Question for dog owners?

Question

I have a ShihTzu girl who is a year old and was wondering if there are any foods/drinks that can harm her? I've asked my vet, but she doesn't answer. She just says only give her dog food. I like to give her treats for good deeds and just cuz I love her sometimes though and really want a straight answer. I heard something about bread can be harmful years ago, is this true?

Great advice! Just for the record, I love my diggie, call her my daughter and my boys call her lilttle sister. :o) I wouldn't dare try or want to hurt her or make her fat. I limit her treats. She might get a treat from our dinner 3-4 times a week and she gets a bite of apple and banana every time I eat one. I just don't want my boys or any of us to make a mistake. Especially since we eat a wide variety of foods. Thank you again!!

Answer 1

Chocolate is toxic to dogs because it contains a chemical known as theobromine. Onions and garlic are also toxic. Good treats for your doggie include raw carrots, green beans, cooked brown rice, boiled, unseasoned chicken, and small amounts of cottage cheese. Be careful giving your dog any type of dairy product, because these are the number one cause of allergies in adult dogs. With any of these treats, moderation is key. And don't give your dog real bones. These can splinter and make tiny tears in her esophagus or intestines. You may not know any damage had been done until it's too late. You can find many sites on-line that can tell you more in depth information on this subject. If your vet is not willing to work with you, maybe you should consider seeing someone who will. A vet should always be willing to answer any questions you may have openly and honestly, and be able to explain their reasoning to you. If they can't or won't, in my opinion, they are acting selfishly.


**Apple bits are fine, too..............Just make sure the dog doesn't get ANY fruit pits or seeds, as many of these contain cyanide!!

Answer 2

Of course no chocolate, onions, grapes, raisins, nothing with caffiene, no milk because it causes diarrhea. The only thing about bread is no raw bread dough, because it will rise in the stomach and cause major problems. Nothing really salty, like ham, sweets are not good except amaybe just occasionally a little bite of something, not chocolate. Some nuts are not good for the, There are a lot of foods that could be harmful to dogs.

Answer 3

The biggest one that I know to be harmful is chocolate. Dogs lack the enzyme that breaks it down and chocolate can actually kill a dog, depending on how much it ingests. Corn isn't so great either, it just comes right out the other end, un-digested.
I've also been told that table scraps are fine for dogs, i.e. meats, veggies, some dogs even like fruit! By the way, I recommend that you find a different vet, it she won't even tell you this kind of basic information.
I love giving my pups treats too :-)

Answer 4

I haven't heard anything about bread, but I know baker's chocolate like that in cookies and cakes can be harmful, if ur pooch has a sweet tooth they do make doggie chocolate. Just like humans though overly fatty or salty foods can be a no no. Also milk can cause upset stomach and cause diareah, however if ur pooch can't live without milk, try powdered milk, it tastes almost the same to them and it doesn't make them sick. Thats all I can think of for now, but becareful and observant to what you try as your pooch may develop allergies to some foods. My best advisem if you want to experiment stick with the same treat for a week and keep a journal, if all goes well, no problem

Answer 5

Some people will tell you that if you really love your dog, don't give her anything except dog food.
Boneless chicken is okay for them, make sure she doesn't get any bones, they can splinter and get caught anywhere from the throat all the way out. When I want to give my dogs a really good treat, like when we are training in agility, they get hot dogs. Small dogs seem to have a more sensitive stomach, so you don't want to give them anything to strong or spicy.
There is a huge variety of dog treats at just about any pet store for those special treats.
Chocolate isn't good for any dog.

Answer 6

There are a lot of human foods that are toxic or even fatal to dogs. Chocolate is one but it doesn't cause worms. Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine. It's extremely toxic to dogs and can cause death. Onions are another really bad one. So are raisin grapes and macadamia nuts. Here is a list of foods toxic to dogs. It's probably not a complete list but there is a lot on there. http://www.risingwoods.org/OURFAMILY/THEDOGS/knowntoxicfoodsfordogs.htm They sell lots of treats made especially for dogs. You can use them the same as anything else and your dog wont know if it's a people food or a dog food. He'll just be happy he's getting a treat.

Answer 7

I wouldn't worry about most foods, but then I've only ever had labs, nothing small and potentially more delicate like yours.

ABSOLUTELY NO CHOCOLATE. That's a given.

My dogs always loved licking candy canes, actually. One wouldn't eat peas, though he did steal pasta and bread from the freezer -- never to any harm. :) I'd stick to commercial biscuits if you're worried, but dogs can have mashed potatoes, carrots -- really the full gamut. Sometimes those and raw meat are the full extent of a special diet for dogs w/allergies. My dog also loved raspberries and cheese. (If you find your dog eating rocks or dirt btw, it means they need vitamins.)

The problem with bones is that they might swallow them. Bird bones are soft and tend to get stuck in bad places. I doubt your dog could chew apart anything else, but just watch her if you do give her a leftover ham bone or the like. You can probably buy cow bones at your local butcher for not too much money, esp as you'd have them cut up small. The center part of the bone is high in vitamins and delicious (to dogs) besides. We also love to cook up the turkey giblets at Thanksgiving and throw them in the freezer for special occasions.

So, happy shopping.

Answer 8

Well, human food is not "good" for an animal anyway. Pork and chocolate is VERY harmful to dogs, however, an occasional human treat is not harmful unless allergic. Don't give him/her too many treats either for it can cause gas. Try keeping it at around 2-4 small treats a day (if that) please check the resource I have provided.

Answer 9

No bread or chocolate.
Choc is bad 4 their heart it can slow down their heartbeat & cause fits.
I know U'll think this mad but 4 a treat my dog nags 4 a Banana.
He tries 2 eat the skin but I draw a line at that.
Try a small piece of cheese as treats, don't over do it.
& a bowl of Milk 4 really special occasions.

Cyberhug 4 Doggie.
:) 4 U.

Answer 10

Chocolate will give all animals worms that is the #1 thing you can't give them.

There is nothing wrong with giving them bread, You shouldn't really give a dog human food then they won't eat dog food, but other then that dogs can eat just about everything else, like imagine the crap in dog food

also be careful on the size of the bones you give them they could choke on them so if you give your dog a bone watch them eat it for a while then after that they should get use to eating bones but if you hear your dog caughing then rub her stomach