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