventilation, shock and sometimes coma.

6. Onions and Garlic

Onions and Garlic have sulfa containing oxidants that destroy red blood cells. This can occur 3-5 days after ingestion, which may cause a life threatening anemia, depending on how much of the onion or garlic was ingested. Some animals will first develop gastrointestinal upset, but if the anemia is significant, they will become lethargic, depressed, have a fast heart rate, will breathe rapidly, and may even become icteric (yellow in color). If proper supportive and symptomatic care is implemented soon after ingestion, most animals are able to recover. If for any reason consumption of any of these foods may have been thought to happen, please contact your local veterinarian or ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center immediately.