Food and Your Pets

Grapes and Raisins: Can cause acute renal failure in dogs. Polyurethane Glue: Dogs may be attracted to either the smell or taste of glue, and may try to chew on the bottles. If swallowed, the glue expands to form a mass in the stomach and may need to be surgically removed. Gorilla Glue will do the same thing. Macadamia Nuts: Raw or roasted macadamia nuts cause painful muscle weakness , tremors, and paralysis. Dogs can be affected by eating as few as six nuts, and may also be affected by macadamia butter. Onions, Chives, and Garlic: Contains thiosulphate, which is toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Cooked bones: After cooking, bones become brittle and may splinter. These splinters may cause chocking, or may even puncture or become embedded in the intestinal tract or stomach. Some that are especially dangerous: turkey and chicken bones. Coffee: Any beverage containing caffeine can cause a dog’s heart to race, sometimes causing seizures. Xylitol: Sugar free candies and other products containing xylitol. This ingredient is extremely harmful to dogs, with even small amounts causing liver damage and death. Fruits: Cherries, apricot and apple seeds, pear seeds, peach pits, plum seeds. These seeds contain cyanogenic glycosides which causes cyanide poisoning . Chocolate: Cooking chocolate and cocoa powder are the most toxic, followed by dark, semi-sweet, and milk chocolate. The smaller the pet the higher the toxicity rises, or the larger the quantity ingested. Keep all types of chocolate out of your dog’s diet. Corn Cobs: Can cause potentially fatal intestinal blockage . Tobacco: Cigarettes, nicotine patches , and other tobacco products may be harmful or fatal. Raw Salmon: Dogs may be exposed to a parasite after eating infected salmon. The parasite causes gastrointestinal problems similar to parvo, and may be fatal. See your vet immediately if your dog has ingested raw salmon: ask for a fecal sample test for rickettsial organism. This can be treated if caught in time. Remember, if you feed your dog fish, makes sure it is cooked. Plants: Toxic plants include Azalea, rhododendron, lilies, foxglove, daffodils, rhubarb leaves, yew, castor bean , sago palm , kalanchoe, and tulip bulbs. Yeast Dough: Even a small amount can rise and cause a rupture in your dog’s stomach or intestines. Human Medications: Pain killers , cold meds, anti-cancer drugs, vitamins, diet pills, and anti-depressants can be toxic even in small doses. Never give human medication to your pet unless it is instructed by your vet. Slug and Snail Bait: These products come in liquid, pellets, or powder form

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Food and Your Pets

Canned Food Safety

Did you know that canned foods can start breaking down after a year of storage.? They sometimes lose their color, flavor, texture and nutritive value.? They should be stored at temperatures around 70 degrees and o higher than 95 degrees, which means… don’t store them in cabinets next to or above the stove or oven.? Also, pay attention to the conditions of the cans.? If the can is bulging at all, throw the can away.? This means the food inside may be spoiled.? If the can has rust, pitch it.? The rust can actually penetrate the can and get to the food inside.? These tips should also be used when buying canned foods.? It only takes a few seconds to look the can over before purchasing.? ? In my pantry, I rotate cans so I’m using the oldest ones 1 st . About every 3 months I take an inventory of my pantry.? ?If I find myself with something I know I’ve had for several months and know I’ll probably not use for several months, I package it up and send it to a food bank.? ?Items like this are sometimes collected in our pantries due to buy one get one free sales.? We even have a store that runs a buy 2 get 3 free sale and you must take all 5 to cut the cost down.? These sales are hard to pass up but I don’t always end up needing 5.? ? So, take a little time and go through your pantry to make sure your canned foods are safe to eat. ?

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Canned Food Safety