Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Wednesday Doggie Day: Dangerous Foods



I know last week I mentioned how my two dogs love their fruit and veggies. This all started with Mungo and my Russian tortoise, Little Guy. I usually feed Little Guy outside of his cage, made clean up much easier and then he could rome around and enjoy some freedom. We had only had Mungo for a short time and I was feeding the Little Guy and Mungo decided to make a game out of it. He would sneak in and steal Little Guys food, broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, apples, banana, it did not matter, Mungo would eat. I had to feed Little Guy else where so he could get food.

Mungo's love of fruit and veggies has grown from there. He likes not only the foods I mentioned above, but also bell peppers, squash, kale, eggplant, any kind of cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, bean sprouts, beets, watermelon and other melons, the pulp on oranges  very small amounts of avocado, celery, really just about any vegetable or fruit. Otto tends to be a little more picky, but seems to like a lot due to Mungo eating them. Otto does not want to miss out on food. This is one of the reason I say my two dogs eat healthier than most people. They really do!

With this in mind, there are foods in the fruit and veggies family your dog should not eat. Some can be done in small amounts, but others should be avoided.

Avoided:
Grapes, damaging to the kidneys
Onions, can destroy red blood cells
Mushrooms    
Peaches, plums, fruits with a larger seeds and pits, these can cause intestinal blockages, really just make sure they do not eat the pit, the fruit itself can be ok
Persimmons, seeds can cause inflammation in the small intestine
Rhubarb, the whole plant can be deadly
Hops for beer making
Tomatoes and the plant, these Mungo puck, Otto will not touch them, the plant is bad for cats too


Can be ok in small amounts;
Garlic, unless your dog already has blood problems.
Avocado, the jourey is out on this one for avoid to small amounts, the pit should avoided, but some dog foods put avocado in for a source of healthy fat, keep it limited.

A few other foods that are best avoided for dogs,
Chocolate as we all know, especially dark
Sugar
Caffeine can be deadly if too much is given
Macadamia nuts and large quantities of other nuts, if too many are give they can lead to bladder stones
Processed dairy, just like for humans, not a natural food, my two enjoy some raw milk
Poinsettias, Jimson weed and lanata
Alcohol


If you are not sure if something could be toxic, look it up. Always better to double check. Some fruit and veggies in a dogs diet, just like ours, adds taste, color, texture, but great health benefits. Try adding some I listed above that Mungo and Otto like to eat. Start small or hide it in their food and see how they like them. Maybe, both you and your dog can try some new fruit and veggies together, moral support. See what you both like.

As with people, dogs can have allergies to foods as well. This can be allergies to proteins also. Watch for signs of allergies if you feed any type of new food or the same protein all the time, rubbing their faces, panting heavily, sneezing, lethargy or vomiting and diarrhea  If any of these happen, the food is best avoided. Change their protein every bag, not necessarily brand, but the protein can help with a protein allergy. If feeding raw, try alternating proteins as often as possible, If the symptoms of allergies are severe, you will need to take you dog to the vet immediately, just like humans.

Saving the world one stick of butter at a time.
God bless,
Jenn












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