Dog Food? - 8 Things Your Pet Shouldn't Eat

I subscribe to a daily web magazine called Real Simple. I love the variety of things they cover from 10 fancy pants gravy boats (really? gravy boats? anyway...) to some awesome and sometimes scary recipes to articles like the one today, 8 Things Your Pet Shouldn't Eat. I have two dogs, no small demure little yappy dogs and not the testosterone filled "manly" dogs but REAL dogs.......greyhounds.

Yes, the ones that people think are hyperactive because they can run really fast. The funny thing is they aren't hyperactive, it's true, they are fast but for short spurts......once or twice around the yard and they are done, they need a cold beverage and a nap. I will admit one of them is a mixed breed and I'm sure there is some sort of inbreeding going on in the DNA tree because she definitely is not right. Although she is happy, so I guess she doesn't realize she is mentally......slow, arrested, retarded, backward however you want to say it, I just know if there was a short bus for dogs, she'd be riding shotgun.

I'm not one of those fanatical pet owners but I do try to do right by them, so when I saw the article about what not to feed them I was interested. Some of the things mentioned surprised me.

1. Chocolate  Why: Stimulates the nervous system and the heart.

 [I've always heard this and as a general rule they don't get chocolate, I mean not on purpose anyway. And I've always wondered how much is too much. I would suspect that the average size dog can eat an entire easter basket full of different candies - through the wrappers and suffer no adverse side effects, other than wanting to sleep the rest of the day.......not that that happened at our house.]

2. Grapes, Raisins Why: Damage to the kidneys

[Just like my kids I'm pretty sure the only way I could even get my dogs to eat a raisin would be to disguise it in an oatmeal cookie.]

3. Garlic, Onions Why: Damage red blood cells, causing anemia
[So I guess our friday night chips and salsa night with Margaritas is out]

4. Xylitol (found in sugarless gum) Why: Causes increased insulin secretion

[My only question is - So sugar-filled gum is ok?]

5. Alcoholic Drinks Why: Depresses the nervous system

[Pffft, refer to #3]

6. Raw Yeast, Bread Dough Why: Forms gas in the digestive track; fermentation of yeast causes alcohol poisoning
[Oh lawdy lawdy please no more gas needed]

7. Macadamia Nuts Why: Causes muscle and nervous-system problems 

[Oops, I guess the next time I go to Hawaii they will just have to get a key chain like everyone else.]

8. Avocados Why: Contains persin, which damages the heart muscle.

[What? no guacamole either.....our mexican fiesta night is totally hosed.]

I guess the bottom line is that although we like to treat our pets as family members we need to remember our constitutions are very different. Which I suppose is good because I really don't wanna eat rawhides, bugs and drink out of the toilet. I will respect our differences and not judge and next time they bring the little doggy wine glass to me and beg for me to share, I will show tough love and drink it all myself.

If you think your dog, cat, or bird has consumed one of these items and you are concerned, contact your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435)