Hes Got Food Issues Piece

“Magoo was a big, playful Labrador retriever who many times 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 regarding 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 may 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 primary cycle of the dishwasher”. They were good with regards to waiting their turn for whatsoever we left on our plates, and we weren’t too concerned when it comes to providing 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 many times 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 may be toxic to dogs. But not to each dog, and not each time. It’s also not known whether little amounts eaten over a long time amount of time could have a cumulative effect.

What we do know is that the end result in almost 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 in the long run can’t construct urine, which means they can’t filter toxins out of their systems — a routine necessary to life.

During the twelve-month amount of time 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 invented sensations or changes 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 altogether unaffected by eating grapes. But until they recognise all the facts, the Society advises versus 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 proprietor to do?

The introductory 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 likewise the initial sign that your dog is in trouble, so skip right to the activated charcoal if vomiting has already occurred. (In a pinch you may 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 alchemy daily. Normal blood work after 3 days normally 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 must be kept away from, and a great deal of of them may surprise you.

Here are some other foods that may put a dogs health in harms way:

Chocolate

Who may protest chocolate? Like it your not, your dog.

Chocolate is made with cocoa beans and cocoa beans incorporate a chemical called Theobromine, which is toxic to dogs. Different types of chocolate have varying effects on dogs health. Dark chocolate has the greatest theobromine, coming in at a whopping 450mg (compared to 1mg for white chocolate). So on Valentine’s Day, you’re in truth being kind to your best buddy if you eat all the chocolates yourself!

Cocoa Mulch

Cocoa bean shells are a by-product of chocolate production (which is how mulch made it into the “foods” category) and are frequent as mulch for landscaping. Homeowners like the beautiful color and scent, and the fact that the mulch breaks down into an organic fertilizer. However, a lot of dogs like to eat it and it holds Theobromine.

Fatty foods

Fatty foods are hard for a dog to digest and may may overtax the pancreas, leading to pancreatitis. This may threaten your dogs health and is potentially fatal.

Nuts

Macadamia nuts will have to 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 sufficient for dogs to eat. Some dogs are attracted to cocoa mulch, and will eat it in varying quantities. The coca bean shells may comprise from 0.2% to 3% theobromine (the toxin ) as compaired to 1-4% in unprocessed beans.

Onions

Onions, exceptionally 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 amid people and dogs are rare but have occurred. The toxin, solanine, is poorly absorbed and is only found in green sprouts (these take place 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, genuinely rather nourishment providing and digestible.

Artificial Sweeteners

Xylitol is employed as a sweetener in numerous products, exceptionally sugarless gum and candies. Ingesting big amounts of productions 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 may manufacture rather rapidly, at times less than 30 minutes after ingestion of the product” states Dr. Dunayer, “…therefore, it is crucial that pet owners seek veterinary treatment immediately.”

Turkey

Turkey skin is presently 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” fellow 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, less fatalities from foods like chocolate are being reported these days. But it’s important to keep up with what’s presently known when it comes to foods and their effects on dogs health. Grapes and cocoa mulch, for example, were only ran into very lately to have destructive effects.

Check often with origins 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 aid assure a happy outcome if something ominous must happen.

Here’s to your dogs health and good nutrition!

Hes Got Food Issues Piece

This digital document is an article from E, published by Earth Action Network, Inc. on May 1, 2000. The length of the article is 1074 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker without delay after purchase. You may view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: Got Organic Milk?
Author: Chris Hayhurst
Publication: E (Magazine/Journal)
Date: May 1, 2000
Publisher: Earth Action Network, Inc.
Volume: 11 Issue: 3 Page: 42

Distributed by Thomson Gale