By Charlie Hare
Growing up in a small farm town had a lot of advantages, not the least of which was a freedom and sense of complete control over one's own contentment and pursuits of happiness.
We had a lot of pets. We had cats, dogs, a white rat, turtles, frogs, and anything else we found or that came to us as hungry strays. Back then, we didn't think too much about what our pets ate. We very often gave our pets "people-foods"; scraps from family meals, treats, etc.
The local farmers always had a bunch of hungry cats and dogs running around their property, feeding on cows' milk, mice, birds, table scraps, and any other bit of fodder they could find (or that someone nonchalantly and innocently tossed their way).
What we did not realize is that we were giving our pets foods which are hazardous for them. For some reason, we believed that if we could eat it so could they. Looking back, that way of thinking, that mentality seems rather ignorant; indeed, even blind to so many things.
Funny, though, because we rarely took any of our pets to veterinarians back then either. Hmmmmm...perhaps they (the pets) knew how to heal themselves from all the junk we gave them. Maybe they knew enough natural remedies (i.e., herbs, berries, fruits, weeds, and other 'anti-toxins') to counteract our poisons.
There was not a lot of information-sharing back then either. Certainly nowhere near as it is today, and things we learned came much slower then, for sure! I guess life was just a whole lot slower and simpler then.
How many adorable pictures have we seen of tiny kittens being fed pure cow's milk, directly from the cow? Now, we are told many cats are lactose intolerant and cannot metabolize the milk properly, so we should not give that to them. Who knew?
Here are seven "people foods" that should not be given to your cat or dog, as they have been found to be either directly or indirectly "toxic" to them:
Avocado
Avocados contain persin, which is a derivative of fatty acids. Persin is toxic to cats and dogs, as well as other animals, and especially birds.
Chocolate
Chocolate is considered to be poisonous to cats and dogs. It contains theobromine, an alkaloid, which can give pets theobromine poisoning, which can lead to death if not treated early.
Cows' milk
Cows' milk is not considered toxic to cats, but some cats are lactose intolerant, thus milk may give them diarrhea or other digestive symptoms.
Foods containing
Grapes, raisins
Grapes and raisins should be avoided as pet snacks, as they have been linked with kidney failure, especially in dogs.
Onion, garlic, leek, chive
Onions contain a substance called N-propyl disulphide, which can destroy red blood cells in cats, causing a type of anemia called Heinz body anemia. Garlic, leeks and chives contain similar substances, although in lesser amounts.
Tomatoes, raw potatoes
Tomatoes and raw potatoes contain the glycoalkaloid Solanine, a poisonous compound which can cause digestive ailments in animals.
Plants can be hazardous
to your dogs health
Did you know that eating certain plants could make your dog sick or worse?
Be aware of plants that are within reach of your dog. Listed below are some
plants that can be harmful to your dog.
www.akc.org
May cause vomiting and diarrhea:
Castor bean
Soap berry
Ground Cherry
Skunk Cabbage
Daffodil
Delphinium
Foxglove
Larkspur
Indian Tobacco
Indian Turnip
Poke weed
Bittersweet woody
Wisteria
May cause vomiting, abdominal pain
and/or diarrhea:
Almond
Apricot
Wild Cherry
Balsam Pear
Japanese Plum
Bird of Paradise bush
Horse Chestnut (Buckeye)
English Holly
Black Locust
Mock Orange
Privet
Rain Tree (Monkey Pod)
American Yew
English Yew
Western Yew
May cause varied reactions:
Azalea
Philodendron
Hydrangea
Kalanchoe
Lilies
Mescal bean
Mushrooms (if also toxic to
humans)
Sunburned potatoes
Rhubarb
Spinach
Tomato vine
Buttercup
Dologeton
Poison Hemlock
Water Hemlock
Jasmine
Loco weed
Lupine
Matrimony Vine
May Apple
Moonseed
Nightshade
Angels Trumpet
May act as hallucinogens:
Marijuana
Morning Glory
Nutmeg
Perriwinkle
Peyote
May cause convulsions:
China berry
Coriaria
Moonweed
Nux vomica
Water Hemlock
In Case of an Emergency
Who would take care of your dog if you were hurt and unable to do so? To make sure vital information
regarding your dog is easily accessible to others, take a few moments to fill out this emergency
information sheet.
List two or three people as contacts in case of emergency. Include the contacts name, address, and
telephone number. Make sure at least one of the contacts has a set of your house keys.
You may also want your attorney to draft a written statement, which gives immediate custody of your
dog to a designated individual with that individuals consent. Notify that individual of his or her
responsibility, and put his or her name, address, and phone number on your emergency information
sheet.
Attach a recent photo of your dog to the information sheet to help others locate your dog if it should
wander off.
Put the information sheet on your refrigerator or other prominent spot in your house. You may also want
to keep similar information in your wallet. If you are unable to care for your dog due to an accident or
emergency, someone will be able to follow the instructions on the sheet to provide necessary care.
Emergency Pet Information
Pets Name:_________________________________________________________________________________________
Sex:_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Date of Birth:_______________________________________________________________________________________
Veterinarian:________________________________________________________________________________________
Veterinarians address:________________________________________________________________________________
Veterinarians phone number:___________________________________________________________________________
Diet:______________________________________________________________________________________________
Allergies:__________________________________________________________________________________________
Medication instructions:_______________________________________________________________________________
Location of food, dishes, biscuits, medication:______________________________________________________________
The following people will care for my dog in case of an emergency:
Name:________________________________ number:_________________________________ e-mail:________________________________________
Name:________________________________ number:_________________________________ e-mail:________________________________________
Special instructions:__________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________________
Attach a recent
photo of your dog