Your dog is like a little baby, constantly inspecting and studying every little thing and putting EVERYTHING in its mouth. They have no idea what they are doing could possibly make them terribly sick or even become fatal. It is up to you to monitor their little chompers and protect them from toxic food and plants. Human food smells good, looks good and tastes good, so we assume that if it is okay for us to eat, it is okay for our dogs to eat – and this is NOT TRUE at all! What is healthy for us could kill your dog. It is best to get into the habit of NEVER feeding your dog table scraps. There are healthy human foods that you can prepare for your dog, for example I have provided an Organic Peanut Butter Dog Cookies recipe . . . (see below).
Another thing to remember is when walking your dog, be very careful of grass that has been treated with pesticides. Avoid walking your dog anywhere near the area. Your dog will step on the grass then lick their paws and ingest the poison. Knowing what foods and plants can harm your dog is critical. It is easy to unknowingly poison your dog when you think you are just giving your dog a healthy snack.
The following is a list of foods and plants that your dog should ALWAYS AVOID. If your dog accidentally consumes any of these items, immediately contact Pet Poison Hotline at 800-213-6680 or your local veterinary hospital.
- Cat food
- Alcoholic beverages
- Chocolate
- Coffee
- Tea
- Lemons and Limes
- Soda – Pop with caffeine
- Yeast dough
- Artificial Sweetener – Xylitol
- Raw Salmon
- Onions and onion powder
- Baby food containing garlic or onion powder
- Garlic and garlic powder
- Raisins
- Grapes
- Mushrooms
- Macadamia Nuts
- Walnuts
- Fruit seeds
- Avocados
- Broccoli
- Potato skin and green potatoes
- Tomatoes
- Rhubarb
- Milk and dairy products
- Nutmeg
- Turkey skin
- All household plants, flowers, vegetable leaves and stems (there are so many – so just make sure your dog avoids all of them)
- Poinsettia
- Mistletoe berries
- Room air fresheners (plug-ins or sprays)
Here is a recipe for a healthy treat you can make your dog and they will be very happy you did! **Some dogs, like humans have an allergy to peanuts, so before you give your dog peanut butter for the first time, let your dog smell the peanut butter first. If they have a peanut allergy, they will get a small reaction from the smell alone (itching, rash, runny nose, nausea). Check for these symptoms first before you let your dog eat peanut butter for the first time.
Organic Peanut Butter Dog Cookies
- 1 1/2 cups organic whole wheat flour
- 1 1/2 cups organic white flour
- 1/2 cup organic all natural peanut butter
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Preheat oven to 350° F. Combine oil, peanut butter and water. Add flour, one cup at a time, forming a dough. Knead dough into a firm ball and roll to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into pieces and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 20 minutes.
DOGZAR® wants to help keep your dog . . . SAFE, HEALTHY and HAPPY!