FOLLOWING the death of German Shepherd Marley, we have been looking at other things canines should not eat or be fed as well as knowing what to look out for if they do swallow the wrong things.

As previously reported in the Warrington Guardian, distraught owner Linda Owen sent out a warning to other pet owners after walking her dog Marley on a field near Orford Park. 

The 10-month-old had found something in the grass but by the time Linda had reached Marley, he had eaten it and two hours later started to walk oddly and his body later went into spasms.

Sadly, vets were unable to save his life and the list below of food items which can be toxic to dogs may shock a number of dog owners.

Chocolate

Chocolate is a big no for dogs as theobromine - an alkaloid of the cacao plant - can be toxic.

Common symptoms include deep panting, vomiting, and diarrhoea, as well as affecting your dog’s heartbeat and nervous system.

Caffeine is a big problem with chocolate too so keep the sweets away.

Coffee

You might find coffee helpful to stay awake but your dog doesn’t.

Caffeine will affect your dog’s heartbeat and like chocolate, can cause vomiting, diarrhoea and panting which, in extreme circumstances, can cause death.

Corn on the cob

Corn on the cob may get stuck in our teeth but it can clog up a canine’s small intestine as it doesn’t break down in the stomach, causing blockages and possible haemorrhaging.

If your dog snacks on one of these, it will most likely need to be removed surgically.

Avocado

Avocados contain a fungicidal toxin called persin, which can cause diarrhoea, vomiting and heart congestion in dogs and also cats.

Grapes and raisins

Owners should make sure that their dogs don’t eat grapes as they contain a toxin that can cause the animal to develop acute kidney or renal failure with anuria - a lack of urine production.

Vomiting and diarrhoea are often the first signs of grape or raisin toxicity.

Macadamia nuts

These nuts can cause physical weakness, lethargy, vomiting, tremors and hyperthermia affecting the nervous system.

The toxin combination is not known but is a member of the protaceae plant family.

Onions and chives

It’s a bad idea to feed your dogs onions as they join with hemoglobin in the red blood cells, forming clumps which mean they can't take in as much oxygen.

Signs of low oxygen levels include lethargy, weakness, red urine, and pale gums.

Garlic can cause the same problems as onions, but as it's only used in small amounts, pooches aren't likely to ingest enough of the toxin for it to be a problem.

Persimmons, peaches and plums

Be careful if you live near or walk past persimmon, peach or plum trees.

The juicy part of the fruits are good for dogs to eat, as with a plum which is high in vitamin C, iron and antioxidant qualities.

Persimmon seeds and peach and plum pits can cause big problems for the dog’s intestine however.

The seeds and pits contain cyanide, which is toxic to dogs creating blockages and enteritis - inflammation of the intestine, especially the small intestine.

Look out for your dog defecating a lot more than usual if this is the case.

Blue-green algae

Cyanobacteria or blue-green algae, found in lakes and ponds, creates lethal cyanotoxins which are some of the most powerful natural poisons in the world.

Initial symptoms of algae poisoning include muscle tremors, an increased breathing rate, vomiting, diarrhoea, collapses and seizures – and can progress to death in as little as 15 minutes.

Toxic Plants

If you're walking your dog off the lead and you're worried about what plants they should or should not be sniffing common toxic plants to avoid in the garden include:

  • Aloe Vera
  • Amaryllis bulbs
  • Angels Trumpet (Brugmansia)
  • Apple (seeds)
  • Apricots (kernels)
  • Asparagas Fern
  • Avocado (fruit, pith, leaves)
  • Azalea (all parts)
  • Baby's Breath
  • Begonia
  • Bird of Paradise
  • Bishop's Weed
  • Bleeding Heart (Dicentra Formosa)
  • Bluebell
  • Buxus / Box (all parts, mostly leaves)
  • Carnation
  • Chrysanthemum (all parts)
  • Clematis (all parts)
  • Cordyline (Grass palm)
  • Crocus (all)
  • Cyclamen (foliage, flowers, stems)
  • Daffodil (all parts)
  • Dahlia
  • Daisy
  • Daphne (berries, bark, leaves)
  • Deadly Nightshade
  • Delphinium (all parts, especially the sprouts)
  • Elderberry (leaves, bark, roots and buds)
  • Elephant's Ears (leaves, stems, roots)
  • Eucalyptus (all parts)
  • Foxglove / Digitalis (leaves, stems, flowers, seeds)
  • Gardenia
  • Garlic
  • Geranium (all parts)
  • Gladiola (bulbs)
  • Grape Plant / Vine
  • Hellebore
  • Hibiscus
  • Holly (leaves, berries and stems)
  • Hosta
  • Hyacincth (bulbs, leaves, flowers)
  • Hydrangea (all parts)
  • Iris (bulbs)
  • Ivy (all species - leaves, berries)
  • Japanese Yew (needles, seeds, bark)
  • Laburnum (leaves and seeds)
  • Larkspur (all parts)
  • Leopard Lily
  • Lillies (all parts)
  • Lily Of The Valley (all parts)
  • Lime
  • Lobelia Lupin (all parts)
  • Mallow
  • Marigold (new leaves, stems)
  • Mistletoe
  • Monkshood / Aconite (roots, foliage, seeds)
  • Morning Glory (all parts)
  • Narcissus (all parts)
  • Oak / Acorns (all parts)
  • Oleander (all parts)
  • Onion (all parts)
  • Peony (foliage, flowers)
  • Periwinkle (all parts)
  • Philodendron (leaves, stems, roots)
  • Pinks
  • Poinsetta
  • Poppy (all parts)
  • Potato (sprouts, vines, unripe tubers)
  • Primrose (all parts)
  • Privet
  • Prunus Rotundifolia Laurel
  • Ragwort (all parts above ground)
  • Ranunculus (Buttercup)
  • Rhododendron (leaves)
  • Rhubarb leaves
  • Snowdrops (all parts)
  • Sweet Pea (all parts)
  • Sweet William
  • Tobacco Plant
  • Tomato Plant (foliage, vines, green fruit)
  • Tulip (bulbs)
  • Verbena (foliage and flowers)
  • Weeping Fig (Indian Rubber)
  • Wild Cherry Tree
  • Wisteria (seeds and pods)
  • Yarrow
  • Yew
  • Yucca