What Not To Feed.

Sure you love your dog, but sharing your food with him because he keeps staring at you with that "sad puppy dog" look is NOT a way to tell him you love him.

In fact it's one of the WORST things you can do to your dog. First of all, most human food is very bad for dogs - some are even lethal. Second of all it teaches your dog to beg from people and that's just bad manners for any dog to have. If you want to feed your dog a special treat have it be away from where the humans eat, and some fruits, veggies, lean meats, and starches are okay. Check with your vet or with the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center website to see if it is a pet-safe treat. Their web address is posted in a link on the right side of my blog site. Here is a list of foods that are ABSOLUTELY NOT good for your pets.

• Raw Eggs: could contain Salmonella, and raw egg whites have an enzyme that prevents uptake of biotin - a B vitamin.
• Milk: can cause diarrhea in puppies and adults.
• Bones: Raw bones can damage teeth and cause gastrointestinal blockage or perforation. If a dog overeats cooked bones it can cause severe constipation.
• Raw Meat: could be contaminated with Salmonella or E. coli
• Grapes and Raisins: can cause kidney failure if too many are eaten. It varies from dog to dog how many grapes/raisins would be toxic.
• Avocados: can cause digestive tract irritation, with vomiting and diarrhea.
• Chocolate: contains methylxanthines and theobromine, caffeine-like compounds that can cause diarrhea, vomiting, tremors, abnormal heartbeat, seizures and death. The darker the chocolate, the more toxic compounds.
• Onions, Fresh Garlic, and related foods: can cause gastrointestinal irritations and anemia if eaten in sufficient amounts. Toxicity depends on food and individual dog.
• High-fat Foods: If overfed, can lead to pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas).

You should consult with your vet before changing your dog's normal diet.