ZONE V4 HARBOR RIDGE EVERGREEN-655

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For What It’s Worth by L.E. Murphy

Y ou know how much we love our dogs? Sooo much. In fact, so much that we want them to enjoy some of the same foods we do. How can we resist? ey watch us eat while sitting faithfully at our feet, their sweet eyes begging for a taste, and sometimes even the strongest of us give in and gure, how can it hurt? Well, not to ruin your pooches' hopes, but it can hurt a lot. In fact, sometimes it can be fatal. My recommendation is to check with your veterinarian about dangerous foods that your dogs (and cats) should not ingest, but here’s what I’ve found so far. A fan favorite is giving dogs cooked bones but according to my sources, cooked bones have the ability to splinter o, causing possible harm to your dogs gastrointestinal system. Another food, although I personally think they’re so expensive I rarely buy them for myself, but anyway, macadamia nuts. ey have a high fat content which can irritate your pouches stomach and less than two nuts per dog pounds can cause poisoning, leading to temporary paralysis. Let’s talk about dairy. I know plenty of people who give their dogs a few spoons of yogurt. Apparently, dairy causes gastrointestinal upsets in most dogs, and if you are so inclined to give Fido a taste, make sure it is unavored yogurt. e next food is leeks, onions and garlic. Forget the misery of their stomach, my guess is that you might not love their good night kisses. Next on the list is bacon! Who doesn’t love bacon? Well, apparently, much as your dog loves it, it can lead to pancreatitis, so try to explain that in dog language. Your dog won’t be happy to watch you eat it without him, but it’s for his own good.

Raw dough. I don’t know anyone feeding their dog raw dough, but then again, I remember liking it as a child so no judgment here. However, it can cause the dog’s stomach to twist painfully, as well as giving o ethanol gas leading to alcohol poisoning. Hmm. Maybe that explains my sister's crying as a child! Next, avocados, peaches and plums. Dogs who are fruit eaters love them, but it goes without saying that giving your dog a pit makes no sense at all. It can lead to choking and some pits can release cyanide poisoning. Again, I reect back to my sister. She loved fruit. ankfully she doesn’t cry anymore, lol. Okay, next on the hit parade of bad foods to give your dog is corn on the cob. Yes, they love chewing on the corn cob but if they bite o a chunk, it can wedge in their intestine and that not only is painful, but will require surgery. It goes without saying never to give your pet chocolate, but I’ll say it anyway. Never give your pet chocolate. It contains caeine. At the least it causes vomiting, dehydration, abdominal pain, and worse, possible tremors, heart arrhythmia, seizures and possibly death. I doubt anyone is looking to feed your pet chocolates, but it stands to reason to keep anything containing chocolate out of reach. Dogs are sneaky little characters who are smarter than you give them credit for. Okay, here’s a dog favorite. Peanut butter! I never knew a dog who didn’t beg for it. In fact, many have gone on to school for handwriting lessons to beg their owners to add it to their treats. Okay, they can have it in moderation BUT, only if it doesn’t contain a chemical by the name

of Xylitol, which is a sweetener. You won’t believe how many popular brands of peanut butter contain Xylitol! If you do buy peanut butter, it should only contain two ingredients; peanuts and salt. One more thing, since peanut butter is a fan favorite. A small dog should have no more than one half teaspoon per day, and

a large dog should have no more than 1 tablespoon per day, but check with your vet to be sure. is leads me to another topic. Yes, you are certainly capable of doing the research. Google is happy to help and is dog-friendly, but wouldn’t it be great if all vets could do the research, because I’m certain there are plenty more no-no’s than this article. If the vet’s oce gave a hand out of poison foods to everyone who came to their oce, there would be a lot more happy dogs in the world. Maybe some do. If not, they should. So, keep your dogs happy by feeding them really good food that is digestible (if you’re cooking your own dog food. Some foods just pass through the system without the ability to be digested). And if your dog seems to be hiding something, they may be attempting to learn how to read and write. ey have so much to tell you, but alas, no way to let you know. ank you for loving your pets, and adopting the ones who are looking for a loving forever home.

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16B Vol. 655 Zone V

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