The balmy season is here and gatherings, barbecues and dinners are in full swing. Now is a good time to remind everyone about the foods you should never feed your canine friends.

We want to share with our dogs, but it is best to avoid giving them human food that they don’t normally eat. There are some foods that dogs cannot digest like humans do.

Giving certain foods does not cause serious life-threatening problems, but it can cause stomach symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and stomach pain. However, it can cause significant pain and discomfort to your dog.

There are some foods that cause little or no harm if shared in moderation. Other foods are very dangerous and can cause serious illness or even death. Foods you shouldn’t eat with your dog include:

• ham – Very high in fat and salt. It can cause vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, urination, severe pancreatitis and even death.
• turkey or chicken skin – High in fat and can cause vomiting, diarrhea and pancreatitis.
• skeleton – Cooked bones become brittle and can cause blockages, inflammation and perforations throughout the digestive tract.
• raisins, grapes, sultanas, currants – May be toxic even in small amounts. It can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and sudden kidney failure.
• Christmas pudding, fruit cake, mince piess – contains dried fruits (raisins, sultanas, etc.), alcohol, and is high in fat, so it is a combination of various dangerous foods.
• chocolate – Contains theobromine and caffeine. These can cause vomiting, diarrhea, muscle spasms, seizures, heart problems, and even death.
• macadamia nuts – Toxic to dogs, weak and wobbly (especially hind legs). Other symptoms include lethargy, muscle tremors, vomiting, high fever, and choking hazard.
• onions and garlic (often used in stuffing) – Toxic and damages red blood cells. This results in weakness, lethargy, excessive gasping, pale gums, and anemia.
• Gum, mints, sugar-free candy – Contains xylitol which causes vomiting and lethargy. Xylitol triggers the release of insulin, which subsequently lowers blood sugar levels. This can lead to liver damage and even death.
• alcohol – Dogs are more sensitive to ethanol in alcohol than humans.

If you have any signs or symptoms, your dog is unwell, or you are concerned that your dog has ingested unsafe food, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible for advice and treatment. .

Another very important thing to remember when feeding or sharing food with dogs is how much to give. Food consumption is much less than humans and is related to their size. .

So keep your dog safe by not sharing food this Christmas (and always). If you can’t resist puppy dog ​​eyes (like me), avoid the dangerous foods mentioned and share in moderation. It’s probably a few different breeds, and it’s a good idea to keep one in a tin or container where you can grab one as a healthy and safe treat for your furry friend.

Another thing to remember is to make sure your trash is protected. Dogs are scavengers, happily tearing through bags to find wonderfully fragrant ham scraps, turkey bones, or desserts, but they often don’t know until it’s too late.

I wish everyone (two-legged, four-legged) a safe and merry Christmas.

Until next time,
Beck

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