Dogs and Chocolate Don't Mix — What Other Foods Should Pets Avoid?

When my now 2-year-old Boxer bulldog was a puppy he ate something that almost gave me a heart attack — chocolate. 

My sweet, little baby somehow got a bag of Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Miniatures off my high-top kitchen table and ate the entire bag — foil and all. 

His big brother, my American bulldog Buster, probably helped eat some of the candy, but with Buster's weight — about 90 pounds at that time — my vet wasn't concerned about him.

For Louie, who probably weighed less than 20 pounds, my vet had to induce vomiting. Louie is still recognized by vet staff as the dog that ate the bag of Reese's candy and threw up what seemed to be his weight in chocolate and foil. 

While I've always known dogs shouldn't eat chocolate, I learned from that experience why — chocolate contains theobromine, a stimulant found in cocoa beans that can cause vomiting, heart problems, seizures and event death for dogs. But when should you be concerned about your dog eating chocolate? According to National Geographic, it depends on the type of chocolate and the weight of the dog — an interactive chocolate chart can help pet parents determine whether a dog has had too much. 

In addition to chocolate, the American Veterinary Medical Assocation offers a list of foods pets should not eat. 

Six foods you should avoid feeding your dog or cat

1. Xylitol-containing products — xylitol is an artificial sweetener often found in sugar-free candy and gum
2. Onions
3. Grapes and raisins
4. Fatty and fried foods
5. Macadamia nuts
6. Avocados

Check out other posts related to National Pet Week. 

Has your pet eaten something he or she shouldn't and you had to make a special trip to see the vet? Tell us about it in comments. 

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