21 Foods Your Basset Hound Should Never Eat

If you just got your basset hound, feeding him can be quite the challenge. Basset hounds would eat anything, but some of the foods are very toxic for dogs. To avoid food poisoning, here is a list of 21 foods that your basset hound should never eat.

21 Foods Your Basset Hound Should Never Eat

Not all basset hound will react the same to these foods. A lot of factors are in play. However, it is best if you never feed your basset hound with these 21 foods.

1. Xylitol

Xylitol is an artificial sweetener that is safe to humans, but very toxic for your basset hound. Your basset hound’s sugar levels are controlled by the release of insulin from the pancreas. When a human eats xylitol, the pancreas does not release insulin. But, when a dog eats xylitol, there is a rapid release of insulin which causes the level of blood sugar to drop very fast. This is called hypoglycemia and can occur within 10-60 minutes of consuming the xylitol.

Xylitol is an artificial sweetener that is very toxic for your basset hound.

Your basset hound should consume a certain amount of xylitol in order to be life-threatening. Vets report that it takes 50 milligrams of xylitol per pound of your basset hound’s body weight. A higher dose than this will result in liver failure. Make sure that you always check the ingredients on the food that you are about to feed your basset hound with.

2. Avocados

Many people have started using avocado as a source of healthy fats. But, what is healthy for people can be very toxic for your basset hound. Avocados are very toxic for a lot of animals, including your basset hound.

Avocados contain a fungicidal toxin called ”Persin” which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs.

All parts of the avocado contain a toxin called Persin. Persin is an oil-soluble compound that can not kill your basset hound but can cause stomach distress such as vomiting and diarrhea. Avoid feeding your basset hound with avocados.

3. Gum

I know that people don’t normally feed their basset hounds with chewing gums. But, our curious pups might pick up the scent from the gum that we left on the table and eat it by accident. The thing is that both regular chewing gums and sugar-free gums contain some kind of sugar in them.

Chewing gums are toxic for dogs because the regular gums contain sugar and the sugar-free gums contain Xylitol.

If your basset hound ingests chewing gum, no matter if it’s sugar-free or with sugar, he can become ill in as little as 10 minutes. Depending on how old is your basset hound, and how much gum he ingested, you can expect vomiting, weakness, tremors, or seizures. Take your pup to the vet immediately.

4. Grapes

Grapes and all products made from grapes including juices are toxic for your basset hound. Not sure why, but scientists haven’t yet done the research to determine which substance is exactly poisonous for dogs. But anyway, it doesn’t matter which substance is toxic for your basset hound, grapes are on the no-no list.

Grapes contain a toxic agent that is deadly for your basset hounds.

You should always check the label on foods for traces of grapes. Even organic, pesticide-free grapes are toxic. There are many approved fruits and vegetables that you can feed your basset hound with. Simply bypass the grapes.

5. Raisins

Same as grapes, raisins are toxic for your basset hound too. Ingesting raisins can be even deadly in some cases, depending on the amount consumed. You should never feed your basset hound with raisins.

If your basset hound ingests raisins, it can potentially lead to sudden kidney failure.

Same as for grapes, scientists haven’t done research on what substance exactly is poisonous for dogs. But nevertheless, don’t feed your pup with raisins. If he somehow ingests them by accident, you can expect a loss of appetite, weakness, vomiting, increased thirst, or kidney failure in the most extreme cases.

6. Chocolate

Chocolate would have been a great treat for your basset hound if it weren’t poisonous. The chemical that is found in chocolate is called theobromine, which is toxic to dogs in general. In most cases, consuming chocolate is not fatal, but can result in significant illness.

Chocolate contains theobromine, a chemical that is poisonous for your basset hound.

A basset hound that weighs 50 pounds would have to eat 1 ounce of chocolate to show signs of poisoning. The most common signs of chocolate poisoning are vomiting and diarrhea, and seizures, and heart failure in extreme cases.

7. Coffee

I love coffee. I drink coffee all day long. You can always find a cup of coffee on my table. Although this coffee is okay for me, it is very dangerous for my basset hound. In fact, coffee poisoning is the most likely thing that can happen to my basset hound.

Ingesting coffee can be life-threatening for your basset hound.

If you are a coffee fanatic like me, make sure to never leave your basset hound alone with a cup of coffee on the table. They will sniff the scent and will try to drink it. Ingesting coffee can be life-threatening for your pup.

8. Caffeine

Caffeine is known for raising blood pressure. I mean, people consume caffeine products to help them stay awake. But, if your basset hound ingests caffeine, it can be very toxic for him. Your pup can end up with as little as vomiting or could get cardiac arrhythmia.

Caffeine affects the GI tract of your basset hound and can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

Basset hounds are considered large dogs because they can weigh up to 60 pounds. How caffeine will affect your pup depends on the current weight of your basset hound. Signs of caffeine toxicity can be visible 30 minutes after consumption.

9. Citrus

Citrus fruits are actually very toxic for your basset hound. There are a lot of videos online where owners feed their dogs with citrus fruits, but immediately after that, the RSPCA issued a warning about the possible consequences.

Your basset hound might show interest in the citrus fruits, but that doesn’t mean that you should feed them. Try giving them some of the approved fruits and vegetables.

10. Nuts

Not all nuts are toxic for your basset hound. They can lead to certain health issues. The thing with nuts is that they are high in fat. Your basset hound is prone to getting overweight. Feeding him nuts will not only lead to obesity but will lead to pancreatic related issues.

Nuts can also cause water retention and many other health conditions. Plus, not to mention that nuts are a choking hazard. I never fed my basset hound with nuts. He could be allergic to them which is another set of problems.

11. Onions

Onions are very toxic for your basset hound. That includes the fresh onion plant, leaves, juice, as well as processed powders. It doesn’t matter if the onion is raw or cooked, it is poisonous for your basset hound.

Onion poisoning symptoms are weakness, fainting, change in urine color, and decreased appetite.

Keeping your basset hound from ingesting onions can be tricky because onions are used in a wide range of foods. It takes 150 grams of onion to be deadly for a full-grown 60-pound basset hound. If you cook for your basset hound, make sure that you don’t use onions.

12. Garlic

Garlic is toxic for your basset hound, but it rarely is fatal. This still means that you have to take your basset hound to the vet if he ingests garlic. The vet will check him out and will prescribe medicine to control vomiting. Also, it is best to keep your pup hydrated by giving him intravenous fluids.

In severe cases, garlic poisoning may require blood transfusions. That’s why it is important not to feed your basset hound with any products that contain garlic.

13. Chives

Chives belong to the same family as garlic and onion and are poisonous for your basset hound. Some breeds are more sensitive, some not so much. Anyways, a toxic dose of chives can cause damage to the red blood cells and lead to anemia.

If your pup ingests chives, his GI tract will be upset and he will have probably end up with diarrhea or vomiting. The most common signs for chives poisoning are drooling, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, weakness, and pale gums.

14. Milk

There are a lot of misconceptions about milk being poisonous for basset hounds. The thing is that milk is safe in small quantities. A few tbsp’s of cow or goat milk from time to time can be a quite nice reward for your dog.

The danger from milk comes if your basset hound is lactose intolerant. Many basset hounds are lactose intolerant and have difficulty digesting milk and products that contain milk. You can tell that your basset hound is lactose intolerant if he has gas, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or vomits after consuming milk.

15. Dairy

If your basset hound is lactose intolerant, then giving him dairy is a no-no. Although there are no records of milk and dairy being fatal for dogs, they can cause a lot of stomach distress.

He may feel stomach pain, and may experience vomiting and diarrhea. You can tell that your pup is lactose intolerant if he has these symptoms an hour after eating dairy.

16. Cheese

Regular cheese is not poisonous for your basset hound, except for blue cheese. The thing with cheese is that certain ingredients are added while making and these ingredients can be onion, garlic, and ingredients that are very toxic for your basset hound.

Plus, cheese is high in fat and your basset hound can easily get overweight by eating cheese. It is also not recommended for dogs with kidney problems because many kinds of cheese have a high salt content.

17. Salt and salty foods

Another reason why you shouldn’t feed your basset hound with human food is because of salt. Salt is potentially poisonous for your basset hound and can cause vomiting, diarrhea, excessive urination, and lethargy.

If you knowingly or unknowingly give your dog salt, get him to the vet. The vet will prescribe some medication to ease the salt poisoning symptoms.

18. Yeast dough

If your basset hound ingests a yeast dough, he may experience gastric distention, metabolic acidosis, or CNS depression. Basset hounds would eat anything that comes in their way. So, if you are making homemade bread and you happen to drop some of the dough on the ground, make sure that your basset hound will not eat it.

Something as simple as yeast dough can cause a lot of health problems for your pup. Make sure to take him to the vet immediately because the situation can become life-threatening before you know it.

19. Uncooked eggs

Raw eggs are bad for your basset hound because they can be a source of Salmonella. You can be really sure how old the eggs are when you buy them. The older the egg, the more bacteria than contain.

Boiled eggs on the other hand are very good for your pup because they are a great source of protein. Say no to raw eggs and yes to cooked eggs.

20. Human toothpaste

You should never brush your basset hound’s teeth with human toothpaste because it can be toxic for your dog. The thing is that, when you brush your dog’s teeth, they will swallow all of the toothpaste. Some of the substances that human toothpaste contains are toxic for your dog.

The most common substance that human toothpaste has is xylitol which is the number one food that your dog should never consume. Instead, learn how to brush your basset hound’s teeth properly.

21. Alcohol

Even small amounts of alcohol can be poisonous for your basset hound. You may have a party at your house and accidentally leave a glass of wine on the table. The smell of wine will definitely intrigue your hunting dog and he might try to drink it.

Alcohol poisoning should be treated because in severe cases it can cause organ failure. If your pup drank just a little bit, he might end up with high body temperature, excessive panting, vomiting, or muscle tremors.