Keep your ER Vet Number Handy!

[Jaybay]

Another "food" holiday is here and no doubt our dogs will be the recipients of various snacks - given or stolen! - that are outside their usual diets.  My vet told me the other day that he can count on being very busy in the days immediately after a holiday, and not all cases are a simple tummy ache from overindulgence.  For example, a slowly percolating pancreas can go bust after just a little higher fat intake pushes it over the edge.  Pancreatitis can be fatal.

Take some time out today to call your vet and ask if the clinic's hours will change during the next week.  If you don't already know who to call in an emergency, take the time to ask that question as well.  Keep those phone numbers handy by the phone, or better yet, programmed into it if you have that capability.  Nothing is worse in an emergency than knowing you have that number.... somewhere!

Make family members and visitors aware of your rules regarding sharing food and other treats.  You just might save your dog's life.  

Above all, have a very Merry Christmas!

[Jaybay]

Oh yeah!  He got busted right in the act, and didn't even have the decency to look guilty about it.  :-)  

I've never heard that potatoes are bad for dogs.  Matter of fact, fish and potato is a recommended diet for dogs with allergy issues.  My dogs might get a bit of a baked or boiled potato, but I don't give them fried spuds because of the high fat content.

[ginger899]

One busted doggy!  Trouble is, with most dogs, they are quite happy to eat anything. They are naturally food-oriented (well, why not?) So it's up to us to  do the brain work.
By the way....one thing I am never sure of. Is it ok to give potato to dogs? Somewhere I read it was fine. Somewhere else I read it wasn't.

[Jaybay]

LOL!  A couple hours ago I caught my Dalmatian trying to counter-surf the giblets right out of the pan.  Lucky for him, I busted him before he got a burnt nose and a severely upset tummy.  :-D

[ginger899]

Yeah, I've got my vet and also vet emergency permanently on speed-dial, you never know when they'll be needed.
As regards Christmas food, so MUCH of it is toxic for dogs, so I've learned. Onions, or things containing onions/raisins (and that includes Mince pies, Christmas pudding etc)/ chocolate (of course)/salt and salty stuff/peanuts can be horribly binding and contain salt/cream is a bad idea/anything spiced or seasoned/grapes......and many more things which dogs should not be given. Watch out too for enterprising doggies snatching things from low tables while you're busy or distracted. Mine did that once, ate a whole lot of chocolate, and suffered with bloody diarrhoea, and really was not well. She could have come off even worse, as some dogs can die from this!
My dog is getting her regular dog food, a little bit of apple as a treat, and that's it!