Toxic Thanksgiving

Soulful eyes. Long strands of drool hanging. Can't you just feel it? The wishful stare boring a hole in your back as you prepare the Thanksgiving feast!

Thursday, dogs everywhere will be hanging around the kitchen just waiting for the chance morsel to drop on the floor. Or in the family room hoping some indulgent relative will sneak them a "snack".

Sure a bit of cooked turkey won't hurt your dog. But many other Thanksgiving ingredients could upset their stomachs because they are toxic or worse send you to the Emergency Vet Clinic with a sick pet.

Here is a list of 10 common Thanksgiving foods to avoid:

1. Raw or undercooked turkey

Turkey Day’s main dish is dangerous for one reason: salmonella bacteria. Even though you may believe your dog’s stomach is iron-clad, it’s not.

2. Turkey skin

Seems harmless enough, right? It’s just the skin. But fatty foods like turkey skin and gravy are difficult for dogs to digest. Your dog’s pancreas can even become inflamed, resulting in pancreatitis, a very serious disease. 

3. Beer

Some dogs love beer, but this doesn't mean you should share a cold one with your dog. It can really do a number on your dog’s stomach. Depending on how much he consumes, the hops can cause your dog to have a fever, rapid heartbeat, seizures and liver damage. It can even be lethal.

4. Walnuts and Macadamia nuts

These two nuts in particular are very bad for your dog. In fact, a toxic reaction may result in your dog's inability to stand. Other symptoms range from vomiting, elevated heart rate and muscle tremors.

5. Mushrooms

Fungi are good for you, but bad for your dog. Should your dog ingest mushrooms, you can expect a slew of unwelcome symptoms that could become quite severe, including vomiting, seizures, coma and possibly death.

6. Onions and garlic

These two culprits are always on the list of foods your dog should not eat, and for very good reason: they can make your dog very sick. Both onions and garlic contain sulfides, which are toxic to dogs and can cause the destruction of red blood cells, leading to anemia.

7. Sage

This multi-purpose herb is used in countless recipes, but for dogs, sage is bad. It contains essential oils and resins that can upset a dog’s stomach and do a number on his central nervous system.

8. Nutmeg

Nutmeg is a sneaky spice. Found in sweet potatoes, yams, pumpkin pie and most desserts, nutmeg has mild hallucinogenic properties that, when ingested by your dog, can cause seizures, tremors and central nervous system problems. Note that both pumpkin and sweet potatoes are good for your dog; just make sure no nutmeg is on them before you share them.

9. Bones

Like fetching sticks and fire hydrants we often think of bones when we think of dogs. But poultry bones are especially bad for dogs because they are brittle. Chewed up turkey bones can puncture, scrape or block your dog's intestine.

10. Chocolate

Always a reminder to Never Feed your dog Chocolate.

Out of the DogHouse LLC website www.ohiodogtrainer.net
Contact Dru Therrian 440.286.9070

Pet Vet Visits

Does the sight of the unsuspecting "Time for Annual Shots" postcard send you into a panic stricken mode? Or are you the type of person that will grin and bear it just to get through the appointment? Like a Dentist with a drill, we sometimes view going to the Vet in the same way: Unpleasant because of our dog's behavior.

Sure there can be all sorts of factors why it's difficult to take your dog to the Vet's in the first place, such as putting the leash on, riding in the car and waiting in the lobby. But if the only time your dog goes to the Vet's is once a year to get poked with a needle then we can understand why your dog is reluctant.

Did you know most Vets encourage Friendly Visits?

Quick "Drop-Ins" just to say "Hello" to the staff at the desk, get a treat, then leave. Just a 5 minute trip to build a lifetime of happy visits. Bonus points, if their scale is in a convenient location, then you could have your dog sit on it to get weighed. This certainly would help your dog like going to the Vets. 

These friendly visits are beneficial to not only you, your dog but your Vet and staff as well. I am sure they like it better when the dog is happy to see them rather than be greeted with a growl and a snap!

So next time you are out with your dog, remember to drop by to say Hello and make going to the Vet's a nice time.

Out of the DogHouse LLC website www.ohiodogtrainer.net

Contact Dru Therrian 440.286.9070  

Hunger + Food = Fast Learning

We say any moment can be a training moment. But when is the Best time to train your dog? Why Meal Time, of course.

When your dog is hungry you have the greatest training opportunity because you have something he really, really wants! This does depend on your dog's love for food. If you have a finicky eater you will have to find a way to get him to want his food. I can tell you how another day.

Keeping the food bowl up and out of reach will give you control of how your dog is going to eat. Got a "faster than the speed of light" eater? This method of hand feeding will slow that down because you can make your dog wait between handfuls. This gives them a chance to, maybe, even chew their food!

Another great thing about mealtime training is being able to use the Marker System. I use these simple words: Yes, Good and No to capture the exact moment while my dog is learning new things.

It is kind of like the game of "Hot and Cold":
1. Yes means you got is right. (You're Hot! you get food)
2. Good means you are right and keep doing it. (Warmer)
3. No means you made a mistake. (Cold! :( you don't get food)

Here is a little video demonstrating dogs learning while eating.
"Bone" Appetit!



Out of the DogHouse LLC website www.ohiodogtrainer.net
Contact Dru Therrian 440.286.9070

TOYS!

I am a sucker when it comes to buying toys. I see something that looks fun and I can't resist buying it for my dog.  Are you that way too?

The problem is some toys just don't make it past the first play time. Right?! My good, hard earned, cash is gone after a few chomps!

A couple of things to keep in mind while you are in the middle of your toy buying spree is to think about your dog's activity and energy level.  How does your dog like to play?

Is your dog a hard chewer and a destroyer of toys? Does your dog like to carry or suck on the toy for self soothing? Will your dog fetch? Don't worry, at this point bringing it back is another topic!

You can take advantage of your dog's love for toys to teach them to listen better. Think about it: You are holding the favorite toy and your dog is going gaga over wanting it. Using the toy as motivation you get your dog to stop jumping before you give it to them. And then...you can teach your dog to stay, sit, down or Come!!! Imagine that!! Toys can be used as rewards.

Oh and to keep that toy exciting to your dog. Be sure to put it away after you are done playing. Your dog will want to do it all over again next time and your dog will keep getting better with each play session.

Spend wisely and buy appropriate toys. Put toys away after play that are fun but easily chewed up. They will last longer that way. And if the favorite toy comes out only attached to your hand then you can become the favorite person.

Out of the DogHouse LLC website www.ohiodogtrainer.net
Contact Dru Therrian 440.286.9070