14 People Foods That Will Poison Your Puppy

Any good dog owner knows it’s a bad idea to feed your dog chocolate. And you know at Christmas to keep the pooch out of the poinsettias. But the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center handled more than 17,000 cases of poisoned pets in 2009 — and not all of them were because Snarf got into your Cadbury’s stash.

There are many, many human foods that will cause an adverse reaction when consumed by canines, but our science-y brethren at Consumer Reports rounded up this list of common pooch-poisoners:

* Alcohol
* Avocados
* Chocolate
* Coffee grounds
* Grapes and raisins
* Gum or candy with xylitol
* Human vitamin supplements
* Macadamia nuts
* Mushrooms
* Onions and garlic (raw, cooked, powder)
* Salt
* Tea
* Tobacco
* Yeast dough

Different foods cause different problems in dogs, including cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, respiratory, neurological or blood problems, and even organ failure.

If you think your pet has eaten something poisonous, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA’s Animal Poison Control Center hotline (888-426-4435; a consultation fee may apply).

For more information and links to helpful sites, check out the full article over at ConsumerReports.org.

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