Keep These Common Superbowl Snacks Away From Your Dog
Lots of human snacks are bad news for dogs, as you may remember from our advice to not give your dog turkey skin on Thanksgiving and keep him away from all kinds of candy, not just chocolate, on Halloween . So you won’t be surprised to know that your Super Bowl party layout also has a bunch of stuff that you need to keep out of your dog’s reach.
Bones from ribs or chicken wings
The tiny bones inside chicken wings can puncture or block your dog’s digestive tract. This may not happen every time – I once had a dog who ate whole plates of discarded wing bones several times and survived to tell the story – but it is a risk.
Other boiled bones can also be a problem, even if they are larger. Ribs, in particular, can form splinters when crunching. (The same dog once had to go to the emergency room when he stole a large boiled bone and the broken piece got stuck in his mouth.)
So keep the bones out of the puppy’s reach, whether they have meat on them or not. If they eat the bones and they’re okay, keep an eye on them. Call your veterinarian if you notice that your puppy is constipated, bloated, has bloody stools, or is vomiting after ingesting the bones.
something greasy
Fatty foods can trigger an attack of pancreatitis , a potentially life-threatening condition. So make sure your pup doesn’t get into anything greasy, greasy, or dangerously cheesy. A few bites of fatty treats aren’t necessarily a problem, but if you notice them emptying an entire bowl of queso, watch out for signs like vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and lethargy.
macadamia nuts
Nuts can be a problem for many reasons (including that their high oil content makes them a fatty food), but macadamia nuts have been known to make dogs sick . The exact cause is unknown, but it could be a toxin in the nuts. Symptoms to look out for, according to the Pet Poison Helpline, include “severe lethargy, elevated body temperature, vomiting, tremors, joint stiffness, and inability to walk (due to hind limb weakness).”
Grapes and raisins
Grapes and products containing grapes appear to be toxic to the kidneys of dogs . This includes the bowl of grapes you put on the table, as well as any treats that include raisins. Sultan and some types of currants are also made from grapes, so pay attention to those that belong to this category. Call your veterinarian if you know your dog has eaten grapes or raisins. Symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.
Onion and garlic
Onion rings are definitely out of the question, but also consider foods that have onions or garlic as the main ingredients. Onion salsa or guacamole, for example, is something to keep away from your dog.
In addition to upsetting the stomach, large doses of garlic or onions can damage your dog’s red blood cells, causing anemia . Symptoms of anemia include pale gums, weakness, and fatigue.
Chocolate
Okay, you probably knew about this. Dark chocolate and baker’s chocolate are especially dangerous for dogs, even in small amounts . (Milk chocolate is less toxic, but a dog can still get sick if he manages to eat a huge amount of chocolate.)
Caffeine
You probably don’t offer your dog a sip of coffee, but watch out for spilled energy drinks or desserts containing coffee beans. Dogs are more sensitive to caffeine than we are , so it doesn’t take long to cause hyperactivity, irregular heartbeats, tremors, and fever.
Alcohol
Getting your dog drunk is not funny, so hopefully you’re not offering your puppy a beer on purpose. But if they end up in someone’s drink, it’s important to know that dogs can get poisoned by alcohol too . Hops, the traditional beer flavoring, is also toxic to dogs, although if they drink enough beer to make them sick, alcohol is a big concern.