Feeding Your Dog Table Food is Nothing to Wag About

What’s good for humans is not always the best for our pets. According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), people food is number three on the list of the “Top 10 Pet Poisons of 2008.” Handing Fido a table scrap is a common mistake that a lot of us make because dogs, like people, enjoy eating things that aren’t always good for them. Thoughts of chocolate cake, doughnuts or a juicy cheeseburger and fries are enough to set our mouths salivating even if it does hold the promise of some extra pounds on our waistline. The effects of feeding our pets some of these same foods can be much more serious than a bulging belly. For dogs, some of these foods can even be deadly. Here’s a closer look at some harmful foods you should avoid giving your canine pals.


Chocolate and Caffeine
Half of all calls to the Animal Poison Control in 2008 were a result of chocolate poisoning. Known for its positive effects on humans –both caffeine and chocolate have the opposite effect on dogs. Our delightful treats contain the theobromine, a chemical that’s very harmful to dogs and other animals. Even small amounts of coffee, tea, soda or chocolate can cause harmful effects to your pet. Signs of theobromine poisoning in animals can range from vomiting to diarrhea as well as panting, excessive thirst, urination, hyperactivity, and in severe cases, abnormal heart rhythm, tremors and seizures. Dark and unsweetened chocolate tend to be more damaging since they contain more of the theobromine chemical. According to the Merck Veterinary manual, A typical 44 lb dog will normally experience intestinal distress after eating less than 8.5 oz of dark chocolate and a typical 1 oz baker's chocolate bar would be enough to bring out symptoms in the same dog.

Grapes and Raisins
According to the ASPCA, giving your canine as few as 7 or 8 grapes can prove to be toxic. Scientists are not exactly sure why, but grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in many animals. Since giving a dog grapes or raisins can affect his liver, the effects (if given even in small amounts consistently) are cumulative and most likely causes long-term damage. If your dog shows abnormal hyperactivity or throws up repeated your dog may be in danger of food poison and you should call a vet or a emergency animal hospital right away.

Avocado
Sounds unbelievable, right? But yes, there are people who feed their dogs this seemingly harmless fruit. Avocado contains a substance called persin that is harmless to humans but is highly toxic to most animals (including dogs). It can also cause damage to the heart, lung and other tissue in animals. Additionally, the high fatty content in avocados can physically provoke severe stomach problems, vomiting, or even worse, pancreatitis. Interesting enough, small amounts of avocado and avocado oils are used in several dog foods but are deemed safe due to the processing (cooking) of the food.

Alcohol
Alcohol is very dangerous to canines and should not be given to them at all. It can severely damage your dogs’ liver and brain and even just a little can cause vomiting, diarrhea, central nervous system depression, problems with coordination, coma and even death.

Onions or Garlic
Feeding your dog onions or garlic may not seem to have a negative effect on them other than stinky breath but the potential danger lies internally. Onions or anything that comes from the onion family contains sulfoxides and disulfides, which are known to cause damage to an animals’ red blood cells. Whether it is powdered, cooked or raw, these common garnishes can eventually lead to anemia if given to your dog too often. If your dog eats something with garlic or onions there is no need to panic because usually the effects of these tubers occur over time, but it is better to avoid them if you can, especially if you have cats because they are more susceptible to
the toxins than dogs.

Gum and Candy
Gum and candy, especially sugarless products can be toxic to your dog. Anything containing Xylitol, a common sweetener found in some diet and sugar free products, can cause a sudden drop in an animal's blood sugar, loss of coordination and seizures. The Xylitol compound has been linked to liver failure and even death. Dr. Mike Richards, DVM, a veterinarian in Tidewater, Virginia states “It is possible your vet will not be familiar with this source of poisoning as this information is fairly new, and candies have not usually been associated with poisonings in dogs if they did not contain chocolate as the major ingredient.”


Common Plants
Although they add beauty to a home, plants are also responsible for many pet medical emergencies. The most common poisonous plants are lilies, sago palm, tulip/ narcissus bulbs, azalea, oleander, castor bean, cyclamen, amaryllis, chrysanthemum, English ivy, peace lily, pathos and schefflera. And, while poinsettias are believed to be very poisonous, they are only a mild irritant to an animal if the milky sap of the leaf is digested. The holiday plant to really look out for is Mistletoe, which is very toxic to animals.


Over the counter medicine
Hide medicine from your pets just like you would from your children. The most common cause of pet poisoning is from animals ingesting a medicine or drug normally prescribed for humans. And this is not just because furry pals are getting into their pet parent's medicine cabinets. In many cases, pet owners give their feline and canine friends an over-the-counter medication to ease an animal's pain. But acetaminophen and ibuprofen, the active ingredients in many common pain relievers, are extremely toxic to dogs and cats. They can cause gastric ulcers, liver damage, kidney failure and sometimes death to pets.

[SIDEBAR]
If You Must Indulge Your Pet Try These

If you must slip a treat to Fido under the table you may consider one of the following:
(As always, every pet’s health varies and before you give him any of these you should consult your veterinarian.)


Lean Meat
Any lean meat such as chicken breast, lamb or beef that is cooked should be okay for most dogs. Avoid feeding your pet meats that are high in fat. Too much fat can lead to an upset stomach or even pancreatis. Never give your dog meat with the bone in it. As your dog chews the bone it can be split into many small splinters that can cause harmful obstructions in their intestinal tract. Animals can easily choke on the bones as well. (Pressed bone is usually the best type of bone for dogs and you can find these at any pet food store.)

Vegetables
We all need our veggies so while we’re enjoying our carrot sticks, green beans or cucumber you can give one to your dog – just avoid the ranch dressing!

Some Fruits
If your pet has a sweet tooth, try apple slices, orange slices, bananas or even a bit of watermelon. Be sure to take the seeds out of the watermelon because they are not good for your pet.

Bread
Although bread is not always best for our carb intake, plain cooked bread is just fine for Fido. Bread with raisins, nuts or chocolate should be avoided though.

Rice and pasta
Plain, cooked pasta and white rice tend to be gentlest when it comes to our pet’s digestive systems. Many homemade dog food recipes contain rice or cooked pasta, especially for animals that tend to have sensitive stomachs.

In Case of Emergency
Accidents happen! So, when your dog sneaks that chocolate bar out of your purse or snatches the grapes from the picnic basket, stay calm. If you see your pet consuming anything you think might be toxic, seek emergency help immediately even if she or he is not exhibiting any symptoms.

In case of suspected food poisoning, call your local veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

[SIDEBAR]
Worst Foods for Other Common Household Pets
People food is also harmful to other common household pets. See what you should be avoiding with them as well:

Cats
Just like dogs, cats are susceptible to illness and discomfort from chocolate, grapes and raisins, onion, garlic and most cows’ milks. Also, cats should not eat commercial dog food because of the added substance called taurine, that may cause blindness in felines over a period of time.

Birds
Chocolate, apple seeds, avocado (especially avocado skin), onions and garlic, mushrooms, tomato leaves and dried beans are all foods you should avoid feeding your bird. Cooked rice is okay but too much dried rice can expand in a bird’s stomach making it very harmful. That’s why most weddings today have shied away from tossing it at the bride and groom.

Rabbits
For those with rabbits as pets, avoid feeding them fruit seeds such as apple, pear, apricot and peach. Other foods your rabbit should avoid is avocados, mushrooms, certain nuts and roots like almonds, soy, bamboo shoots and mangoes. Now you would think that lettuce would be a safe bet for your bunny but it contains lactucarium, which can give your rabbit severe diarrhea that it becomes fatal.

New articles!

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Okay, so I haven't posted to my blog for ummm...a very long time. Lots of reasons, but I'm making a new comittment to do this. What can I say - I can barely go to the bathroom by myself these days. Four kids, a husband and a very demanding job squeeze almost every spare minute out of me. I spent about six months freelance writing some commercial stuff but decided that it was becoming more "work" than fun to write about things like insurance, finance and health. The thing is I've really missed writing about things I love and am passionate about. Things like my children and what they teach me, my spiritual walk and anything else interesting life decides to throw my way. There isn't a day that has gone by that I haven't thought about writing - so here I am. Expect to see stories soon. (I'm working on one now).