Tuesday 28 February 2012

Holiday Foods Your Pooch Should Avoid At All Costs

While Christmas may be over, you still probably have your fair share of holiday guests coming through and it can be easy to let your dog wellness preparations fall by the wayside during this time of year. After all, with friends and family coming and going, your pooch may get lost in the shuffle as you try and get dinner on the table and make sure your guests are comfortable. Worse yet, your loved ones may not know what kinds of foods are hazardous to canines, so be sure to keep your eye out for the following foods and keep them away from your pet.

1. Sugarfree gum. Many of today's most popular brands of sugarfree gum contain an artificial sweetener called xylitol, which can be poisonous if ingested in large amounts, according to PetEducation.com. It may cause a marked drop in blood sugar which can lead to vomiting, diarrhea and lethargy. While your friends and family probably won't be feeding your pooch sticks of gum, be sure to ask guests politely to close up their belongings and keep these sorts of products out of reach of your canine.

2. Cooked bones. While it may seem tempting to throw the leftover ham bone from your holiday dinner to the dog, this could cause a rash of health problems and may have to be removed surgically. A cooked bone has the chance of splintering during digestion, which can cause blockage or puncture his intestinal lining. Educate your guests about proper bone etiquette and encourage them to throw them away after eating. A good idea is to give your companion an uncooked bone before dinner so he'll have something to chew on and won't be inclined to beg for scraps.

3. Macadamia nuts. If you've whipped up a batch of delectable cooking, be absolutely sure that your pooch doesn't eat some of the leftover macadamia nuts. These nuts are known to cause muscle and central nervous system problems if ingested in large numbers, so be sure to keep them out of reach of your canine.

You have enough things to worry about during the holiday season, and a sick dog shouldn't be one of them! By educating yourself and your family with these simple pet care tips, you can ensure that your four-legged friend makes it through the holiday season without incident.

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