Nutrition: Things Your Baby SHOULD NOT Eat

As important as it is to feed your dog the right food, it is almost more important to make sure you don't feed your dog the wrong food. This is a list of things you SHOULD NOT feed your dog, if you love them or have any regard for their health.

The "Bad for Dogs" List:

Wheat (known allergen for most dogs, and even for dogs who can tolerate wheat, it is a useless filler that clogs the system)

Soy (same deal as wheat)

Corn (see wheat)

Chocolate and anything caffeinated (ever given a 5 year old one of those huge pixie sticks? yeah, imagine that happening in your dog's gut. bad news. it attacks the heart and nervous systems and can cause failures)

Artificial Preservatives (uh, duh, it's just bad for them. look for natural preservatives like rosemary extract)

Cat Food (it is formulated for cats, who require a much higher protein and fat content than dogs, and this can make your pooch sick as a ... well, dog.)

Fillers (excessive junky starches and grains are useless, pack on the pounds, and get in the way of the good nutrients from healthy foods)

Beet Pulp (a common filler in many foods such as Nutro. can cause renal failure and kidney and liver issues.)

By-Products (like Brewer's Yeast and Brewer's Rice. These are by-products of the beer brewing system. It's just the trash left over after making Budweiser. Would you eat that? ...exactly)

Buttloads of Liver (this can cause a toxicity from Vitamin A, which attacks the muscles and bones)

Macadamia Nuts (attacks the nervous and digestive systems. It is a good idea to stay away from all nuts, except peanuts. Peanuts and peanut butter are fine in moderation, just watch because it is fatty, and if it isn't the natural kind, it can be very salty)

Citrus Oil (can cause major puking)

Lactose (this is a mild one--some dogs are prone to lactose intolerance, others aren't at all. gently introduce it into your dog's diet to determine how well your dog tolerates it. each case is different, so test our how your dog does gently and slowly )

Sugar (natural sugars like in molasses or honey are okay, but regular refined sugars do nothing good and do plenty bad--avoid them because they are worthless and evil. it can cause diabetes, dental issues, and obesity. huh, just like people!)

Cooked Bones (they splinter and can gouge intestines or esophagusessesses and the like or can become blockages and THAT will be expensive to fix, as we know from experience--it can become life threatening. much more expensive than just not giving them to your dog, which is free.)

Mushrooms (attacks a number of systems, but typically results in shock, and it can also kill a dog)

Apple Seeds and most fruit seeds (some contain stuff that makes them sick, some can get stuck in the way in the case of a blockage. take out the seeds before sharing)

Green Potatoes (I can't remember why, but it makes them sick)

Nutmeg (can't remember why, but don't use it. cinnamon is cool though)

Too Much Salt (can create an electrolyte imbalance. don't add it to their food and don't use foods for them that contain a lot, and you should be okay)

Alcohol (would you give it to a baby? no! because their systems can't metabolize it. they can become intoxicated and slip into a coma, or worse, die. don't let your dog drink a little beer because you think it is funny. i think plenty of stupid shit is funny, but this is not. it is cruel and disgusting and anyone who does it is a complete ass.)

Avocados (attacks the nervous system. it is actually the skin, seed, and bark that contains the bad stuff, but why bother? avocados are NOT essential to a dogs diet. many people claim it gives a healthy coat, but this can be achieved in a number of other, safer, easier ways, so why bother. i'll post more on good nutrition later and will address coats then)

Onions and Garlic (though there is controversy over whether they are okay to give raw, i tend to just avoid them. i'm less anal about garlic than onions, but it just depends on the product)

Baby Food (much of it contains onion powder, see above)

Grapes and Raisins (damages kidneys)

Their own poop or the poop of any other creature (some dogs do this as a behavior response, others do it because they are missing a vital nutrient in their diet. go to your vet, figure out the cause (nutrient or behavioral) and then address the problem.)

Grass, flowers, trees, windmills, infants, gum, etc (these are just DUH items. if they aren't food, your dog should not eat it.)

There are probably some things I have forgotten to add, so please feel free to post anything additional I've missed.

If your dog ever ingests something questionable or poisonous, call the Animal Poison Control Center at 888-426-4435. They usually charge about $60 bucks, but you can pay with credit card. You should keep their number in your cell phone.

Also, it is very important to locate your nearest emergency veterinary clinic in the case of after hours emergencies. Keep your regular veterinarian's phone number AND your emergency veterinarian's number in your cell phone. If you ever have a life threatening problem, you'll want to transport your dog their quickly and safely, but also call ahead to give them a heads up. They can be ready for your emergency when you get there, rather than having you burst through the door with a sick animal that they are not prepared for.