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You love your dog and he is part of your family. But remember, he's a dog and some things that are safe for you are not safe for him.
Here are 10 items that are safe for you, but aren't safe for him.
1. Pain relievers - If your dog is in pain, don't give him over the counter medication that you would take. Ibuprofen (Advil) or acetaminophen (Tylenol) are NOT safe for your dog. Aspirin is generally considered to be safe for your dog, but check with your veterinarian first.
2. Antidepressants - Is doggie feeling depressed? Don't give him an antidepressant made for humans (Zoloft for example). There are some antidepressants that are safe for dogs, but only if your veterinarian prescribes them.
3. ADD/ADHD medications - Doggie is hyperactive? Running around a lot? Drugs like Ritalin are NOT safe. If your dog is hyperactive, he's probably bored. Take him for a walk or a run. Or enroll him in an obedience class.
4. Sleeping Pills - Doggie can't sleep? Don't give him a sleeping pill! Take him for a run. Human sleeping pills are not safe.
5. Household Cleaners - Popular household cleaners like floor cleaners, oven cleaners and all purpose cleaners can give off vapors that could be toxic to small pets. Consider using green, non-toxic alternatives. Now, let's talk about foods.
6. Chocolate - It's fairly well known that chocolate can be toxic to your dog. But why? Dogs seem to eat anything with little ill effect. Blame theobromine, a chemical compound in chocolate that dogs cannot tolerate. The more theobromine in chocolate the more toxic it is. Dark chocolate and baker's chocolate is the worst. Milk and white chocolate are better. However, the safest policy is to not give your dog chocolate under any circumstances.
7. Grapes and raisins - For some unknown reason, some dogs experience renal failure when they eat grapes or raisins. To be safe, don't give your dog these foods under any circumstances.
8. Onions - Onions, cooked or raw, are not safe for your dog. Onions contain an ingredient called thiosulphate which is toxic to cats and dogs. It causes a condition called hemolytic anemia, which can cause some red blood cells to burst. Even a very small amount of onions can cause this condition, so be very careful not to feed onions to your dog.
9. Macadamia Nuts - As with grapes and raisins, the reason why macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs is unknown. Don't feed your dog macadamia nuts.
10. Chewing Gum - Chewing gum containing xylitol can be fatal to dogs. Just three grams of xylitol can kill a 65 pound dog. Xylitol causes a large amount of insulin to be released into your dog's system, which can cause liver failure. Your dog will eat anything. But you can protect him. Avoid the above items to keep him safe.
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