We at American Dog Club wanted to share these helpful tips..from our friends at Central Veterinary Associates in Valley Stream, NY:
Thinking of having some friends over for the big game on Sunday? Planning on gorging yourselves silly on chips & dips, sugary snacks, and cocktails?
What could lead to a couple extra pounds and a nasty hangover for you can be extremely dangerous, and even fatal to your pet.
Having your buddies over for the Super Bowl? Make sure your pets eat right. www.americandogclub.com
To ensure a good time is had by all (dogs and cats included), don’t allow your pets to eat or drink any of the following popular party items:
- Alcohol – Plain and simple, alcohol is a toxin and even small amounts can cause vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, coma, or death in pets.
Some kinds of people snacks are actually pretty darn bad for puppies...
- Chips & Dip – Most dips contain onions and garlic, which destroy pets’ red blood cells and can lead to anemia. With chips, it’s the salt you have to watch out for. Salty foods can cause excessive thirst, urination, and sodium poisoning.
- Guacamole – Avocado contains persin, a substance that can prove fatal to birds. For dogs and cats, it’s unclear how toxic it is, but it is recommended that avocados or anything made from them not be fed to your pets. The pit also causes concern for dogs, as it can lead to an intestinal obstruction or can even become lodged in their throats.
- Ice Cream – Who doesn’t love ice cream? The reason to keep this treat away from your pets? Dairy products can upset their digestive tracts and cause stomach distress and diarrhea.
- Nuts – Besides being a choking hazard, certain nuts like macadamias can poison your pets. As few as six can cause your pet to experience muscle tremors, weakness, vomiting, fever and an elevated heart rate. Eating chocolate with nuts can exacerbate symptoms.
- Chocolate – Chocolate contains dairy (see Ice Cream) and a chemical called theobromine, which can be fatal to pets.
- Fat Trimmings – Fat trimmed from meats like barbecued ribs can cause pancreatitis in dogs.
- Bones – While you might think it’s second nature to give a dog a bone (or chicken wing, as the case may be), bones can cause obstructions in pets’ digestive tracts and also lead to choking.
- Caffeinated Beverages – Sugary sodas are a staple at any party, but not for your animals. The caffeine in soda, coffee, tea, and iced tea can be toxic to pets and lead to abnormal heart rhythms, seizure, and death.
Lots of the fun things we eat on Super Bowl Sunday are not so fun for your puppy...
“It’s really quite remarkable how many common foods can cause harm, or even death to your pets,” says Dr. Aaron Vine, Vice President, Central Veterinary Associates. “While it’s important that responsible pet owners know about these foods, you shouldn’t assume that your guests do. Politely ask your guests to not feed or sneak food to your pets. If you notice that your dog or cat has ingested something they shouldn’t have or are acting sick, bring them to your veterinarian as soon as possible.”
Your pup might pout when he doesn't get your nachos... but he'll thank you in the long run!
Central Veterinary Associates’ Valley Stream office is open 24-hours a day, seven days a week. For more information, or to make an appointment, call Central Veterinary Associates at (516) 825-3066 or visit www.centralvets.com.
By Wendy Donahue, for American Dog Club
About American Dog Club: Our mission is to provide world class puppies that set the standard of excellence. We are passionate about our obligation to our puppies and customers. Our goal is to help you connect with the right special puppy. All our puppies are selected personally from our experienced puppy specialist to insure health, temperament and quality. All of our puppies will be AKC registered at time of purchase and a free vet package is provided. Each and every potential parent must receive a 45 minute orientation on the care, feeding and housebreaking of your new baby. We offer support and training to properly care for your new family member. American Dog Club does not support puppy mills, hobby or back yard breeders.