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Source:
Dr. Ken Harkin, 785-532-4251, kharkin@k-state.edu
News release prepared by: Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, 785-532-6415,
ebarcomb@k-state.edu
Tuesday,
January 23, 2007
FOODS
LIKE RAISINS AND NUTS THAT ARE GOOD FOR US CAN BE BAD FOR OUR DOGS,
K-STATE VETERINARIAN SAYS
MANHATTAN
-- Many conscientious dog owners wouldn't think of giving their
canine a tasty but dangerous chocolate bar. But they may not know
that giving a dog a handful of fruit or nuts can be just as risky.
Seemingly
harmless foods like fruits and nuts that have health benefits for
people can be dangerous to dogs, said Ken Harkin, associate professor
of clinical sciences at Kansas State University's College of Veterinary
Medicine.
Harkin
says a few foods to watch out for include:
*
Raisins. A healthful snack food for people, they can wreak havoc
on dogs. Harkin said raisin toxicity is a relatively rare condition
that can result in kidney failure. Symptoms include vomiting and
diarrhea before the dog takes a dramatic turn for the worse.
*
Macadamia nuts. Harkin warns that the tasty and pricey nuts are
toxic to dogs and create hind limb weakness, tremors, depression,
vomiting and fever. He said dogs usually recover.
*
Moldy food. What grosses you out may not even faze your dog. Your
pet's indiscriminating tastes can lead to trouble. Harkin said moldy
food can produce a tremor syndrome in dogs that can result in seizures.
*
Bread dough. Even a food fundamental to many human diets can be
dangerous when it's uncooked. Harkin said bread dough isn't good
for dogs or children, either. The yeast can ferment in your dog's
stomach and produce signs of "ethanol ingestion" --
drunkenness. A ball of dough also can obstruct the dog's gastrointestinal
tract.
*
Dark chocolate. Even though dark chocolate is being touted as a
good source of antioxidants for humans, chocolate still is unsafe
for dogs. "The major offenders would be cocoa powder and baker's
chocolate, with dark chocolate and semisweet chocolate behind these,"
Harkin said. "It takes three times as much dark chocolate to
equal baker's chocolate."
If
you suspect your dog has ingested an excessive amount of one of
these foods, Harkin says to call your dog's veterinarian.
He
also recommends a good quality commercial dog or cat food as the
staple in a pet's diet. Harkin says don't offer too many table scraps
or other treats, as pets could develop a picky appetite and not
eat their nutritionally balanced diet. He said although it is not
common, it has become a problem with some pets. When doting pet
owners wanting to offer something from their plates, Harkin emphasizes
moderation.
"The main reason not to feed table scraps is to avoid obesity,"
he said.
Foods
like raisins aren't necessary dangerous in small amounts but can
be when given in excess, Harkin said.
"You
would never eat 16 cups of raisins in one sitting, so why would
you give a 5- or 10-pound dog a half cup of raisins in one sitting?"
he said. "A few grapes or raisins never hurt any dog, but it's
the massive amount they consume that kills them."
Dogs
don't know when enough is enough, Harkin said.
"Dogs
get more toxicity issues with raisins, grapes and macadamia nuts
because they have that gluttonous instinct to eat everything in
sight, and they eat well above the toxic level," Harkin said.
"You just don't see many cats, birds or reptiles doing that.
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