"Magoo was a big, playful Labrador retriever who often got himself into sticky situations..."
So begins a story in the latest report from the ASPCA on foods that may be toxic to dogs. It turns out that Magoo got into the pantry and snagged himself about a pound of raisins. He ate the whole thing, of course.
The ASPCA never mentions Magoo's fate. But they do tell us that as little as a handful of raisins can impair a dogs health and has been fatal for some. Ditto for the grape.
Who Knew?
Growing up, I regarded our family dogs as "the first cycle of the dishwasher". They were good about waiting their turn for whatever we left on our plates, and we weren't too concerned about offering them "people food". It never crossed our minds that our dogs health could be affected by a few measly table scraps. What was safe for us, we figured, was safe for our pets.
What's more, whenever I ate grapes, I liked to give one or two to our German Shepherd "Tiffany". The grapes always popped out of her mouth when she tried to bite into them and Tiffany, ever the good sport, refused to give up until she'd squashed each one into submission. It guaranteed at least 60 seconds of harmless fun.
Tiffany was also fond of chewing gum (she chewed it -- wrapper and all -- but didn't swallow it!) We had the sugarless kind, which is often sweetened these days with xylitol.
Little did I know that I might have been poisoning our family pet! (More on xylitol below).
Why are grapes harmful?
As far as grapes and raisins go, no one is sure why they're harmful. It's been confirmed that even grapes grown without fertilizers or pesticides can be toxic to dogs. But not to every dog, and not every time. It's also not known whether small amounts eaten over a long time period could have a cumulative effect.
What we do know is that the end result in nearly all reported cases of grape or raisin toxicity is acute kidney failure. (The term "acute" means that the condition is severe and comes on quickly.) The dog ultimately can't produce urine, which means they can't filter toxins out of their systems -- a process essential to life.
During the twelve-month period in which the effects of grapes were studied, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center handled 140 cases involving one or more dogs. Over a third of the dogs developed symptoms ranging from vomiting to kidney failure, and seven dogs died. The ASPCA based their study on reported cases, so naturally there may be cases where a dogs health is entirely unaffected by eating grapes. But until they know all the facts, the Society advises against feeding pets grapes or raisins in any amount.
An ounce of prevention
So, your dog just scored himself a big box of raisins. What's a pet owner to do?
The first line of defense, if the grapes or raisins were eaten recently, is to induce vomiting and administer activated charcoal (it absorbs toxins in the GI tract). Vomiting is also the first sign that your dog is in trouble, so skip right to the activated charcoal if vomiting has already occurred. (In a pinch you can make your own activated charcoal by charring a piece of toast until it's blackened and crumbles easily.) Then call your vet right away.
Can't reach the vet? Call ASPCA Poison Control: 888-426-4435
The vet will keep your dog on intravenous fluids for at least 48 hours and monitor blood chemistry daily. Normal blood work after 3 days usually means your dog is in the clear.
Keeping a watchful eye out, of course, is the best way to keep your pet out of trouble. Like children, dogs (and other pets) have a knack for getting into mischief when we're not looking.
It's Not Just the Grapes...
There are other foods your dog should be kept away from, and some of them may surprise you.
Here are some other foods that can put a dogs health in harms way:
Chocolate
Who can resist chocolate? Like it your not, your dog. Chocolate is made with cocoa beans and cocoa beans contain a chemical called Theobromine, which is toxic to dogs. So on Valentine's Day, you're actually being kind to your best buddy if you eat all the chocolates yourself! Read my special report on chocolate at http://www.great-dog-gift.com/chocolate to learn more, and see how different types of chocolate have varying effects on dogs health.
Cocoa Mulch
Cocoa bean shells are a by-product of chocolate production (which is how mulch made it into the "foods" category) and are popular as mulch for landscaping. Homeowners like the attractive color and scent, and the fact that the mulch breaks down into an organic fertilizer. However, some dogs like to eat it and it contains Theobromine.
Fatty foods
Fatty foods are hard for a dog to digest and can can overtax the pancreas, leading to pancreatitis. This can threaten your dogs health and is potentially fatal.
Nuts
Macadamia nuts should be avoided. In fact most nuts are not good for a dogs health since their high phosporus content is said to lead to bladder stones.
Mulch
Mulch isn't food, but there's one type tempting enough for dogs to eat. Some dogs are attracted to cocoa mulch, and will eat it in varying quantities. The coca bean shells can contain from 0.2% to 3% theobromine (the toxin ) as compaired to 1-4% in unprocessed beans.
Onions
Onions, especially raw onions, have been shown to trigger hemolytic anemia in dogs. (Stephen J Ettinger, D.V.M and Edward C. Fieldman, D.V.M. 's book: Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine vol. 2 pg 1884.) Stay away from onion powder too.
Potatoes
Potato poisonings among people and dogs are rare but have occurred. The toxin, solanine, is poorly absorbed and is only found in green sprouts (these occur in tubers exposed to sunlight) and green potato skins. This explains why incidents seldom occur. Note that cooked, mashed potatoes are fine for a dogs health, actually quite nutritious and digestible.
Artificial Sweeteners
Xylitol is used as a sweetener in many products, especially sugarless gum and candies. Ingesting large amounts of products sweetened with xylitol may cause a sudden drop in blood sugar in dogs, resulting depression, loss of coordination, and seizures. According to Dr. Eric K. Dunayer, a consulting veterinarian in clinical toxicology for the poison control center, "These signs can develop quite rapidly, at times less than 30 minutes after ingestion of the product" states Dr. Dunayer, "...therefore, it is important that pet owners seek veterinary treatment immediately."
Turkey
Turkey skin is currently thought to cause acute pancreatis in dogs, partly due to it's high fat content.
Other foods listed by the ASPCA as harmful:
Alcoholic beverages
Avocado (the only "fatty" member of the vegetable family)
Coffee (all forms of coffee)
Moldy or spoiled foods
Salt
Yeast dough
Garlic
The Bottom Line
Thanks to a more educated public, fewer fatalities from foods like chocolate are being reported these days. But it's important to keep up with what's currently known about foods and their effects on dogs health. Grapes and cocoa mulch, for example, were only discovered very recently to have harmful effects. Check frequently with sources like the ASPCA, or sign up for the "Cold Noses News" and we'll keep you informed. (You'll also get a bunch of cool dog stuff along with your free registration).
Of course, being alert and getting your pet to the vet promptly will help assure a happy outcome if something unfortunate should happen. Here's to your dogs health and good nutrition!
Carolyn Schweitzer, a former family dentsit, is owner and editor of several websites, including http://www.great-dog-gift.com.
Visit http://www.great-dog-gift.com to view the full illustrated article with links to resource articles from the ASPCA such as "How to Poison Proof your Home".
Sign up for the "Cold Noses News" at http://www.great-dog-gift.com to have information like this delivered to your mailbox.
executive chauffeured services Bradford .. Madison to Airport carBringing a new puppy or dog home is a huge... Read More
Lonely, bored, tired of eating that same old stick, then... Read More
If you're reading this I think it's safe to assume... Read More
Stingrays will eat a wide variety of foods. Maintaining a... Read More
Do you want to save money, anxiety for your kitty,... Read More
It's no secret that Americans love their pets. In fact,... Read More
A major part of a horse's diet is hay or... Read More
Did you know that pets outnumber people in the United... Read More
Having a pet is an experiance that I think everyone... Read More
Over the past decade, breed rescue groups have become a... Read More
There are plenty of reasons why your cat loves you.... Read More
Presently, and throughout the 1990s a phenomena swept through the... Read More
Everyday someone asks me, "How do you start a pet-sitting... Read More
Flowerhorn Cichlids Flowerhorn cichlids is a hybrid cichlid that was... Read More
Scottish Terriers are short-legged dogs, at a height of ten... Read More
Which kind is your pet? The pooch who is the... Read More
Once other animals such as cattle, sheep and goats became... Read More
Well first of all I was always a cat owner,... Read More
How many times have I hear fellow dog owners say,... Read More
Is your dog a gentleman or lady? If so, you... Read More
A puppy wanting to chew makes you want to scream!... Read More
Standing and walking on the hind legs are tricks that... Read More
Almost all communities in the U.S. require at least one... Read More
If you decide you want a purebred, make sure it's... Read More
If you love dogs and you enjoy making money then... Read More
O'Hare Chicago prom limo ..Parachromis managuense has a bad reputation, just like many of... Read More
Because it is imperative that discus fish have optimal water... Read More
Sadly, there are several household items which we tend to... Read More
You Must Be The Alpha DogFirst, let's take a look... Read More
There is a lot of talk going on about what... Read More
Your dogs health is important to you. You show her... Read More
Most people who have horses would like to develop a... Read More
Training Tips for a Happy and Healthy Relationship with Your... Read More
This has been one of the most rewarding adventures I... Read More
There are lots of ways a horse can go lame.... Read More
Dogs are a fantastic edition to any family but like... Read More
You know that cats should always have a supply of... Read More
They say the eyes are are the gateway to the... Read More
Whoever coined the phrase, "It's a Dog's Life" wasn't familiar... Read More
When Lucky was starting to show signs of aging, we... Read More
Part2: Does your puppy want to be crate trained?Yes! in... Read More
What Is ParvoParvo is a serious viral disease that can... Read More
As a business, I've not been in the holistic pet... Read More
Pilling a cat can be a "nightmarish" experience. Cats don't... Read More
Training your dog to "sit" is probably the first thing... Read More
Cockatiels are one of the most lovable pets in the... Read More
I've been around many people who try to lead a... Read More
The groups of fishes commonly referred to as Cichlids, comprise... Read More
It's beginning to get cooler and as such it is... Read More
When you get a puppy, one of the first things... Read More
Pet |