Foods That Are Poison For Pugs

Foods Pugs can’t eat!

One of the most defining characteristics of Pugs is their love of food and, as their owners, we often want to give in to them when they beg for our food.  Sharing your lunch with your Pug buddy may be fine some of the time (in moderation) however there are some exceptions.  We here at For the Pug, have compiled a list of the top 14 foods that are poison for Pugs.  These are foods that you should not share with your Pug.  This is really important, so take a minute and really look at the list.  Your Pug deserves for you to be informed about this stuff…

1. Chocolate

 Most every dog owner seems to know that chocolate is bad for their dog, but many have no idea why.  Chocolate contains compounds known as methylxanthines, which in addition to vomiting and diarrhea, can result in excessive thirst and urination, heavy panting, hyperactivity, heavy panting, seizures, arrhythmia (irregular heart beat), tremors, and even death.  The darker the chocolate the higher the concentration of methylxanthines will be.

2. Avocado

While people seem like we can’t possibly get enough of the seeming superfood avocado we should never share it with our Pugs.  Avocados contain persin, a toxin that can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs.  While persin is concentrated mostly in the leaves of the plant, it is also present in the stem, seed, and fruit.  When it comes to avocados, the biggest danger is the pit.  Not only is the pit high in persin, but is also a huge choking hazard.  

3. Onions

You wouldn’t think your Pug would want to chow down on a big old hunk of onion but you would be mistaken.  Pugs will eat pretty much anything.  Onions are extremely toxic to your sweet little Pug, however, and the damage is much worse than just bad breath.  Onions contain a substance called thiosulphate which is toxic to dogs (and cats).  Ingesting onions can cause hemoglobin, the protein in blood that carries oxygen, to become oxidized.  This can result in hemolytic anemia.  A twenty pound Pug would only need to ingest about a quarter cup of onions to become very ill.  And remember, all parts of the plant are toxic, both raw and cooked.  This is high on the list of foods Pugs can’t eat. 

4. Mushrooms

While it may be okay for your Pug to eat a mushroom you bought at the grocery and are about to cook with (providing it is raw and not smothered in a fatty onion sauce) it is really best to just say no when it comes to mushrooms.  This is especially true for wild mushrooms.  The symptoms of mushroom poisoning can look very different depending on the mushroom eaten.  Different species of mushroom will contain different toxins, which will cause effects to vary from diarrhea, excessive wateringof the eyes, salivation to increased urination, potential neurological symptoms, and even death.  Other mushrooms, such as Amanita mushrooms, contain toxins which can cause severe GI issues and then the dog seems better.  However, this recovery is short lived, then followed by liver failure, kidney problems, and finally death.  The best policy would be to steer clear of mushrooms.

5. Macadamia Nuts

Macadamia nuts, although not usually an everyday food, are often found in baked goods, including cakes, cookies, muffins, and even trail mix. Are they safe for dogs? Absolutely not! In fact, Macadamia nuts are often listed as among the  top human foods to avoid giving your dog .  Veterinarians and researchers do not know the specific toxin or mechanism that causes the symptoms of poisoning but what we do know is that even a small amount of the nuts can cause severe symptoms.

  The consequences of eating macadamia nuts include:

• vomiting
• ataxia
• weakness
• hyperthermia
• depression

 The most common sign is weakness, especially in the hind legs. Other symptoms include lethargy,  diarrhea ,  tremors and fever. Some cases are mild, showing only a few symptoms, and resolve themselves within a few days.

However, there are serious cases involving constant shaking, high fever, and an inability to walk. If you suspect your dog may have eaten even a small amount of macadamia nuts, consult your veterinarian immediately.  Eating as little as 1/10 of an ounce per roughly 2 pounds of body weight is enough to cause your Pug to show symptoms.

6. Garlic    

Another healthy food for humans but is on the list of foods a pug can’t eat is garlic.  Garlic and other members of the allium family, including onions, contain thiosulfate, which damages red blood cells by oxidation, resulting in hemolytic anemia. Symptoms of anemia include lethargy, pale mucous membranes, jaundice, rapid breathing, weakness, and dark colored urine. Garlic toxicity also causes symptoms of GI upset, including  diarrhea , vomiting, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, dehydration, and depression.

7. Grapes & Raisins

Grapes and raisins (dried grapes) are known to be highly 

toxic to dogs, including fatally, though Veterinarians and Researchers have yet to pinpoint exactly which substance in the fruit causes this reaction. Because of that, peeled or seedless grapes should also be avoided.  There is no proven amount that is safe, you shouldn’t be giving your pup grapes or raisins at all. This is a major food that pugs can’t eat.

Here are the signs and symptoms that may occur after a toxic ingestion:

• Loss of appetite
• Lethargy, weakness, unusual stillness
• Vomiting and/or diarrhea, often within a few hours
• Abdominal pain (tender when touched)
• Dehydration (signs include panting; dry nose and mouth; pale gums).
• Increased thirst and/or urine production or
• diminished amount/cessation of urine.

If your dog has ingested grapes or raisins, treatment is absolutely critical. Contact your veterinarian IMMEDIATELY!

8. Alcohol

There’s no variety of alcohol that’s truly safe for your dog!  Aside from the alcohol, wine is made with grapes and beer is made of hops.  Both of those things are bad for dogs.  Yes, you may know or have heard of a dog owner who occasionally shares a beer with his pup without doing harm, but it’s really not a risk worth taking.  Dogs’ livers aren’t equipped to break down alcohol, and dogs can experience alcohol poisoning just as humans can, only much more quickly. If your dog ingests more than  a small amount (a few sips) of alcohol, keep a close eye on her. She may need immediate attention from your vet.

9. Milk & Cheese

It might be a bit melodramatic to call cheese poison, however not all dogs digest cheese well. Fatty, rich cheeses, and cheeses that contain harmful herbs or food items harmful to dogs like garlic can cause intestinal upset. And while cheese does not contain a great deal of lactose when compared to something like whole milk, dogs with severe cases of lactose intolerance may have adverse reactions to cheese, even in small quantities. Observe your dog closely for signs of intestinal upset if they eat cheese for the first time, and consult your vet with any questions you may have about adding cheese to your dog’s diet.  If you are looking for a cheese to feed you Pug you should choose low-fat cheeses, such as mozzarella and cottage cheese, are healthier for your pet than cheeses with higher fat contents. When choosing a cheese for your dog, seek out cottage cheeses and mozzarella cheeses that are low fat and low sodium to help reduce the risk of obesity and intestinal upset.  While some cheeses aren’t a super major problem on the list of foods a pug can’t eat, it’s important to be careful.

10. Salty Snack Foods

It’s not a good idea to share salty foods like chips or pretzels with your dog. Eating too much salt can make your dog seriously thirsty. That means a lot of trips to the fire hydrant and it could  lead to sodium ion poisoning. Symptoms of too much salt include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, high temperature, and seizures. It may even cause death.  Salty foods are high on the list of foods pugs can’t eat.

11. Sugar Free Gum &  Candy

The short answer here is sugar free products (with artificial sweetners) are not good for your Pug.  While there are exceptions many sugar-free gums, candies, and baked goods (as well as toothpastes & mouth washes, contain xylitol, a sugar alcohol used as a sweetener. If ingested by your Pug, xylitol may cause vomiting, loss of coordination, seizures, and in severe cases, liver failure. This is a major one on the list of foods a pug can’t eat

12. Coffee & Tea

Coffee and tea are both caffeinated beverages and therefore should never be given to your Pug.  Pets are more sensitive to the effects of caffeine than people are. While 1-2 laps of coffee, tea or soda will not contain enough caffeine to cause severe poisoning in most Pugs but may cause hyperactivity, vomiting, rapid heart rate, or seizures. However, the ingestion of moderate amounts of coffee grounds or tea bags could easily cause death in a small dog like your Pug.  Caffeine is very dangerous and high on the list of foods pugs can’t eat.

13. Cannabis Infused Edibles

Marijuana is a really big no-no for Pugs as well as other pets. In addition to lethargy and dilated pupils, the THC found in marijuana can cause hypothermia, excessively low or high heart rates, low blood pressure, vomiting, diarrhea, incontinence, coma, or death.  The jury is still out for CBD, or cannabidiol, which does not produce a high, but research indicates it could be useful for a number of ailments including seizures and tremors.  Edibles are definitely on the list of foods pugs can’t eat

14. Yeast Dough

Baked bread is safe for dogs to eat, although you could certainly choose a healthier treat to share with your pet. The carbs, calories, and sugar in bread contribute more to an overweight Pug than a source of nutrition.  So while cooked bread is not one of the 14 foods that are poison for Pugs, bread dough, on the other hand, is a much more dire story! It’s actually highly dangerous for dogs to eat bread dough.

If your Pug gets into the dough you have rising for tonight’s rolls or you award winning pizza dough, it’s time to drop everything and urgently head for the vet’s office.  If your Vet is unavailable then head to the emergency Vet. The problem lies in the yeast, which is the living organism (a fungi) that activates in moist, warm environments to transform carbohydrates (sugars) into carbon dioxide and alcohol.  The dangers of ingesting the activated yeast is two-fold.  When a dog eats bread dough, it consumes the already activated yeast, which continue to flourish in the animal’s warm, moist stomach. This produces more and more carbon dioxide in you Pug’s gut, causing the stomach to expand and bloat excessively (Gastric Dilatation Volvulus or GDV).  This is fatal in approximately one quarter of dogs.