Dangerous Foods for Dogs.
With Christmas on its way and a lot of food around, I thought it would be a good time to talk about foods that are dangerous to dogs. Every year we see dogs becoming sick at Christmas because of what they are fed, so please take a few minutes to read through this.
- Chocolate: as a general rule, the darker the chocolate the more dangerous it is to dogs. Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromide, which can cause seizures and other problems in dogs
- Onions and Garlic: these foods, especially if raw can cause significant destruction of the dog’s red blood cells. If enough cells are destroyed it can be fatal or require blood transfusions
- Grapes and Sultanas: it has recently been found that grapes, raisins and sultanas can cause kidney failure in some dogs. It is unclear how this damage occurs, or why some dogs can eat them with no problems while others can experience significant kidney damage.
- Xylitol: an artificial sweetener, it is often found in sugar free gum and some sugar replacement products. It can cause very rapid drops in blood glucose which can be fatal, or severe liver failure
- Macadamia Nuts: although not fatal, macadamia nuts can cause gut pain in dogs
- Fat: this is the most common cause of sick dogs at Christmas, with most vets seeing 2-3 dogs sick from eating too much fat. Often people will feed their dog leftovers or let them chew the ham bone. A large feed of fat can cause a condition called pancreatitis, which is very painful for dogs, is sometimes fatal and requires intensive hospital treatment
- Bones: the wrong types of bones can cause problems such as intestinal blockages or get caught in the dog’s throat. Never feed your dog cooked bones or chop bones that can be swallowed whole, as these are the most dangerous
If your pet gets sick over the Christmas period, phone the normal Bunbury Vet Clinic number 97215999 and you will be put through to the duty vet. We will be available over the entire Christmas period for emergency treatment and advice.