Halloween Pet Safety Guide: Toxic Foods for Dogs

With Halloween just around the corner, you'll likely have more candy, chocolate and other holiday goodies than usual hanging around the house. Since even small doses of chocolate and certain other human treats can have toxic effects on your dog, now is an ideal time to learn about Halloween pet safety. Keep this list of toxic foods for dogs handy and review our tricks for keeping these foods out of your pet's reach.

12 Foods Dogs Should Not Eat

1. Chocolate and chocolate-flavored food

From cupcakes to candy bars, both milk chocolate and dark chocolate can be harmful to dogs even in small doses. All types of chocolate contain methylxanthines, such as caffeine and theobromine, which are highly toxic to your pooch and can cause symptoms that range from mild stomach upset to seizures and cardiac arrest. "The darker the chocolate and more rich, the more likely you are to have issues ... and depending on your dog's size, that's where it could be more of an issue," says Dr. Ayeley Okine in her Care Experts vodcast.

2. Raisins and grapes

Your health-conscious neighbors might have good intentions by handing out those little boxes of raisins, but they're the opposite of healthy for your dog. Both fresh and dried grapes are toxic to dogs and can wreak havoc on their kidneys.

3. Candy corn and other high-sugar foods

Sugar is as irresistible to your pup as it is to your kids, but it's not good for their systems. Beware of your pets ingesting high-sugar foods, which can bring on an upset tummy.

4. Sugar-free gum, mints and candy

Though harmless to humans, the artificial sweetener xylitol is even more dangerous to your dog than real sugar. Commonly found in products marketed as "sugar-free," even tiny amounts of xylitol can be fatal in canines.

5. Popcorn

By itself, unseasoned, air-popped popcorn is safe for dogs. But the salt, butter, fat and other flavorings found in a typical bowl of popcorn generally aren't good for your pup's health and can cause gastrointestinal distress and other issues. The high sugar content in caramel corn or popcorn balls can be harmful as well. Unpopped kernels can also be a choking hazard and can damage your dog's teeth.

6. Macadamia nuts

Even a few chomps on a cookie or candy bar containing these nuts could make your pooch severely ill, with a high fever, vomiting, weakness and tremors

7. Dairy might upset your dog's stomach

While not quite a toxic food for dogs, many dogs have trouble digesting dairy and dairy products. So malted milk balls and other dairy-based treats might give your pooch a bad case of dog indigestion.

8. Garlic and onions

Party mix and other snacks seasoned with these and other types of alliums can trigger a disorder known as hemolytic anemia, which destroys the red blood cells and can lead to severe kidney damage.

9. Salty treats

The salt content in that party mix, popcorn or other salty snacks like chips can cause sodium ion poisoning if your dog eats large amounts. This can result in high fever, depression, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, seizures and kidney damage.

10. Moldy food

Jack-o'-lanterns, gourds, corn cobs and other foods used as seasonal decor can become moldy over time — and can also be mistaken for a snack by your dog. Toxic mold that's ingested by your pooch can cause a wide variety of health problems ranging from mild to serious.

11. Alcoholic treats

Not all Halloween treats are for kids. Your holiday pumpkin ale or spiked punch could be just as enticing to your dog as candy, and can be just as dangerous. The ethanol contained in alcoholic beverages can depress both your dog's central nervous and respiratory systems and elevate the acid in their blood, all of which can cause symptoms as serious as seizures or coma.

12. Candy wrappers can cause obstructions

It's not just the food. Gobbling up packaging made of paper, foil and plastic can cause your dog intestinal blockage that may require X-rays and surgical removal.

Tricks for Keeping Toxic Foods for Dogs Away

• If you'll be opening your door to trick-or-treaters, keep your dog in another part of the house where he or she will be safe.
• If you have children who will be sorting through their Halloween candy haul, keep pets in a separate area before dumping out buckets and bags.
• When opening candy, collect the wrappers and put them in the trash immediately.
• Have a plan for where you'll store the goodies after trick-or-treating is over. Avoid putting bags or baskets of candy on the floor, on tables or on other surfaces where your dog can reach.
• Don't take your dog trick-or-treating, where they can find dropped candy and wrappers on the ground while you're too distracted to supervise.
• If hosting a Halloween party, keep your pup shut away from the festivities. Exercise them first so they'll be tired out and calm. If they want to say hi, keep their visit short and closely supervised, and politely ask guests not to give them treats.
• Give your pooch their own special treats to keep them from being tempted and make them feel like part of the fun. Hand-feed them pieces of plain, air-popped popcorn, fill a Kong with pureed pumpkin mixed with kibble or treat them with commercially-made Halloween dog treats.
• Review the list of toxic foods for dogs and these Halloween safety tips for pets with everyone in your household.

What to Do if Your Dog Eats Chocolate or Another Toxic Food

If you think your dog might have eaten something harmful, treat it like an emergency. Signs of poisoning in dogs can include vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, loss of coordination, excessive thirst, rapid heartbeat and seizures.

Even if you don't notice signs of distress but think your dog might have ingested something potentially harmful, it's a good idea to call the ASPCA's animal poison control center at (888) 426-4435. You should also contact your veterinarian as soon as possible, or if one's available, contact your local emergency veterinarian after hours.

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Author Bio

Jean Marie Bauhaus is a freelance writer and novelist with eight years of experience. Her work has appeared on Hill's Pet, Chewy and AKC.org, and more.

Medical Reviewer

Dr. Elizabeth Racine is a small animal general practice veterinarian and freelance writer. She covers both human and veterinary medicine with a special interest in nutrition, internal medicine, and veterinary behavior.