| "Magoo was a big, playful Labrador retriever who | | | | beans contain a chemical called Theobromine, |
| often got himself into sticky situations..." | | | | which is toxic to dogs. Different types of |
| So begins a story in the latest report from the | | | | chocolate have varying effects on dogs health. |
| ASPCA on foods that may be toxic to dogs. It | | | | Dark chocolate has the largest theobromine, |
| turns out that Magoo got into the pantry and | | | | coming in at a whopping 450mg (compared to |
| snagged himself about a pound of raisins. He ate | | | | 1mg for white chocolate). So on Valentine's Day, |
| the whole thing, of course. | | | | you're actually being kind to your best buddy if |
| The ASPCA never mentions Magoo's fate. But | | | | you eat all the chocolates yourself! |
| they do tell us that as little as a handful of raisins | | | | Cocoa Mulch |
| can impair a dogs health and has been fatal for | | | | Cocoa bean shells are a by-product of chocolate |
| some. Ditto for the grape. | | | | production (which is how mulch made it into the |
| Who Knew? | | | | "foods" category) and are popular as mulch for |
| Growing up, I regarded our family dogs as "the | | | | landscaping. Homeowners like the attractive color |
| first cycle of the dishwasher". They were good | | | | and scent, and the fact that the mulch breaks |
| about waiting their turn for whatever we left on | | | | down into an organic fertilizer. However, some |
| our plates, and we weren't too concerned about | | | | dogs like to eat it and it contains Theobromine. |
| offering them "people food". It never crossed our | | | | Fatty foods |
| minds that our dogs health could be affected by a | | | | Fatty foods are hard for a dog to digest and can |
| few measly table scraps. What was safe for us, | | | | can overtax the pancreas, leading to pancreatitis. |
| we figured, was safe for our pets. | | | | This can threaten your dogs health and is |
| What's more, whenever I ate grapes, I liked to | | | | potentially fatal. |
| give one or two to our German Shepherd | | | | Nuts |
| "Tiffany". The grapes always popped out of her | | | | Macadamia nuts should be avoided. In fact most |
| mouth when she tried to bite into them and | | | | nuts are not good for a dogs health since their |
| Tiffany, ever the good sport, refused to give up | | | | high phosporus content is said to lead to bladder |
| until she'd squashed each one into submission. It | | | | stones. |
| guaranteed at least 60 seconds of harmless fun. | | | | Mulch |
| Tiffany was also fond of chewing gum (she | | | | Mulch isn't food, but there's one type tempting |
| chewed it -- wrapper and all -- but didn't swallow | | | | enough for dogs to eat. Some dogs are attracted |
| it!) We had the sugarless kind, which is often | | | | to cocoa mulch, and will eat it in varying quantities. |
| sweetened these days with xylitol. | | | | The coca bean shells can contain from 0.2% to |
| Little did I know that I might have been poisoning | | | | 3% theobromine (the toxin ) as compaired to |
| our family pet! (More on xylitol below). | | | | 1-4% in unprocessed beans. |
| Why are grapes harmful? | | | | Onions |
| As far as grapes and raisins go, no one is sure | | | | Onions, especially raw onions, have been shown to |
| why they're harmful. It's been confirmed that | | | | trigger hemolytic anemia in dogs. (Stephen J |
| even grapes grown without fertilizers or pesticides | | | | Ettinger, D.V.M and Edward C. Fieldman, D.V.M. 's |
| can be toxic to dogs. But not to every dog, and | | | | book: Textbook of Veterinary Internal Medicine |
| not every time. It's also not known whether small | | | | vol. 2 pg 1884.) Stay away from onion powder |
| amounts eaten over a long time period could | | | | too. |
| have a cumulative effect. | | | | Potatoes |
| What we do know is that the end result in nearly | | | | Potato poisonings among people and dogs are |
| all reported cases of grape or raisin toxicity is | | | | rare but have occurred. The toxin, solanine, is |
| acute kidney failure. (The term "acute" means | | | | poorly absorbed and is only found in green |
| that the condition is severe and comes on | | | | sprouts (these occur in tubers exposed to |
| quickly.) The dog ultimately can't produce urine, | | | | sunlight) and green potato skins. This explains why |
| which means they can't filter toxins out of their | | | | incidents seldom occur. Note that cooked, mashed |
| systems -- a process essential to life. | | | | potatoes are fine for a dogs health, actually quite |
| During the twelve-month period in which the | | | | nutritious and digestible. |
| effects of grapes were studied, the ASPCA | | | | Artificial Sweeteners |
| Animal Poison Control Center handled 140 cases | | | | Xylitol is used as a sweetener in many products, |
| involving one or more dogs. Over a third of the | | | | especially sugarless gum and candies. Ingesting |
| dogs developed symptoms ranging from vomiting | | | | large amounts of products sweetened with xylitol |
| to kidney failure, and seven dogs died. The | | | | may cause a sudden drop in blood sugar in dogs, |
| ASPCA based their study on reported cases, so | | | | resulting depression, loss of coordination, and |
| naturally there may be cases where a dogs health | | | | seizures. According to Dr. Eric K. Dunayer, a |
| is entirely unaffected by eating grapes. But until | | | | consulting veterinarian in clinical toxicology for the |
| they know all the facts, the Society advises | | | | poison control center, "These signs can develop |
| against feeding pets grapes or raisins in any | | | | quite rapidly, at times less than 30 minutes after |
| amount. | | | | ingestion of the product" states Dr. Dunayer, |
| An ounce of prevention | | | | "...therefore, it is important that pet owners seek |
| So, your dog just scored himself a big box of | | | | veterinary treatment immediately." |
| raisins. What's a pet owner to do? | | | | Turkey |
| The first line of defense, if the grapes or raisins | | | | Turkey skin is currently thought to cause acute |
| were eaten recently, is to induce vomiting and | | | | pancreatis in dogs, partly due to it's high fat |
| administer activated charcoal (it absorbs toxins in | | | | content. |
| the GI tract). Vomiting is also the first sign that | | | | Other foods listed by the ASPCA as harmful: |
| your dog is in trouble, so skip right to the | | | | Alcoholic beverages |
| activated charcoal if vomiting has already | | | | Avocado (the only "fatty" member of the |
| occurred. (In a pinch you can make your own | | | | vegetable family) |
| activated charcoal by charring a piece of toast | | | | Coffee (all forms of coffee) |
| until it's blackened and crumbles easily.) Then call | | | | Moldy or spoiled foods |
| your vet right away. | | | | Salt |
| Can't reach the vet? Call ASPCA Poison Control: | | | | Yeast dough |
| 888-426-4435 | | | | Garlic |
| The vet will keep your dog on intravenous fluids | | | | The Bottom Line |
| for at least 48 hours and monitor blood chemistry | | | | Thanks to a more educated public, fewer fatalities |
| daily. Normal blood work after 3 days usually | | | | from foods like chocolate are being reported |
| means your dog is in the clear. | | | | these days. But it's important to keep up with |
| Keeping a watchful eye out, of course, is the best | | | | what's currently known about foods and their |
| way to keep your pet out of trouble. Like | | | | effects on dogs health. Grapes and cocoa mulch, |
| children, dogs (and other pets) have a knack for | | | | for example, were only discovered very recently |
| getting into mischief when we're not looking. | | | | to have harmful effects. |
| It's Not Just the Grapes... | | | | Check frequently with sources like the ASPCA, or |
| There are other foods your dog should be kept | | | | sign up for the "Cold Noses News" and we'll keep |
| away from, and some of them may surprise you. | | | | you informed. (You'll also get a bunch of cool dog |
| Here are some other foods that can put a dogs | | | | stuff along with your free registration). |
| health in harms way: | | | | Of course, being alert and getting your pet to the |
| Chocolate | | | | vet promptly will help assure a happy outcome if |
| Who can resist chocolate? Like it your not, your | | | | something unfortunate should happen. |
| dog. | | | | Here's to your dogs health and good nutrition! |
| Chocolate is made with cocoa beans and cocoa | | | | |