11 veggies that can poison your dog and aren’t safe to eat

Vegetables are healthy snacks for humans and dogs. Not only that, but they’re an essential part of both of our diets! They provide the vitamins and nutrients your dog needs to survive.

However, not all vegetables that are healthy for humans can be fed to dogs. If you don’t know better, it can be easy to make a mistake and feed them a dangerous food when thinking about feeding them something healthy!

Vegetables that can poison your dog include mushrooms, rhubarb, those in the allium family like onions and garlic, and some in the nightshade family like unripe tomatoes or undercooked potatoes. If your dog eats a toxic vegetable, call a vet right away.

In this article, we’ll talk about 11 popular vegetables that are toxic or otherwise dangerous for dogs to eat. Remember that this is not an exhaustive list, which means that a vegetarian is not safe just because they are not listed here.

1. Mushrooms

Wild mushrooms can be toxic to dogs, so it’s best to avoid feeding them altogether. That said, mushrooms you buy at the grocery store are safe in small quantities.

While most of us know to avoid eating or feeding our dogs unidentified mushrooms, sometimes they can sprout in your garden or other outdoor places your dog frequents, such as in the neighborhood where you walk or in a local park.

It’s important to make sure they don’t eat them! Long term; every dog ​​should have a solid “drop it” and “drop it” cue in case they get hold of dangerous things like toxic mushrooms. If they grow in the garden, your dog may need constant supervision so he doesn’t eat them.

In the short term, keeping your dog on a short leash or muzzling him can help prevent him from eating mushrooms he shouldn’t.

2. Vegetables That Can Poison Your Dog: Onions

Dogs cannot eat onions or any part of an onion plant. This includes foods with onion powder, which is more concentrated and therefore also more toxic than whole food.

An average breed dog can experience dangerous levels of toxicity from eating just one onion or the equivalent.

Symptoms of onion toxicity include lethargy, weakness, decreased appetite, vomiting, pale gums, increased heart rate, excessive wheezing, fainting, and red colored urine.

Dogs can die from onion poisoning, especially if they don’t receive veterinary care. If your dog eats onions, call the nearest emergency veterinary clinic immediately for help.

3. Garlic

Garlic is another vegetable that is very toxic to dogs. Like onions, it is toxic in all forms, including fresh, cooked and powdered.

Unfortunately, garlic is even more toxic than onions – it’s up to five times more potent. Like onions and other alliums, garlic damages a dog’s red blood cells. This can result in all of the symptoms listed in the “onion” section above.

It is important to take your dog to the vet immediately if he has eaten garlic. Don’t wait for an appointment or even for them to show symptoms, as some damage may be invisible, and catching poisoning early can prevent your dog from getting sick in the first place.

Another important note is to never induce vomiting at home unless otherwise directed by a veterinary professional. This can actually do more harm than good in some cases.

4. Vegetables That Can Poison Your Dog: Chives

Chives are another food belonging to the Allium family of plants, and therefore also toxic, like the foods above. According to the Pet Poison Hotline, some Japanese breeds such as Akitas and Shiba Inus are more sensitive to the toxicity of Allium.

Chives, in particular, can cause red blood cell damage, stomach upset, and weakness. Symptoms may not appear until several days after your dog eats chives.

As with the foods above, it’s important to call a vet for immediate help.

5. Leeks

Leeks are also part of the Allium family, and your dog can exhibit the same symptoms as the vegetables above: red blood cell damage, anemia, and gastrointestinal distress.

Remember that if your dog eats various types of Allium, he could still suffer from poisoning even if each vegetable is eaten below the normal poisoning threshold.

This is because they all contain the same toxic compounds. The poisoning can also build up in a dog’s system for days if they continue to consume small amounts.

6. Vegetables That Can Poison Your Dog: Shallots

The last Allium vegetable on our list, shallots, is also not safe for your dog to eat. If your dog consumes shallots, take him to the vet right away.

7. Rhubarb

Rhubarb contains oxalic acid, making it toxic for dogs to eat.

Symptoms of rhubarb poisoning include drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite, tiredness, weakness, tremors, changes in thirst or urination, and blood in the urine. Kidney failure has been noted in dogs that ate large quantities of rhubarb.

If your dog eats rhubarb, call an emergency veterinary clinic or pet hotline right away. Let them know how much your dog has eaten and if he is currently showing symptoms of poisoning.

8. Underripe tomatoes

Tomatoes are technically fruits, but many people view them as vegetables. While ripe tomatoes are safe for dogs to eat, unripe tomatoes are not. The plant itself is also toxic to dogs.

Symptoms of tomato poisoning include stomach pain, lethargy, incoordination, decreased appetite, weakness, excessive drooling, dilated pupils, tremors, seizures and heart problems.

According to the American Kennel Club, tomato poisoning is rare and a dog would need to eat a lot to suffer any adverse effects. However, it’s best to consult a pet hotline or a veterinarian if your dog eats unripe tomatoes or any part of a tomato plant. Small dogs and puppies are most at risk of poisoning.

9. Vegetables That Can Poison Your Dog: Raw potatoes

Raw potatoes contain solanine, which is toxic to dogs. Levels of solanine in potatoes decrease during cooking, which is why we previously thought cooked potatoes were safe.

However, it appears that white potatoes may be linked to canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), which is a heart condition. The FDA is currently studying the role of many fillers in grain-free dog foods to determine why they’ve been linked to an increased risk of heart disease.

Therefore, I personally would avoid feeding potatoes altogether until the FDA can fully study DCM and we know its cause.

10. Peas

While nontoxic, peas are likely linked to DCM in dogs. They might be fine in small amounts: Current studies focus on peas used as a filler in grain-free dog foods.

However, I recommend avoiding them until we have more information. It’s just not worth the risk when other great veggies aren’t going to hurt our furry friends.

11. Vegetables That Can Poison Your Dog: Chilli

Also not technically toxic, hot peppers can irritate your dog’s mouth, throat and digestive system. Dogs do not tolerate spicy foods and also do not like to eat them.

Therefore, please avoid feeding hot peppers. Also, keep your dog out of the garden if you’re growing pepper plants, as the leaves and stems are toxic to them.

Bell peppers and other sweet peppers are mostly suitable for dogs, but please research the individual type of pepper to ensure you are feeding one that is safe.

What vegetables are safe to feed dogs?

Luckily, there are a variety of vegetables that are safe for dogs that we can turn to instead of the ones on this list. Vegetables make great healthy snacks for dogs, along with fruit and small pieces of cooked, unseasoned meat.

Some of the tastiest vegetables to feed your dog include sweet potatoes, squash and carrots. Sweet potatoes contain large amounts of vitamin A, while pumpkin contains fiber to help regulate a dog’s digestive system.

Carrots are a favorite snack for many dogs. They can be fed in small chunks which is preferable for small dogs and puppies. Large dogs can also eat them as if they were chewed: some people even freeze them to make them a little harder.

This can keep your dog busy, but remember to supervise your dog at all times. If they try to swallow large chunks or the whole carrot, take it away and avoid giving it to them in the future.

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