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A few years back my kids were at a friend's house in a complete panic. One of them had left a chocolate milkshake on the ground and the family dog had helped himself to a few slurps. The boys were afraid the dog would die. That's how widely known chocolate's toxicity to dogs is.

Fortunately, there wasn't enough chocolate in a bit of ill-gotten shake to endanger the family labrador, but it begs the question. What foods should you worry about when your pet wolfs them down?

Here are a few to avoid:

Chocolate — Most of us love this creamy convection, but it contains two substances that can be potentially deadly to our canine companions. Theobromine is a bitter alkaloid of the cacao plant. Humans metabolize this substance in just a few hours, where it can take up to 18 hours for a dog to clear it through their system, thus building to potentially toxic levels. Combine theobromine with the small amounts of caffeine present in chocolate and the effects are intensified.

Generally speaking, the darker or more concentrated the chocolate, the higher the levels of theobromine and caffeine and the higher the risk factor. So dark cocoa powder should set the alarm bells off where a square of milk chocolate might simply merit extra monitoring. Smaller dogs are at greater risk from smaller amounts. So, while a few slurps of a chocolate shake might be no cause for concern, it's best to keep all chocolate away from your four-legged friend.

Xylitol — This substance found in many sugar-free candies and gums is extremely toxic to dogs. Keep it away!

Grapes and raisins — Tartaric acid is the toxic substance in grapes and raisins. Since dogs are not able to process tartaric acid, exposure to grapes or raisins can damage canine kidneys.

Alcohol — Tequilla may make your clothes fall off, but for Fido the consequences are more serious, including vomiting, diarrhea, incoordination, depression, difficulty breathing, tremors, changes in blood pH, coma and even death. Alcohol is absorbed rapidly, so seek veterinary attention immediately.

Yeast dough — If your dog snags the dough you left rising on the counter, it can cause gas to accumulate in its digestive system. This can be painful and cause the stomach to bloat, and potentially twist, becoming a life-threatening emergency. The yeast also produces alcohol in the stomach once ingested, so raw dough ingestion can lead to complications of alcohol toxicity as well.

Other foods to avoid that may simply irritate your pet's digestive system or lead to chronic issues such as anemia are foods in the onion/garlic family and citrus peels. No need to panic but these foods are best to avoid entirely.