Guest Article – Danger! Some Food Isn’t For Dogs!

Today’s article was sent in to me by Hayley – an 11 year old in th 5^th grade. Hayley has written a great piece to remind us of the danger of some everyday foods to our dogs. Especially important as we celebrate this weekend - keep that party food away from your pets. Thanks Hayley and keep up the great writing!

DANGER! Some Food Isn’t For Dogs!

Not all human foods are that great for dogs. Be careful not to give them the following foods:

Alcohol: Dogs absorb alcohol extremely quickly. Dogs can have seizures, have kidney damage, or maybe even die.

Chocolate: Chocolate contains theobromine as well as caffeine and both are highly toxic for dogs. The darker that the chocolate is, the worse it is for your dog but baking chocolate is the worst.

Coffee: Coffee also contains caffeine which again is highly toxic to dogs. Even if its decaf still don’t give them that, regular coffee, or any type of coffee or coffee bean candy.

Onions: Onions may taste yummy to us but are very treacherous to dogs. Raw and cooked onions can cause hemolytic anemia, the destruction of red blood cells. This is a serious condition- it can even cause death.

Garlic: This one can be confusing because as you know its often used in commercial dog foods. A little garlic is ok but a lot is not. If your dog consumes garlic in large amounts it can cause a serious condition called hemolytic anemia.

Grapes and Raisins: These simple, delicious snacks may sound healthy to us, but not to dogs! Expert veterinarians aren’t exactly sure why, but raisins and grapes can cause kidney failure in dogs.

Macadamia Nuts: Not that anyone would want to release these precious Hawaiian delicacies from their grasp but macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs so be careful!

Owning a pet business does not guarantee you success, but it is generally not difficult to set up your own pet business adn many who own pet businesses love the hard working lifestyle and the closeness to pets. You will have to compete with those who may be better trained, may have lower cost structures and those who “pretend” to have your skills and experience when they do not. (eg not all those who advertise themselves as groomers are actually Groomers).

There are also key skills that all dog industry professionals should possess. Here are some of the most critical skills and abilities for those hoping to work with dogs professionally: Basic Dog Handling and Training Skills, ability to recognize behavioral signals.

Animals can be somewhat unpredictable when they are under stress or in an unfamiliar environment, like when they visit the veterinary office or the grooming salon, so it is important to be attentive and stay aware of the animal you are handling at all times.