Dogs are notorious for stealing table scraps and begging for a snack. Many pet-owners love to sneak their pup a little treat from the kitchen counter, and dogs love to nose through the trash for a discarded tid-bit. Still, there are some substances that are dangerous, and if your pet gets a hold of them, you will want to call a vet immediately. The first treat you should never feed your dog is one of man's favorite things: chocolate. While humans find this dark cocoa candy a luxury, it can send a dog into danger. Chocolate contains a compound known as theobromine. This is a cardiac stimulant and a diuretic and it can ravage your dog's system. After your dog has eaten a large quantity of chocolate, he or she may seem fine for a few hours. Still, after two to three hours, the chocolate will infiltrate your dog's digestive system, and this may cause vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, tremors, arrhythmia, and labored breathing. Dogs who have consumed chocolate also tend to stagger, and suffer seizures. These symptoms will normally persist for twenty-four hours, and then end in death. Some dogs will go into a coma because of the pain.

Cocoa powder and cooking chocolate are the most poisonous forms of this candy. According to one research study, a packet of cocoa powder or half a block of cooking chocolate is enough to kill a 10-kilogram dog. These forms of chocolate have ten times the amount of theobromine that is found in a Hershey's bar. Chocolate cakes or icings are normally packed with powder and baking chocolate, so it is important that you keep your dog away from the kitchen while baking. Don't offer Fido a piece of the cake, no matter how cute he is when he begs. Semi-sweet chocolate and dark chocolate are also dangerous for pets. While milk chocolate can cause illness, it is not as effective as the other forms. Still, the danger of the amount of any form of chocolate is relative to the size of your dog. A Chihuahua can suffer from a nibble of cooking chocolate while it may take a block or two to affect a Great Dane.

Another dangerous food for Fido is potent veggies like onions and garlic. Both of these possess an ingredient called thiosulphate. This chemical affects the dog's red blood cells, causing them to burst when they come into contact with the thiosulphate. This condition is called haemolytic anemia and can be painful and fatal for your pet. Along with this condition, a dog who eats too many onions or garlic cloves can suffer liver damage. Other discomforts include vomiting, labored breathing, diarrhea and problems with the digestive tract. Normally, these symptoms will not show up until a few days after the onion or garlic was eaten. All forms of onions can be a dangerous problem, regardless of how they were prepared. Dishes with onions or garlic, such as pizzas, Chinese food dishes, baby foods, or soups are harmful for your pet. Do not feed your dog anything with onion powder. Garlic must be consumed in larger quantities than onions, but it can still cause serious illness.

Mushrooms can be fatal for a dog, and some species of these fungi are more dangerous than others. Amanita phalloides are the most toxic form of mushroom, but there are many hurtful forms. Outdoor dogs may find these mushrooms growing naturally in the yard and nibble at them out of curiosity. If you find that your dog is vomiting, convulsing, or suffering from abdominal pain, it may be because he consumed these hazardous veggies. Wild fungi can result in liver and kidney damage as well as comas. In extreme cases, your dog could perish.

Also, you should never feed your pooch grapes or raisins. Even just a handful of these can make a dog very sick in a short amount of time. The Animal Poison Control Center discovered that dogs who were regularly eating grapes developed acute renal kidney failure. While veterinarians have yet to pinpoint what makes these little fruits so dangerous, many cases have shown that dogs that consume grapes will vomit, refrain from eating, and become lethargic. Macadamia nuts are another danger. These have a high amount of phosphorus, which can lead to painful bladder stones. Dogs that eat too many macadamia nuts will develop a tremor in the skeletal muscles and may experience weakness or paralysis in the hindquarters. A dogs' limbs may also swell in reaction to these nuts.

Do not allow your dog to snack on cat food, because this is too high in protein and fats to make a good meal substitute. Also, do not allow your dog to chew on fish bones, which can lacerate the digestive system. Fat trimmings from meats can cause your dog to contract pancreatitis. Some dogs and cats are not able to break down lactose, so it is best to refrain from giving your dog anything dairy. Also, dogs cannot eat raw eggs or raw fish. Raw eggs contain an enzyme known as avidin which decreases the absorption of biotin and can lead to skin and fur problems. Raw eggs may also contain salmonella, a threat to dogs and humans alike. Raw fish can cause a B vitamin deficiency that may result in seizures or death. If your pet has eaten any of these foods and is not showing signs of illness, contact a veterinarian immediately. An experienced pet doctor can help to treat your dog and give him the proper medications in hopes of a full recovery.