Doggy Detox: How Can I Keep Protect My Dog's Health?
Updated Jul. 02nd, 2026 | Read Time: 3 Minutes | What You Will Learn:
- Top 6 Considerations For Your Dog's Health
- Dog Food: Organic VS. Processed
- Dog Toys: Select Non-Toxic Materials
- What They Pick Up Outside
- Parasites
- Dogs Gut Health
- Popular Items That Are Toxic to Dogs
- Reader Comments (8)
Unfortunately, many dog foods, toys and environments are ridden with toxins that can have a negative impact on your dog's well-being. As the leader of the pack, it's our job to look out for our four-legged companions. Here's a list of things to consider to ensure your dog's health is optimized and they're not in need of a doggy detox.
Top 6 Considerations For Your Dog's Health
1. Dog Food: Organic vs Processed
Just like human food, our furry best friends thrive on a non-processed diet. Kibble that uses pesticides, fillers and/or meat by-products isn't the healthiest for dogs. We wouldn't do well if we only ate packaged, processed foods our whole lives, and neither does your dog. Using a dog food that is made with organic ingredients is the best option for your dogs health. Just like we thrive on organic material, so do our dogs.
2. Dog Toys: Select Non-Toxic Materials
We love spoiling our pets with new toys. Toys help our dogs exercise, stimulate their mind and senses and are a good bonding tool. However, since toys go in your dog's mouth, along with everything else they find, it's important to choose toys that are made out of natural, non-toxic materials to ensure Fido isn't ingesting nasty chemicals. Always check that the toys are made from non-toxic, BPA-, Phthalate-, and latex-free materials and are FDA compliant. You can also choose toys made of other natural materials, such as loofah, hemp, food-grade silicone, rawhide-free bones and chews, and natural dog treats and toys that use cotton or vegetable dyes.
Items and materials to avoid include: vinyl, plastic that's chemically contaminated, pig's ears, rawhide and nylon.
3. What They Pick Up Outside
While most dogs are curious about sniffing around outdoors, some breeds are more inclined to keep their nose to the ground. It's important to watch what your four-legged friend is picking up while in the park or on your daily strolls. Things to watch for are food waste, rocks, cigarettes, garbage, pinecones and chemically treated grass. All of these things can be extremely toxic or harmful to your pet's health. If your dog does enjoy eating grass, perhaps consider using a pet probiotic or get them a grass patch from the pet store to ensure they aren't ingesting lawn care chemicals along with their snack.
4. Parasites
Knowing where your dog is drinking from and roaming around is important for parasite prevention. Whether you use a topical parasite and worm prevention, keeping your dog away from open puddles and stagnant water can help avoid the risk of parasites and disease. Using filtered water at home can also enhance your pooch's health and lower the liver's need to filter out toxins.
5. Dogs Gut Health
Giving your furends gut a boost is an important part of maintaining their health. Pets gut health is just as important as humans. If it's in jeopardy, your dog can't absorb necessary nutrients, keep a health bacteria balance, or fully fight inflammation. Just like when our gut health is out of whack, our body can't heal other areas as well; the same goes for your dog.
6. Popular Items That Are Toxic to Dogs
- Sanitizer: Don’t let your pet lick your hands after applying
- Certain Food Items: Chocolate, Grapes, Avocado, Onion, Garlic
- Essential Oils: Tea Tree oil is very toxic to pets if ingested, applied topically, or inhaled. Other oils in the same family as tea tree are also toxic to dogs.
- Chemical Cleaning Products: These get on your dog's paws, and they then ingest the material
Keeping chemicals out of your dogs reach will help them stay healthy and not overload their tiny organs. Providing your pet with the healthiest diet, toys and looking out for what they're picking up off the ground, as well as adding dog-friendly supplements to support their everyday health, can boost or support their organs and ensure your dog is thriving.
Happy that I came across the article "Doggy Detox", as I did not know that Udo's Choice made a supplement for dogs. There are some good reminders in this articles as well.
Hello Michelle,
Indeed, it's a good reminder when looking out for our furry friends! There are many great supplements to support your dogs health, probiotics being another big one for overall well-being! Glad you enjoyed this article & have a healthy day!
Dog health is so important and there are so many things that could potentially be harmful to dogs that are not widely known. For example, many people may not think of checking their dog toys but it is true to be mindful as they go in their mouths. Similarly, being cognisant of what they pick up outside and what treats we are feeding them. We are their advocates so the more knowledge we have the better!
Hello, Oh,
Your furry friends health is very important, and like us, it's important to know what they're ingesting. Unfortunately dogs put a lot of things in their mouth and absorb all the chemicals that could be lingering on their toys or found in soaps their bedding is washed in or they're bathed in. If you'd like to continue learning about doggy health, read our new article:
https://www.nationalnutrition.ca/articles/news/supplements-for-dogs/
Have a healthy day!
This is a cute theme for an article...and very practical! My Father's dog recently got sick from eating some toys...which I don't think were nontoxic (yikes!) Our poor pup was sick for quite a while and, actually, at the end of the day, to make the boy better, my Father had to give him essentially what was a doggy detox/cleanse. My Father's dog has also gotten sick from eating food seasoned with garlic so it is a good note that certain foods, including chocolate, grapes, avocado, and onion can be toxic to dogs. Thank you for another great article. I'll forward this to my Father so that no more "Doggy Detoxes" are in order!
Hello Rachel,
Thank you, we had to include the health of our furry friends too! Unfortunately the dog world isn't regulated, so it's up to us to research and protect their health. Happy you enjoyed this one and could learn some ways to protect the canine's in your family. Indeed, all the foods you mentioned plus garlic, xylitol, tomato and tea tree oil are all toxic to dogs. We hope your father enjoys this read too.
I do agree with all of this and the unfortunate part is, sometimes the dogs are quicker than us to react when they see something outside. I live in an area that unfortunately is riddled with garbage so sometimes my reaction time isnt as quick and then im stuck fighting my dog to drop whatever was picked up. 100% agree with the know where your dog is drinking part, I never let my dog drink from outside sources just in case. With the toys, I find that I give them a good wash before giving them to her just in case; I know that doesnt solve all the issues but compare it to when we buy clothes, putting it on right after buying it could let some toxins on to your skin so its best to play it safe overall.
At first I thought that you were bonkers with this. My thought was: so, now even DOGS need detoxes?!? What in the name of marketing is this-c'mon!!!
But, I gave the article a chance. I am glad that I did.
It makes sense that kibble mass produced using pesticides, fillers and/or meat by-products aren't the healthiest for dogs, though that is what is marketed. And all the plastics dogs chew on-yipes! Swallowing that junk is bound to cause GI distress. Had that with my old dog. This article proposes some good solutions that are not marketing ploys. Thank you for being so thoughtful on this issue of our furry pals!