Dangerous Human Foods for Dogs

Each year the Animal Control Poison Center receives a few hundred thousand calls relating to dogs consuming dangerous human foods, plants, and other poisons.  While some dangerous items like pesticides, non-food items, human medications, and household cleaners are clearly hazardous to our dogs, some other items that are commonly found in our homes can also be harmful.  While we are all aware of the dangers related to our dogs eating chocolate, here is a list of some other dangerous human foods for dogs.

• Avocados - The leaves, fruit, seeds and bark of avocados contain Persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs.
• Macadamia nuts - These nuts have caused weakness, depression, vomiting, tremors and hyperthermia in dogs. Signs usually appear within 12 hours of ingestion and last approximately 12 to 48 hours.
• Grapes and raisins - Although the toxic substance within grapes and raisins is unknown, these fruits can cause kidney failure. In pets who already have certain health problems, signs may be more dramatic.
• Xylitol (an artificial sweetener found in many items) -  Initial signs of toxicosis include vomiting, lethargy and loss of coordination. Signs can progress to recumbency and seizures. Elevated liver enzymes and liver failure can be seen within a few days.
• Onions, garlic, and chives - These vegetables and herbs can cause gastrointestinal irritation and could lead to red blood cell damage. Although cats are more susceptible, dogs are also at risk if a large enough amount is consumed.
• Milk - Because pets do not possess significant amounts of lactase (the enzyme that breaks down lactose in milk), milk and other milk-based products cause them diarrhea or other digestive upset.

Continuing Education, Again

In a few weeks I will be heading out of state to attend a continuing education conference in Iowa.  Epalooza is an annual event sponsored by That’s My Dog! that brings together professionals from a variety of different backgrounds in the dog world.  As with every year, the lineup of speakers is excellent and the topics being discussed promise to be extremely beneficial.  Some of the topics of this years conference include first aid for your pet, dealing with canine aggression, current trends in training equipment, and lots more!  Not only am I excited to open myself up to soak  in new information, but I’m excited to reunite with old friends and meet some new ones as well.

Continuing education is important in all professions, just as it’s important to your dog.  Dogs that are constantly being taught new things are able to learn easier, and it keeps them fresh leaves them with a sense of purpose.  If you are looking to teach your dog some new things, check out our Austin Agility Seminar or have a mini training session at home tonight, do some trick training, or enroll your dog into some other type of learning activity.  Remember, mental stimulation is just as important for your dog as physical exercise!  If you’re not sure how to properly exercise your dog’s mind, start by getting them into a great Austin dog training class!

Be sure to keep an eye on our Facebook Fan Page and Twitter account as I will be posting pictures and updates from the conference.

Tips for Building Drive

Some dogs naturally have tons of drive for balls, frisbees, or other toys, while other dogs could care less about a toy.  While it’s not always possible to turn a couch potato into a marathon runner, here are some tips that can help get your dog more interested in playing with their toys.

Making sure that you choose the right toy should be your first priority.  A dog is not going to want to play with something that they’re just no into.  Consider texture, weight, color, and shape, along with other characteristics, and see what your dog naturally likes.

Introduce some basic fetch games to your dog in the appropriate setting.  A crowded dog park is not the best place to try to get your dog interested in toys.  Instead, try an open field or your backyard, somewhere that distractions are initially limited.

You always want to end your play sessions before your dog gets bored, therefore keep your sessions short.  If that means that you only throw the ball for 2 minutes, so be it; you always want to leave the dog wanting more.

Consider putting the toy away when you are finished with your play session.  Leaving free access to the toy can take away the excitement that is provided when you and your dog are actively engaged in play.

Utilize your dog’s natural prey drive by adjusting your throws.  Instead of throwing a ball high into the air, try quickly rolling it on the ground, this will mimic the path or a rabbit or squirrel.

Make sure that your dog is in good physical condition and not overweight.  An overweight dog will not have the physical stamina needed to engage in an intense game of fetch.

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5 Tips for Feeding Your Dog

Yes, it’s more then just dumping food in a bowl and seeing what happens or scraping your plate into the dog’s dish after dinner.  Proper feeding is the least we can do for our dogs, here are a a few of many tips to help things go smoothly.

• Feed the correct amount of food. Over feeding dogs is very common and having an overweight dog is very unhealthy. Most brands of dog food include a chart on the bag that suggests how much to feed your dog. Use this information as a guide but remember that dog food companies want you to purchase more food, so it’s not uncommon for them to suggest more food then is actually needed. Also be aware that treats are usually high in calories, make adjustments to your dog’s diet so they are not putting on unneeded weight.

• Don’t keep switching foods. Make sure that you are keeping your dog on the same type and flavor of food consistently. A dog’s stomach will not adjust well to change, even changing flavors of the same brands can effect the dog. If you are switching brands or flavors, do it gradually over the course of a week or so.

• Have structured and scheduled feeding times. Free feeding (food in bowl, dog grazes throughout the day) is another system you want to avoid, and it has nothing to do with the dog’s weight in this context.  Not only does free feeding encourage picky and sporadic eating, it lacks all elements of owner interaction and structure; get the dog to look to you for the things they need!

• Monitor the feeding session. This is especially important if you are living with multiple dogs. Do not let your dogs float back and forth between bowls and don’t let one dog guard food from another.

• Make adjustments according to your activities. Do not feed your dog right before you go to the park; be sure to leave plenty of time before and after physical exercise.  Dogs who physically exert themselves on a full belly are more prone to suffering from gastric torsion, especially in the summer.

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Summertime Posts for Your Dog

Summer is here and it’s a great time to get outside and spend time with your dog.  Here are 5 posts from our archives that may be useful, especially during this time of year.  Enjoy!

It’s going to get hot this summer, so be sure to check out these tips for Keeping Your Dog Cool in the Summer.

The higher temperatures will surely effect your dog’s stamina and exercise routine, reading up on Gastric Torsion and Your Dog may help you make some adjustments during the summer.

This post will hopefully shed some light on the sometimes controversial subject of Should You Shave your Dog in the Summer?

Swimming is a great way to cool your dogs off this summer, hopefully these tips will help with Teaching Your Dog to Swim.

Checking out some info on Dogs and Fireworks may prove to be beneficial, especially with all of the 4th of July, Memorial Day, and other summertime celebration fireworks displays.

If you enjoyed this entry, don’t forget to subscribe to our dog training blog. You will be automatically notified as soon a new entry is made. Also be sure to check out our Facebook Fan Page and follow us on Twitter.

How Many Calories are in Dog Treats?

Obesity is a major problem in our country and it’s also affecting our pets.  While exercise is a major factor in maintaining your dog’s ideal weight, nutrition is equally important.  Although it will vary greatly based on the activity level and the size of each dog, it’s important to know the caloric requirements of your dog (this is a great question to ask the vet).  Using that as a starting point, it’s important to know not only how many calories in are your dog’s food, but also how many calories are in those treats!

Take the quiz below to test your knowledge of the calorie content of some of the most popular dog treats.  The correct answers and your score will appear at the end of the quiz.

[QUIZZIN 1]

Just to give a reference point, a 45 pound dog with a normal activity level should be consuming roughly about 900 to 1100 calories per day.  While many of the treats appear to be “low” in calories, remember to factor in just how many treats your dog is getting, especially during a training session.  Don’t forget, these numbers are in addition to your dog’s regular meals, all those calories quickly add up.

Treats are great!  We love to use treats when we train, but consider rationing out part of your dog’s regular meal and use the kibble as treats during a training session.  Also be sure to get out and explore your local hiking trails, go for a walk around the block, or play ball at the park.  All of these fun activities will bring you and your dog closer together and also help burn off those extra calories.

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Halloween and Your Dog

Halloween is quickly approaching and we always experience and increased rate of certain dog related issues pop up during this time of year.  Here are some things you will want to be aware of this Halloween season with your dog.

Halloween is all about costumes, both with children and dogs.

• Children in costumes will appear different to your dog and can easily scare a dog
• Many dogs will become reactive to children and adults in costume
• Certain dog costumes can be a chewing or choking hazard
• If you will be dressing up your dog, make sure that your dog has good peripheral vision to enable them to fully use their senses
• Be aware of how other dogs perceive your dog when he/she is in a doggy costume

Be aware of your doorbell when handing out candy.

• Because your door will be opening and closing frequently, make sure your dog knows no to bolt out of the door
• There will be loud and excited children in costumes on the other side of the door, make sure your dog isn’t reactive
• Don’t be afraid to crate your dog away from your door to reduce stress levels and prevent the unexpected

We all know that chocolate is not good for your dog.

• Make sure you keep candy out of reach of your dog
• Be sure that your children are not giving the dog candy
• Make sure your dog does not chew or eat candy wrappers

If you think about each aspect of Halloween, it’s almost the most unfair and potentially stressful day for your dog.  Follow the steps above and keep your dog out of potentially dangerous situations this Halloween.

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Is Your Dog Overweight?

Obesity in our dogs is a very serious medical problem.  All of that excess weight take a big strain on our dogs’ heart, lungs, joints and hips.  Overweight dogs are more like to have complications during surgery and are much more at risk for respiratory problems during warmer weather.

Recognizing an overweight dog can be very easily spotted as an outsider, but it’s often harder for owners to recognize obesity in their own dogs.  Take a look at the chart above, where does your dog rank, and what do you think is the ideal body shape?  Feel free to leave your response as a comment below.

Stay tuned for an upcoming entry that will provide the correct answer and a lot more information about obesity and dogs.

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Chocolate Toxicity and Your Dog

Almost everyone knows that dogs are not supposed to have chocolate, but not a lot of people know exactly why.  Chocolate contains theobromine, which is toxic to dogs in amounts of around 100-150 mg/kg.

Using a dose of 100 mg/kg as the toxic dose it comes out roughly as:

• 1 ounce per 1 pound of body weight for Milk chocolate (which contains about 45 mg of theobromine per oz)
• 1 ounce per 3 pounds of body weight for Semisweet chocolate (which contains about 150 mg of theobromine per oz)
• 1 ounce per 9 pounds of body weight for Baker’s chocolate (which contains about 390 mg of theobromine per oz)

So, for example, 2 oz. of Baker’s chocolate can cause great risk to an 15 lb. dog. Yet, 2 oz. of Milk chocolate usually will only cause digestive problems.  Depending on on size of your dog how much and what type of chocolate was consumed, you can possibly just expect diarrhea in some cases, but other cases may require immediate medical attention.

So what does all this mean?  Well basically it still means don’t let your dogs have chocolate, and still consult with your vet if your dog has consumed chocolate.  But at the same time, be aware of what type of chocolate and how much was consumed by your dog; these two factors will give you and your vet valuable information.

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