Cooking for your pet can be fun and rewarding for you and your pet.  As you know from your own experience, a freshly baked treat is much tastier than something that comes in a package.  But, there are many food ingredients that can be harmful for our pets.  Knowing what to avoid is key at preventing illness in your pets.  The following is a short list of dangerous food items to keep away from your pet.  

Chocolate 

Chocolate is a mixture of cocoa beans and cocoa butter. It contains theobromine and caffeine. Chocolate can cause increased heart rate, tremors, and excitation, depending on the type and the quantity ingested. Unfortunately, dogs are sensitive to the effects of chocolate, which can cause hyperactivity, increased heart rate, tremors, and potentially death when ingested at a toxic dose. Other effects seen with chocolate overdose are vomiting, diarrhea, increased thirst, increased urination, and lethargy. 

The amount of methylxanthines present in chocolate varies with the type. The general rule is the more bitter the chocolate, the more toxic it could be. In fact, unsweetened baking chocolate contains almost seven times more theobromine as milk chocolate, while white chocolate (a combination of cocoa butter, sugar, butterfat, milk solids, and flavorings without cocoa beans) contains negligible amounts of methylxanthines. 

Onions

Onions are  members of the genus Allium. Onions can be harmful to dogs and cats. Pieces of raw onion, onion powder, or even cooked onion can cause damage to red blood cells, which could result in hemolytic anemia. The primary toxic principle is n-propyl disulfide. 

Macadamia Nuts 

Macadamia nuts can be dangerous to dogs. According to a retrospective study by the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, clinical signs commonly reported in dogs ingesting macadamia nuts include weakness, depression, vomiting, incoordination, and tremors. In most cases, dogs developed clinical signs within the first twelve hours after eating the macadamia nuts. At this time, the toxic principle is not known, nor is the reason for dog sensitivity to this nut.

Ingestion of (rising) Bread Dough 

If a dog ingests a piece of bread dough that is uncooked and in the process of rising, it can be fatal.  The animal’s body heat will cause the dough to rise in the stomach. The dough can become many times larger as it expands in the stomach.  Alcohol is produced during the rising process. Signs seen with bread dough ingestion include severe abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, lack of coordination, and depression. Surgical intervention is often required with these cases.

Grapes and Raisins 

Some types of grapes and raisins have been shown to cause kidney failure in dogs when eaten in quantity. The basis for kidney failure following consumption of grapes or raisins is unclear, but this is being studied closely in the veterinary community. 

Xylitol 

Xylitol is a sugar alternative that is used in many commercial sugar-free candies, gum, and other food items. Xylitol has been shown to cause severe hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and liver damage in dogs and can be fatal.