Dr. Walt's happy tails: Dangerous foods you should never give your pet

Dear Dr. Walt: I recently read an article concerning grapes and raisins and the possibility that they may be toxic for dogs. Both our pets love fruits and vegetables, especially celery and grapes. I'm wondering if there are other potential problems with different varieties of fruit?

We all like to provide our pets with that extra something special. While it is easy to wag one's finger and admonish pet owners for any breech in their pet's feeding regime, especially regarding table or people food, it is much harder to resist the pining faces of our pets as they longingly gaze at our dinner plates! Perhaps a more realistic credo would be the "everything in moderation" adage. As I am guilty of sneaking the odd bit of food in Dharma and Charlie's (my yellow labs) directions, here are the rules I follow:

1. Always ensure that your pet is on a premium quality diet designed for their stage of life or healthcare needs. Never try to improve a marginal or poor diet through supplementation – it just doesn't work!

2. Treats (both bought and from the table) and supplements to your pets diet should never comprise more than 10 per cent of their daily intake, unless your veterinarian instructs otherwise.

3. Never feed direct from the table – place any table treats into their dish for consumption. This way you avoid the table stalker.

4. Never give your table scraps as treats – if its inedible for you (e.g., fat, gristle, etc.) the same applies to your pet.

5. Avoid food items high in fat because, even if fed in moderation, they can quickly lead to obesity and may cause other health problems (e.g., pancreatitis).

6. For pets with special medical needs or that have easily upset stomachs, it's best to stay away from any diet supplementation/treats unless cleared by your veterinarian.


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