I've talked about this before, but I recently saw a toxicity problem with a dog, which reminded how important this topic is so I wanted to bring it up again.
What foods are toxic to dogs? See the list. Maybe you even want to print it and put it on your fridge so everyone in your family will know. Go to: Dangerous Foods for Dogs.
One specific food that people don't seem to think about until they have a problem with it is chewing gum.
Some types of chewing gum can be toxic! It is actually the sweetener in some chewing gum products that can be toxic. The toxic ingredient is called Xylitol. Many pet owners have no idea about this, so I wanted to make sure to tell all of my readers. Learn more about Xylitol toxicity (and check out the list of other products that Xylitol is in!). Go to: www.petplace.com/xylitol-can-be-toxic-to-dogs It seems some pets are more sensitive to Xylitol than others. The exact amount that needs to be ingested to cause problems is still being determined. Signs can develop quickly. So yes, something as simple as your dog eating a piece of your gum can create problems.
Finally, it is best not to feed your dog anything except dog food. If you must feed a human treat, try to avoid all treats with artificial sweeteners. If you want to give your dog a treat, it is best to stick with dog treats!
Until next time,
Dr. Jon
P.S. This is especially important at this time of year with Halloween coming. Chewing gum is often given out on trick or treat night. Make sure you keep gum and all candy out of your dog's reach.
P.P.S. If you are thinking of getting something special for your dog for Halloween, stick with dog stuff. Check out this very cute dog "trick or treat" collection. It has a green troll toy (with hairy orange armpits that just crack me up) and all-natural organic treats that are very tasty.
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