Foods to Avoid or Restrict
The following foods should be restricted (used sparingly) in a canine diet:
§ Garlic: beneficial in doses up to 1 small clove per 20 pounds of body weight, but can cause anemia if given in larger quantities.
§ Potatoes (the regular kind, not sweet potatoes), tomatoes, peppers (all kinds), and eggplant may aggravate arthritis pain, but are otherwise fine to feed.
§ Grains and starchy veggies may also aggravate arthritis and other forms of inflammation.
While most foods safe for people are also safe for dogs, there are a few notable exceptions.
Here are some foods you should not feed your dog:
§ Onions: can cause a form of anemia. Reaction is dose-dependent and can build up over time. Small amounts are not harmful, but there’s no reason to feed them.
§ Macadamia nuts: toxic to dogs, even in very small amounts.
§ Chocolate and caffeine: toxic to dogs.
§ Xylitol, a natural sweetener, is toxic to dogs.
§ Grapes and raisins: can cause kidney failure in a few dogs for unknown reasons if fed in large amounts; 3 to 6 ounces per 20 lbs of body weight is the lowest amount known to have caused toxicity. Many dog owners use grapes and raisins – in small amounts – as a training treat or snack and have seen no ill effects; others feel the potential for danger exceeds the value of feeding grapes or raisins.
Most important: Do not leave bunches or grapes or boxes of raisins anywhere your dog might be able to get them. Most cases of grape toxicity occurred when a dog “stole” a large ration.