15 Foods You Should Never Give Your Dog

Why it's bad: You may not feel that hot after inhaling a plate of bacon — but it's even worse for your pooch. As delicious as it is, this breakfast treat contains loads of fat that can lead to pancreatitis (an inflamed pancreas that isn't functioning correctly) in dogs.

Worst-case scenario: "I saw a dog that had helped himself to four bacon-wrapped filet mignon skewers when the owners were outside prepping the grill," Sonja Olson, DVM recounts. "Not only did he eat all that fat and raw meat, but also the metal skewers, which could cause massive trauma in the stomach." Ultimately, surgery was required to remove the meat and the metal.

Why it's bad: You might thinking giving your pup the leftovers from your chicken or steak dinner is a nice, natural treat. But the truth is that dogs can easily choke on the bones, and when they're cooked, they can splinter and wreak havoc to your pup's insides.

Worst-case scenario: Bones can also get lodged in a dog's throat or stomach, leading to choking and a gastrointestinal obstruction — and when those situations go untreated, he could die.

Why it's bad: Raw meat and raw eggs could contain bacteria like salmonella or e. coli that's just as — if not more — harmful to pets as to humans. Raw eggs in particular contain an enzyme that decreases the absorption of biotin, which can lead to skin and coat problems.

Worst-case scenario: Vomiting, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal problems that may require hospitalization.

Why it's bad: For unknown reasons, grapes and raisins (as well as some cranberries and currants) can cause rapid kidney failure in dogs. It's also easy to forget how many foods in your kitchen can contain these culprits, such as trail mix, cookies, and Raisin Bran.

Worst-case scenario: "I've seen dogs that have had only a couple of raisins go into horrible kidney failure and have to be hospitalized for days," Justine Lee, DACVECC, DABT reports. Without proper treatment, this can lead to death.

Why it's bad: Most of our dogs are lactose intolerant, reports Olson. Just like in people who have this condition, eating things like milk, cheese, and ice cream can lead to a variety of stomach issues.

Worst-case scenario: Vomiting, diarrhea, and other gastrointestinal problems that may require hospitalization.

Why it's bad: Dogs are more sensitive to intoxication effects, explains Olson, who encourages pet owners to think of their dogs like children when it comes to beer and liquor. "Their enzymes are similar to ours, but the effects of alcohol are more potent." She notes that dogs gravitate toward sweet, mixed drinks (that mask the smell of alcohol) and beer instead of wine.

Worst-case scenario: Just like humans, dogs can suffer alcohol poisoning, which will require medical treatment.

Why it's bad: This sweet treat contains two different methylxanthines, theobromines, and caffeine. These compounds can lead to vomiting, dehydration, abdominal pain, muscle tremors, irregular hearth rhythm, elevated body temperature, seizures, and death.

Worst-case scenario: Lee recalls a horror story of a pug who died from chocolate poisoning after eating 8 ounces of semi-sweet baker's chocolate. "The owners didn't bring the dog in until 24 hours later when the dog had profuse diarrhea and vomiting. The dog aspirated the vomit into its lungs, which caused pneumonia and eventually death."

Why it's bad: These popular fruits are dangerous for two reasons. First, they have a high fat content, which can wreak havoc on your dog's tummy. Second, the slippery, hard pit is easy to swallow and can lead to a gastrointestinal obstruction. "If your dog eats an avocado pit, it would be like if your dog ate a golf ball," Lee notes. Yikes.

Worst-case scenario: Surgery to remove the blockage.

Why they're bad: Foods that are part of the Allium species can injure red blood cells in dogs, which means they can make the dog anemic, explains Justine Lee, DACVECC, DABT. They're only a serious issue, however, when eaten raw and in large amounts.

Worst-case scenario: Dogs can get hemolytic anemia, which requires a hospital trip. Complicating matters, it can take days before the anemia is revealed, Lee notes.

Why they're bad: Though these stone fruits aren't inherently bad for dogs, they're still dangerous because of their pits.

Worst-case scenario: Like with avocados, the pit can get lodged in a dog's throat or stomach, leading to choking and a gastrointestinal obstruction. If either of these situations goes untreated, we're talking death.

Why they're bad: Not only do they have a high fat content that can irritate dogs' stomachs, but also, for unknown reasons, macadamia nuts can be toxic too. According to Lee, a dose of about two nuts per pound can result in poisoning that can lead to a temporary inability to walk. It's a good idea to steer clear of all nuts, actually — especially almonds, pecans, and walnuts.

Worst-case scenario: In addition to paralysis, dogs can suffer severe weakness, nausea, and diarrhea that requires hospitalization.

Why it's bad: True, corn itself isn't toxic to dogs. But it can be a major hazard because even just a few inches of a cob is the perfect size to get stuck in their intestinal tract. What's more, corncobs are notoriously hard to see on an X-ray and doctors may have to find it with an ultrasound, Lee explains.

Worst-case scenario: Without surgery to remove the corncob, this can be fatal.

Why it's bad: Coffee acts like a stimulant in dogs and causes an increased heart rate, panting, heart arrhythmia, high blood pressure, tremors, and seizures. "Chocolate-covered espresso beans are a double-whammy," Olson notes.

Worst-case scenario: Seizures may cause secondary complications that can lead to death.

Why it's bad: Nearly all sugar-free or low-calorie candies or gums contain xylitol, a sugar substitute. It causes dogs' insulin levels to spike as well as creating serious liver problems. The most common culprit vets see? Sugar-free gum inside a purse on the floor. A tip: If xylitol is listed in the first three to five ingredients, it's typically poisonous for pups.

Worst-case scenario: Xylitol can lead to insulin spikes, low blood sugar, liver failure, and even death.

Why it's bad: Commercial white bread has tons of oil and sugar in it, which can cause pancreatitis in dogs. Particularly susceptible? Schnauzers, Olson notes, adding she treated one who had eaten an entire loaf of white bread. "He was so sick," she recalls. "We induced vomiting, but his pancreas was on fire. He was in the hospital for days."

Worst-case scenario: Eating too much can cause severe pancreatitis and require a variety of medical treatments and hospitalization.