Pets

Here’s a familiar scene. You and your buddies are sitting around the flat screen on Sunday, watching the game. You’ve got your snack table with the seven layer dip and the chicken wings, and at your feet is your trusty mutt. You might be tempted to slip him a couple snacks, but don’t do it! Some of those snacks could be dangerous to his health.  Here’s a list, courtesy of WebMD.com:

• First, no avocados! They contain a chemical called persin, which is highly toxic to animals. Just a tiny bit can cause vomiting and diarrhea. So no guacamole for Fido!
• Next, alcohol is bad for your dog. Alcohol has the exact same effect on dogs as it does on humans, it just takes A LOT less. Just a little and your dog is throwing up, uncoordinated, not breathing right and could even slip into a coma. The smaller the dog, the worse the symptoms.
• Onions? Also a bad idea. Onion in any form - powdered, cooked, raw, anything – destroys a dogs red blood cells and leads to anemia and onion poisoning.
• Macadamia Nuts. Just eating six of these nuts is enough to cause your dog to get symptoms of poisoning. He’ll start vomiting, get a fever, his hindquarters will get weak or paralyze completely. If the nuts are covered in chocolate he can go into kidney failure and possibly die.
• Keep your animal away from raw fish. Many kinds of fish have a parasite that digs into the dog’s intestinal lining and causes vomiting, fever and inflames the lymph nodes. Vets call it “Fish Disease,” and it can kill a dog within two weeks if left untreated.
  
  

Now, if you’re just itching to give your pet a treat, there are some people foods that are safe and healthy. Try apples. Dogs love the crunch, and they contain Omega 3 fatty acids which can control skin allergies and help your dog have a healthy, glossy coat.