A recent report on the news got me thinking about substances that are toxic to our pets; you know — foods dogs should not eat.

The subject of the report was xylitol, the active agent in TicTacs™, as well as many other sugar-free candies. Apparently, a woman’s black lab had a propensity to sneak tasty morsels out of his master’s purse, including TicTacs™ and Tums™.

Now, I don’t know about your four-legged friends, but I know for a fact that if I stuck a handful of Tums™ in my 90-pound Briard’s food dish, she would turn up her aristocratic little French muzzle at me, rudely sneeze and walk away – no doubt muttering under her less than fragrant doggy breath.

Or, er, the doggy equivalent of muttering.

The idea of a dog wolfing down (no pun intended) a container of breath mints might seem humorous until you consider that this particular dog almost died as a result.

Apparently xylitol, which is a natural substance and quite acceptable sugar substitute for humans, can adversely affect a dog’s insulin levels, as well as his liver.

Although I am not in the habit of slipping Maestro breath mints of any kind, tempting as it has been at times, I have to admit I wasn’t aware of the dangers. Now that I am, I wanted to pass it along to you.

If you suspect your pet has ingested xylitol, contact the National Animal Poison Control Center (NAPCC) at 1-888-426-4435. This information is recent enough, even your vet may be unaware of the danger.

After hearing this news item, I decided to research other edibles that are toxic to our canine companions. I’m sure most dog owners are well aware of the dangers of chocolate to a dog, as well as onions. But maybe a few on the list of foods dogs should not eat will be new to you.

Here they are:

• Alcoholic Beverages — goes without saying, right?
• Avocado — those Omega-3s are great for your heart, but don’t give avocado to your dog!
• Coffee / Chocolate — caffeine, caffeine, caffeine!
• Macadadamia Nuts  — my favorite, but not for Fido
• Grapes and Raisins — can cause kidney failure within 24 hours!
• Garlic* and Onions in the raw form — worse for cats than for dogs
• Salt
• Yeast Dough
• Moldy and/or spoiled food — goes without saying
• Raw Salmon — if you your pooch eats raw food, NO SALMON

This is a pretty basic list.  Please feel free to add to it if you are aware of other foods that can be fatal to a dog.  Just leave a comment.

After all, the welfare of our pets is what this blog is all about.

Here is a video of Martha Stewart discussing this very subject with a veterinarian on her show.  It’s worth a look:

A FEW OTHER THINGS DOGS SHOULD NOT EAT ARE:

1. Old Flea Collars
2. Putrid flesh of other dogs and cats
3. Road Kill

You probably think this is a joke in poor taste (no pun intended).

Actually, it isn’t. This is what your dog is eating with most commercial dog food brands.  Don’t believe me?
Look here.

* An update, by the way, regarding garlic.  While  it can be toxic to dogs, it can be eaten in small dosages or mixed into their homemade dog food. The acceptable amounts are based upon the dog’s size and weight as follows:

• 10 to 15 pounds – half a clove
• 20 to 40 pounds – 1 clove
• 45 to 70 pounds – 2 cloves
• 75 to 90 pounds – 2 and a half cloves
• 100 pounds and over – 3 cloves

This according to several reliable sources, including Dr. Pitcairn who authored The Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats.

Jaime McKittrin – 3/25/11