LILY'S CHIHUAHUAS
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Be Careful What you Feed Your Chihuahua
For many owners, feeding their Chihuahua table food is a part of their everyday routine. Whether it's the leftover chicken, or maybe some steak, owners often feed their Chihuahua the same foods we consume. While this might seem like typical behavior for some, it can actually be quite dangerous depending on what food they are consuming.
Foods that we eat and don't affect us in an adverse way, may be extremely dangerous and life-threatening to a small Chihuahua. Their bodies are obviously much smaller than a humans, so things they consume affect them to much higher degree.
Before I tell you what foods may be threatening for your Chihuahua, let me first say that it is best to only feed your Chihuahua only dog food. I know it might seem cruel at first, but a regular diet on a premium dog food will help your Chihuahua stay healthy and fit. However, there are certain foods, such as cooked, skinless, boneless beef and chicken.
Some of the most dangerous foods that Chihuahuas can consume are your everyday fruits and vegetables. Tomatoes, grapes, raisins, avocados, apples, and onions can all be life threatening for a Chihuahua. Remember, keep all fruits and vegetables away from your Chihuahuas all the time!
I bet you've probably heard never to feed your dog chocolate, because it can kill them. Well, most chocolate that is in the typical candy will not be life threatening, some chocolate, such as bakers chocolate can cause death for a Chihuahua. This is something you should be sure to keep away from your Chihuahua, even if it's not the dangerous kind.
Salt
It's not a good idea to share salty foods like chips or pretzels with your dog. Eating too much salt can cause excessive thirst and urination and lead to sodium ion poisoning. Symptoms of too much salt include vomiting, diarrhea, depression, tremors, elevated body temperature, and seizures. It may even cause death.
Persimmons, Peaches, and Plums
The problem with these fruits is the seeds or pits. The seeds from persimmons can cause inflammation of the small intestine in dogs. They can also cause intestinal obstruction. Obstruction is also a possibility if a dog eats the pit from a peach or plum. Plus, peach and plum pits contain cyanide, which is poisonous to both humans and dogs. The difference is humans know not to eat them. Dogs don't.
Fat Trimmings and Bones
Table scraps often contain meat fat that a human didn't eat and bones. Both are dangerous for dogs. Fat trimmed from meat, both cooked and uncooked, can cause pancreatitis in dogs. And, although it seems natural to give a dog a bone, a dog can choke on it. Bones can also splinter and cause an obstruction or lacerations of your dog's digestive system. It's best to just forget about the doggie bag.
Candy and Gum
Candy, gum, toothpaste, baked goods, and some diet foods are sweetened with xylitol. Xylitol can cause an increase in the insulin circulating through your dog's body. That can cause your dog's blood sugar to drop and can also cause liver failure. Initial symptoms include vomiting, lethargy, and loss of coordination. Eventually, the dog may have seizures. Liver failure can occur within just a few days.
Macadamia Nuts
Dogs should not eat macadamia nuts or foods containing macadamia nuts because they can be fatal. As few as six raw or roasted macadamia nuts can make a dog ill. Symptoms of poisoning include muscle tremors, weakness or paralysis of the hindquarters, vomiting, elevated body temperature, and rapid heart rate. Eating chocolate with the nuts will make symptoms worse, possibly leading to death.
Milk and Other Dairy Products
On a hot day, it may be tempting to share your ice cream cone with your dog. But if your dog could, it would thank you for not doing so. Milk and milk-based products can cause diarrhea and other digestive upset as well as set up food allergies (which often manifest as itchiness).
Grapes and Raisins
Grapes and raisins have often been used as treats for dogs. But it's not a good idea. Although it isn't clear why, grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs. And just a small amount can make a dog ill. Repeated vomiting is an early sign. Within a day, the dog will become lethargic and depressed. The best prevention is to keep grapes and raisins off counters and other places your dog can reach.
Coffee, Tea, and Other Caffeine
Caffeine in large enough quantities can be fatal for a dog. And, there is no antidote. Symptoms of caffeine poisoning include restlessness, rapid breathing, heart palpitations, muscle tremors, fits, and bleeding. In addition to tea and coffee - including beans and grounds -- caffeine can be found in cocoa, chocolate, colas, and stimulant drinks such as Red Bull. It's also in some cold medicines and pain killers.
Onions and Garlic
Onions and garlic in all forms -- powdered, raw, cooked, or dehydrated -- can destroy a dog's red blood cells, leading to anemia. That can happen even with the onion powder found in some baby food. An occasional small dose is probably OK. But just eating a large quantity once or eating smaller amounts regularly can cause poisoning. Symptoms of anemia include weakness, vomiting, little interest in food, dullness, and breathlessness.
Alcohol
Beer, liquor, wine, foods containing alcohol -- none of it's good for your dog. That's because alcohol has the same effect on a dog's liver and brain that it has on humans. But it takes far less to do its damage. Just a little can cause vomiting, diarrhea, central nervous system depression, problems with coordination, difficulty breathing, coma, even death. And the smaller the dog, the greater the effect.
Kitchen Pantry: No Dogs Allowed
Many other items commonly found on kitchen shelves can harm your dog. For instance, baking powder and baking soda are both highly toxic. So are nutmeg and other spices. Keeping food items high enough to be out of your dog's reach and keeping pantry doors closed will help protect your dog from serious food-related illness.
Not only should you avoid feeding your Chihuahua table food, but you should also not be feeding them bones. That's right, even bones can be dangerous to a Chihuahua. Once a Chihuahua starts chewing on them, they can splinter and cut their insides if they swallow it.
Sticks can be just as bad as bones. If you see your Chihuahua chewing on a stick, stop them immediately. It's best to never let them get in the habit of chewing them.
You can still spoil your Chihuahua once in a while with some cooked, skinless, and boneless beef. Just don't add anything else to add, such as salt and seasoning. Trust me, your Chihuahua will still love it
If Your Dog Eats What It Shouldn't
Dogs explore with their mouth. And, no matter how cautious you are, it's possible your dog can find and swallow what it shouldn't. It's a smart idea to always keep the number of your local vet, the closest emergency clinic, and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center -- (888) 426-4435 -- where you know you can find it in an emergency. And, if you think your dog has consumed something that's toxic, call for emergency help at once.