When A Dog Eats Chocolate

It’s not news that dark chocolate can be toxic to your dog.  What to do?  If they have ingested the chocolate within an hour or two, you can induce vomiting by giving them hydrogen peroxide.  It varies by the size of the dog; however, it doesn’t take much.  For small dogs, give them a Tablespoon and follow with another Tablespoon until you get the desired result.

Recently, a Great Dane ate a lot of dark chocolate.  It could have been hours since she ate it, so they chose to wait and monitor her behavior.  This Dane inherently exhibits some of the behaviors you should watch for when a dog consumes too much chocolate - she’s already restless, exciteable, and at times pants excessively.  The point. . .it is to be taken seriously, but don’t panic and attribute their normal behavior to being a reaction to chocolate.

Since it was too late to induce vomiting, the Dane didn’t go to the vet and was monitored at home.  Fortunately, she was able to “pass” the chocolate and process the caffeine and theobromine (stimulants) that were absorbed into her system.

I don’t doubt there have been a lot of sick dogs due to chocolate prior to our knowing it’s potential harm; however, I have heard so many dog owners say quietly that they used to give their dogs oreo cookies as treats.  Some were even given chocolate kisses!  My guess is they weren’t given enough to do harm and we weren’t nervously looking for symptoms.

Information is knowledge and may save you a trip to the vet.  My best advice is to eat the dark chocolate and give the dog a dry, nearly tasteless dog biscuit.  No wonder they too love chocolate!

Go to this article for more detailed information on Why Dogs Can’t Eat Chocolate

Dogs are Smart - Just Not That Smart!

Feeding time in a multi-dog family can be an event not suited for someone who is weak when it comes to multi-tasking.  Who eats where and who eats what?

Once you establish a routine, it’s not so difficult; however, the dogs have learned to pay close attention to what goes in each bowl.  Even if they are in another room and unable to see the food being placed in the bowls, they will look around as dinner is served and keep a close eye and nose on what everyone else is getting.

I have learned that the dogs are smart, but not that smart!  I mix soft food in a couple of bowls to entice the dogs who need to eat more.  The other dogs hear that something more is being added, and are keeping a close eye on those food bowls.

So, I started  adding water to the dog food for those who don’t get the soft food.  It might as well be fairy dust!   Mix around, make it sound like something amazing is going in the bowl and that each dog is getting something special.

Makes me wonder what tricks my Mom had for getting me to eat when I was a picky kid!

Dogs and Food Aggression

When asking clients if their dog has food aggression, I may get a response similar to, “no, they growl if we or the other dog gets near the food bowl, but that’s normal.” Let me share something - it may be considered normal when dinner is served in your home, but it is not good to allow it.

If your dog even begins to growl when you reach for their food as they are eating, immediately get your hand out of the way!   That’s what you do to keep rom getting bitten!  The real response would be to give a quick correction (use a leash if necessary) and then pick up their food bowl.  Hand feed them and let them know the food comes from you.  Place your hand in their food bowl as they eat and touch them as they eat.

If their aggression is directed at another dog, do the same thing.  If you are not going to supervise when feeding, then feed them separately.  A scuffle over food may seem normal and for some dogs, it’s a tough trigger to break; however, you should be the one determining who eats where and when.  You want to be the provider and be clear that until they are able to go hunt and fend for themselves, you make the rules!  (how parental of me, I know!)

If this is an issue you are dealing with, please contact me for more specific guidance on your situation.

Why Bugs Stink

This may not be a question you’ve contemplated - lately; however, I want to explain what I now know.

Bugs stink and they also taste bitter so they will not be eaten by dogs!  Who knew!  Now you do.  I was observing as my dog (who will down a bird or lizard in record time), was paying close attention to something on the floor.  The object of her attention was so small I almost didn’t see it.

She would bend down, sniff, attempt to lick, and then re-coil and wince as if the scent and taste of the bug was horribly bitter.  It wasn’t biting her, it didn’t stand a chance at that, but it was definitely designed to be uneatable to a dog.  This particular insect didn’t know enough to be still.  It’s motion was far too intriguing.

I could have intervened with a “leave it.” but this had become a science project and study worthy of animal planet.

I can’t answer why it is necessary for an insect’s taste or scent to be so repulsive to a dog since they aren’t a natural predator.  It would have lived a much longer life if a human hadn’t intervened.

I didn’t run a taste test, but my guess is this bug would have tasted quite nice to the cat!

If Your Name Is Not Melody - Step Away From the Food!

Oh, the dynamics of dogs and their food.  I think if dogs were allowed and capable of snacking throughout the day on whatever was in the refrigerator or pantry, they would be less overtly protective of the one (or perhaps two) meals they are allotted each day.

Melody, the little foster Yorkie in the home, learned quickly which plate is hers and when the chef (that would be me) announces who is being served and where, she promptly goes to her place.  I have been feeding her more often as she could use a little more weight.

Today, she stood up for herself.  As the declaration was made, “Melody, here’s your food” she hurried to her place as the others watched in angst as they were missing out on a small portion of softened kibble.  Try though they might to take a morsel from her plate, she let them know that if their name IS NOT Melody, step away.

I am in charge of the food and make certain that the dogs know who controls their tasty meals.  Just today I traded a small dry dog cookie for a recently killed squirrel.  The power I have amazes me.  I guess I should say - “if your name is not Melody or Gayle - step away from the food!”

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My Dog Won’t Eat!

One of the most common concerns I receive from clients is that their dog won’t eat. We talk about what they are feeding and when and how much, etc. I personally have a dog that eats and gets distracted and needs encouragement to return to their bowl.

I told her there are a lot of starving dogs in China that would love her food. She took a few more bites; however, I don’t think she grasped the meaning of what I said. So, I added a little roasted chicken to her kibble and that seemed a much better solution. Tough love and “they’ll eat when they are hungry doesn’t always work!”

Think about the times that you are cooking dinner and a piece of meat (or anything) falls to the floor. Most dogs are readily available to help with clean up. They’ll eat - it’s a matter of what. Being pack animals, most dogs eat better and more when either they are with us or other dogs. Dogs will also eat quicker when they think someone else might get their meal.

There are also a lot of gravies that can be added to a dog’s kibble for flavor. It may take a teaspoon to a tablespoon of warm chicken broth in a bowl of kibble before the dog will find it worthy of eating. You can also add some raw ground turkey to their food or add a little graded cheese.

You may be thinking you want your dog to eat kibble and only kibble so that you aren’t catering to their tastes at every meal. Unfortunately, some dogs have allergies to grains and meals or they just don’t like it. It is far removed from what they would naturally eat.

If your dog refuses to eat and misses more than a meal or two, rule out any other health issues and try adding something a little more tasty to their food. After all, the hunt, chase, and kill for their kibble dinner isn’t all that exciting!

Great Danes Put Down Their Forks

Most Great Danes I have had the pleasure of training and spending time with, know how to eat. They eat slowly when compared to other dogs (and some humans). It is more of a process for them.

I can almost hear them saying “this is good!” or “this doesn’t taste right.” Looking back to make sure they are being acknowledged for their thoughts and comments regarding dinner. Their plate is full and as if to know that no one would even consider slipping in to get a bite as they stroll away from their meal to take a breath.

If they hear something that needs addressing as they eat, they will leave to investigate in case it is a matter that needs their attention.

I think of it as them putting their fork down. Don’t be fooled into thinking they have had enough just because they take a break and walk away. They will in time circle back to their dinner and continue where they left off. We can learn from them. Not that we should leave the table and circle back; however, putting our fork down between bites, is a much healthier way to eat.

A Great Dane makes kibble drizzled with warm water worthy of eating slow and enjoying every bite - unless, of course, they are called to take action! (Wait, they’ll be back)

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The Strangest Things a Dog Ate

I am a fan of healthy dog treats; i.e., some of the chicken jerkies, lamb and rice, and there are others. I also recommend Nylabone chew toys and Kong products. Treats for your dogs are just that - treats. They shouldn’t be large enough to replace a meal. We can save that luxury for the humans!

I’ve told you some of my favorite treats. Listed below are some of a dog’s favorite treats.

• plastic water bottles (the noisier the better)
• nice underwear (don’t ask me how they know)
• “things” that should remain in the garbage
• “things” a woman really wishes had stayed in the trash
• lizards
• baby quail, doves, and/or bunnies
• the sock that has no mate (hmmmm?)
• flip-flop sandals
• sponges
• children’s toys
• cat poop (a special treat)
• wash cloths
• shoes (stiletto, flats, dress, cheap, expensive, etc)

Fear not when one of the above “chews” gets swallowed. Usually, with no assistance, within about three days the object of their consumption will pass. That’s if it hasn’t already come up. I recently heard of a Labrador that took 9 days to pass a very fluffy sock.

You can just pretend that you are on a special assignment with CSI as you follow your dog around praying for the site of something that resembles what went in their mouth. If, of course, within reasonable time it hasn’t found it’s way out or your dog stops eating and/or eliminating, see a veterinarian immediately. There may be a blockage and it can require surgery if it is stuck or twisted in the intestine.

While I recommend the natural treats in the first paragraph, be aware that your dog may have other ideas!

Here are some other dog “treats!”

Dogs Love Cat Poop

As I cleaned out the kitty litter box this morning, I thought of how cat poop is such a wonderful delicacy to most dogs. They would never pass on a serving of “kitty rocca!” Makes me wonder. Maybe I could start a recycling program. I’ll save that for another blog post!  For now, I’ll write more about dog food.

This is a common concern among dog people. So many questions. What if I’m not feeding my dog the “right” food? What if they suddenly act as if they don’t like their food?

If they become ill we can wonder and speculate that we contributed to this by not choosing a different dog food. I am not going to minimize that, but I do like to be the or at least a voice of reason. If your dog is eating the food, their coat looks good, they are healthy and active - be grateful and stop questioning.

If your dog has suddenly decided to skip a meal, that doesn’t mean the food is bad or that they are deciding to be picky, they may have other issues. Maybe it’s just too hot to care about food or they ate something in the yard yesterday and they need to let things settle before a meal.

There are things you can add to their food to make it more tasty, but wait on that and see if they don’t return to their food. If they have other symptoms along with not eating, then there might be reason for greater concern. Maybe some won’t relate to this; but, most of us don’t worry and stress if we skip a meal because we just don’t feel like eating.

Remember, as your dog quickly swallows that morsel of “kitty rocca” -  they can’t be that picky!