“You can always trust a dog that likes peanut butter.”
― Kate DiCamillo, Because of Winn-Dixie
We all love our pets and think of them as family. However, while we are spoiling them with affection, it's important to keep in mind that we shouldn't try to spoil them with people food. Trying to do so could cause unintended harm to your dog, whose bodily system is so different from our own. Now, I am by no means a veterinarian, just a dog lover who knows some things and did some research. Your vet should be the end-all-be-all when it comes to animal questions. But you can check out the sites I used in my research at the end of this blog. Ain't the internet grand?
While a chocolate truffle in the evening would be a perfect treat for us after a long day at work, the same cannot be said of your fur baby. Chocolate, coffee, and anything else with caffeine is very dangerous for your dog. A life without chocolate and caffeine?! Yikes! But seriously. Keep the chocolate ALL to yourself. If your dog ingests chocolate, that warrants a call to the vet.
Now, this, I'm SURE, goes without saying, but dogs shouldn't have alcohol. I mean, humans drinking alcohol is sometimes questionable, too, am I right? But dogs aren't funny drunks, so if your dog accidentally ingests alcohol, call your vet, don't get him a party hat. And no aspirin for that hangover, either! Human medications are for humans, and should only be given to your dog with a veterinarian recommendation.
And, hey, I bet everyone reading this has a friend that's lactose intolerant. If you're a dog or cat owner, you DEFINITELY have a friend that's lactose intolerant! I know, I know, you've been raised to think that cats love milk (they do), and it's a great treat for them. Well, it's not. Dogs and cats don't have the proper enzymes in their bodies to break down milk properly. The earth has plenty of natural gas already! Stick with water.
Does your dog love it when you have chicken for dinner? Does he beg for the bones? Although chicken bones and other meat bones sound like they would be a safe and fantastic treat for your furry friend, they can be dangerous. The bones are a choking hazard, and they can also splinter and cause internal damage to your animal's organs. If you really want to give your dog a meaty treat, stick with cooked chicken or lean meat. Raw meat can have salmonella, and can make them just as sick as it would you. Heck, even Neanderthals cooked their meat!
A few other things to avoid are: citrus, grapes/ raisins, onions and garlic in any form (fresh or powder), and avocados. Even if these foods don't cause serious damage to your pet's body (there are varying degrees), the doggy waste clean-up alone should be a deterrent, if you know what I mean! As you know, dogs don't know how to use a toilet or a “barf bowl” if they get sick. So stick with what you know is good for your animal to eat: cooked lean meats, eggs, rice and potatoes, safe fruits and veggies, dog food, purchased dog treats, and homemade treats made with safe ingredients. If your pet eats something that concerns you, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, open 24 hours a day, at (888) 426-4435. Bone appetit!
Sources: www.caninejournal.com
www.rover.com
www.aspca.org
― Kate DiCamillo, Because of Winn-Dixie
We all love our pets and think of them as family. However, while we are spoiling them with affection, it's important to keep in mind that we shouldn't try to spoil them with people food. Trying to do so could cause unintended harm to your dog, whose bodily system is so different from our own. Now, I am by no means a veterinarian, just a dog lover who knows some things and did some research. Your vet should be the end-all-be-all when it comes to animal questions. But you can check out the sites I used in my research at the end of this blog. Ain't the internet grand?
While a chocolate truffle in the evening would be a perfect treat for us after a long day at work, the same cannot be said of your fur baby. Chocolate, coffee, and anything else with caffeine is very dangerous for your dog. A life without chocolate and caffeine?! Yikes! But seriously. Keep the chocolate ALL to yourself. If your dog ingests chocolate, that warrants a call to the vet.
Now, this, I'm SURE, goes without saying, but dogs shouldn't have alcohol. I mean, humans drinking alcohol is sometimes questionable, too, am I right? But dogs aren't funny drunks, so if your dog accidentally ingests alcohol, call your vet, don't get him a party hat. And no aspirin for that hangover, either! Human medications are for humans, and should only be given to your dog with a veterinarian recommendation.
And, hey, I bet everyone reading this has a friend that's lactose intolerant. If you're a dog or cat owner, you DEFINITELY have a friend that's lactose intolerant! I know, I know, you've been raised to think that cats love milk (they do), and it's a great treat for them. Well, it's not. Dogs and cats don't have the proper enzymes in their bodies to break down milk properly. The earth has plenty of natural gas already! Stick with water.
Does your dog love it when you have chicken for dinner? Does he beg for the bones? Although chicken bones and other meat bones sound like they would be a safe and fantastic treat for your furry friend, they can be dangerous. The bones are a choking hazard, and they can also splinter and cause internal damage to your animal's organs. If you really want to give your dog a meaty treat, stick with cooked chicken or lean meat. Raw meat can have salmonella, and can make them just as sick as it would you. Heck, even Neanderthals cooked their meat!
A few other things to avoid are: citrus, grapes/ raisins, onions and garlic in any form (fresh or powder), and avocados. Even if these foods don't cause serious damage to your pet's body (there are varying degrees), the doggy waste clean-up alone should be a deterrent, if you know what I mean! As you know, dogs don't know how to use a toilet or a “barf bowl” if they get sick. So stick with what you know is good for your animal to eat: cooked lean meats, eggs, rice and potatoes, safe fruits and veggies, dog food, purchased dog treats, and homemade treats made with safe ingredients. If your pet eats something that concerns you, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, open 24 hours a day, at (888) 426-4435. Bone appetit!
Sources: www.caninejournal.com
www.rover.com
www.aspca.org
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