Don't give a Dog a Bone!

                                                       

Think bones are good for dogs?

Think again. Don't give your dog a bone. It may seem natural to give a dog a bone, but a dog can choke on it. Bones can also splinter and cause perforations in the stomach or intestine.


I used to love to freeze grapes and eat them as a snack. But when those brown soulful puppy eyes begged for some, I was tempted to feed him some. It seemed like a healthy snack. I wondered if it was okay to give him some. Turns out it's not. Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs. Many foods that we consume can have a detrimental effect on dogs. For instance, the next time you serve guacamole and chips, keep the guacamole out of Fido's reach. Avocados can be toxic. An occasional chip may be okay, but any more and the sodium content may be too high for their system to tolerate. Other healthy for "us" foods can be harmful. Forbes loves yogurt because someone decided to feed him "just a spoonful" but dairy products can cause intestinal disturbances including diarrhea in some dogs. Onions and garlic are poisonous. Even onion powder which is used to season many foods is poisonous.




Be careful if you have fruit trees in your yard. Many seeds and pits can cause intestinal blockages. Persimmons, plums and peach pits contain cyanide. Macadamia nuts when ingested can be fatal to a dog.


Most of us know not to give chocolate to a dog. I used to think it was the caffeine in the chocolate that was dangerous but it is a substance called theobromine that is the culprit. Theobromine and caffeine can cause increased heart rate and restlessness in dogs. Any dog showing more than mild restlessness should be seen by a veterinarian immediately.


Alcohol can cause inebriation but also create liver failure. Candy and gum sweetened with Xylitol can also cause liver failure.




Table scraps should not be fed to a dog. Table scraps often contain fat from meat and bones. Both are dangerous for dogs. Fat trimmed from meat, both cooked and uncooked, can cause pancreatitis in dogs. Even if you think it's not that fatty, the smaller dog can easily become very ill.



So make sure your dog has no access to raid the pantry or garbage can. Prevention is the best. If your dog does ingest something he shouldn't call the nearest emergency veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center -- (888) 426-4435 .