SafetyPaws was created because my dogs were intentionally poisoned and my family and I were scrambling for information on what to do. Every website we went to kept branching off and sending us elsewhere without the proper information at hand. No one should have to go through that when their loved ones are in danger!

SafetyPaws offers a wide variety of information, from a list of foods your pet cannot eat, why they cannot eat them, and what can happen if ingested.  SafetyPaws also includes helpful information if your pet does ingest something they should not have, and tips to avoid any of those situations before they may occur. Also includes some basic training tips, my family’s story and motivation for this website, helpful links, and contact info.

Use the menu bar to find the topic/s interest, read and enjoy!  Proactively view the website while the thought of introducing a dog into your family is at hand.  Reviewing the information and having the knowledge in the back of your head will save the dog from agony of your doing due to a lack of knowledge.

Not to fear, email is here! Feel free to reach out via our contact page, if you think it is an emergency contact your local vet or go to the if poisoned page for some more info. After the information is gathered it will be reflected on the website.  We may not be able to respond to your request / email but rest assured we will attempt to get to it in a timely fashion.

That is easy! Tell all your friends about us, share our link on Facebook and Twitter and be sure to follow our social sites. You can also donate via PayPal securely on our contact page as well as sending us suggestions!

The websites on the links page are great to use and full of knowledge, unfortunately they can be tough to navigate in an emergency.  SafetyPaws was designed as quick and easy access to the information that you may need.

No, nuts are very deadly to dogs but little is known why. When a dog consumes the nuts, the toxins from the nuts stay inside the animals system never flushing, so the more the dog eats the more it becomes concentrated into its system. The effects of nuts such as macadamia nuts are almost instantaneous within 12 hours of ingestion, contact your vet immediately if your pet gets a hold of some. Some symptoms include dehydration, heart problems, nausea, etc…

No, chocolate contains methylxanthines theobromine which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, excessive panting, dehydration, uncontrollable urination, hyperactivity, abnormal heart beat, tremors, seizures, and eventually will overwork the heart and may cause a heart attack.

Yes, except the seeds. Apple seeds are a natural source of cyanide, its natural protection for more trees to grow. The apple itself contains high amounts of antioxidants and fiber. Although both are good, too much fiber might make fido feces!

Yes, carrots contain fiber and beta-carotene in the form of Vitamin A which is great for vision. It is also a good idea to chop up the carrots in small pieces or even shred them if possible before giving to your pet. Some dogs have trouble digesting the pieces, and they will come out whole in their droppings. Shredded carrots work best as snacks or grazed over their food.

Cheese in moderation is a very healthy snack. Although most cheese today is processed, and vitamins and minerals are added artificially. One must be cautious on how much cheese they are giving to their pets. Cheese is also a dairy product, in which most mammals are lactose intolerant to a certain degree, (including humans). Your dog may show signs of upset stomach, diarrhea, and the works.

Probably, hot dogs are super processed. Most contain nitrates which may cause leukemia. Generally it is just the scraps of the cows, chickens, or pigs blended into oblivion. My rule is, if you will not eat it, do not give it to your pet. In the end, No, do not give any to your dog, there are too many ingredients in a hot dog to be safe for anyone! A natural fresh hot dog/sausage that you can get at a local deli or meat market would be a better alternative. You can ask for the ingredients in the hot dog.

No, puppies and babies of any sort cannot have any honey. Generally infants under one year of age should not be given any honey. Honey contains fungal spores that if consumed at an early age, may cause Botulism. Adults, older children, and older pets’ immune system are powerful enough to fight off the bacteria.

Yes, watermelons, cantaloupes, melons, cucumber, squash and pumpkins are all part of the same family Cucurbitaceous and are safe for your pets. They are very high in vitamin C, avoid the seeds as always.

Dairy products; (cheese, milk, ice cream, yogurt, butter, etc…), most mammals are lactose intolerant to a certain degree, (including humans). Being lactose intolerant means one’s body cannot break down the sugars during digestion. Your dog may show signs of upset stomach, diarrhea, the works. Be very cautious on how much dairy you give to your pet, other than the upset stomach, in small doses dairy can be very healthy. Also watch out for flavored dairy products such as strawberry ice cream or grape yogurt, any flavored product can contain many additives and preservatives that are deadly to dogs.

Yes, only if they are cooked. Cooked eggs contain high amounts of protein. Although if you are worried about your pets weight, or if it is an older dog, only feed them the egg whites. As the yolk is loaded with cholesterol. Which bares the same effects to dogs as it does to humans. You can either cook the eggs as hardboiled or poached, not fried!

Raw eggs on the other hand can be very dangerous. Raw eggs contain a chemical that can stop the intake of B vitamins for your dog. Vitamin B is essential for a healthy coat and healthy skin. Raw foods can also contain numerous bacteria such as E. coli and salmonella.  Many people give their dogs raw eggs and crack it over there food as a protein boost and muscle builder – especially if you watch any animal shows or are into muscular dog breeding, they usually put in a few eggs, raw meat, and a protein / mix powder.  Now this may be ‘ok’ but that does not necessarily mean that it is safe.  You cannot start out of the blue giving your pet these types of remedies.  Aside the risk of E.coli and other bacteria aside, a slight change in diet will wreak havoc on your pups digestive system which may cause vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, (you can have both diarrhea and constipation at the same time!), nausea, and other stomach issues.

Rawhides are just what they sound like, they are the raw inner layer of skin of other animals. Rawhides are usually made from cows, (sometimes horse, pig, sheep, and depending on country of origin, can be anything). Most people give rawhides to their pets so they do not chew everything in the house. But rawhide can be potentially very dangerous. If swallowed, it will be an obstruction that will not be digested. It causes gas for the animal because the pieces, (if chewed in smaller pieces and swallowed) are not able to be digested and the body is trying to expel them.

Other dangers from rawhides are the conditions in which they are manufactured, packaged, and sold. For the most part E. coli and salmonella are the usual bacteria that are found on rawhides. The nature of the packaging, (there usually isn’t any) causes bacteria to manifest, linger, and spread. Other chemicals used in CAFO’s (concentrated animal feeding operations) such as LARGE amounts of antibiotics, arsenic, chlorine, ammonia, and other toxic chemicals (even toxic to humans) that are used to process the meats we eat are still in the rawhides. Eating one rawhide and not getting an obstruction is fine, but when you continue to give your dog rawhide, the chemicals become concentrated and can destroy your pet’s liver and pancreas causing death. Normal rawhide consumption can cause diarrhea, upset stomach, etc… So, can your dog eat rawhides? Yes, should you give your dog rawhides? NO!!!

Yes but only in small quantities. The total percentage cannot exceed 10% of your dog’s diet. Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and rapeseed all belong to the wild mustard/cabbage family, (brassicales). They were all domestically cultivated into their individual plants. They contain a high amount of Vitamin C and fiber. They also contain high amounts of Phytochemical’s, which are chemical compounds that have been found to help prevent cancer. And in larger breeds or older dogs, this can be a plus.

However you must not exceed the 10% of their total diet per day because they also contain a chemical called Isothiniocyanate, which is a gastrointestinal irritant, (also why humans get major gas after eating such plants), that comes from mustard oil, (all of the plants and their respected families above contain the mustard oil). High amounts (over 25% of their diet constantly) can cause upset stomach, diarrhea, or even death. They are fine healthy TREATS in moderation.

Yes, bananas contain high amounts of Vitamin B6, C, K (potassium), starch, manganese, and fiber, which are all good for human and dog health, and are cancer preventers. Bananas are also good to give to your pet if they are currently having diarrhea, the starch helps solidify and allows for an even pass of their waste.

Also known as Capsicum which is part of the Nightshade flowering plant family, there is very little data on whether a dog can or cannot eat peppers. There are no chemicals besides Capsaicin (which is an irritant to most mammals that causes the burning sensation in “hot” peppers), that cause harm to dogs or humans. Peppers are actually high in many vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin C, B6, K, A, manganese and potassium. Dogs have a shorter digestive track than humans, peppers should not be fed whole, but fed chopped or shredded.

One would mostly feed their dogs Bell Peppers (NA term), as they are one of the only peppers that actually lack capsaicin due to a recessive gene. The natural heat is a predator / mammal deterrent for the plant to grow. I use hot peppers such as jalapeños, cayenne, habaneros, and even hot sauce as my favorite food items and my favorite training tools/techniques.

Black pepper is not the same plant as Capsicum, Piper Nigrum belongs to the Piperaceae plant family. Capsicum peppers actually got their name of “peppers” from the same flavor of black pepper plant. As a spice, everything in moderation, but there is very limited data whether a dog can eat it without getting affected, (besides the spicy flavor). Black pepper is high in iron, manganese, vitamin K, and fiber. I would not suggest giving it to your pet, there is no significance, but it will not hurt them. Keep a water bowl nearby.

Yes, dogs can have natural olives. Most of the canned or pickled olives contain other substances that are not good for your pet and you should stay away from, such as SALT. By nature olives are very high in fat (~15%), so few non salt pickled olives are ok to give to your pet. But too much fat can cause pancreatitis. It is probably too much trouble to find an olive ok for your dog that is not heavily pickled in salt. If you really want to see if your dog will eat it and like it, you can probably find them at a Mediterranean import store.

Olive Oil on the other hand has shown to be a very healthy oil on the contrary of most other oils. Just as it is healthier to humans, the same goes for our pets. My vet recommended to pour small amounts olive oil over my dogs’ food, due to a dry skin issue. Everything in moderation.

Yes, dogs can eat most berries a human would consume, such as cranberries, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries. One must not confuse the scientific definition of a berry, a fruit produced from a single ovary. Which would include grapes (which they CANNOT have), bananas, cranberries, pumpkin. Strawberries, cranberries, and blueberries all belong to the same plant family and black and raspberries are in their own family. All are high in anti-oxidants and fiber which are good. They are good TREATS, it is like watching a young child devouring blueberries, only to watch them run to the bathroom later.

Most other berries we would not consume that can be toxic are holly berries, mistle toe berries, and other evergreen berries. Any berry you are not certain of, DO NOT eat it yourself or give it to your pet.

Yes, dogs can have most beans. Beans contain high amounts of protein, fiber, vitamin C, K, and manganese. They are a very low calorie food, just stay away from most canned beans that are spiced or salted. Everything in moderation, beans are a gastro intestinal irritant, which is why it causes us (and your pooch) to have gas!