I have a weakness...my dog's sad, pleading eyes. When I'm snacking on a tasty treat, it's very difficult to not give my dog, Sam, just a taste. Unfortunately, many of the seemingly harmless "people foods" that we enjoy can wreak havoc on your poor, unsuspecting dog's health.
For years, dog experts have all agreed that feeding table scraps to your dog has the potential to poison. While there are a number of good dog treat recipes out there, you must be careful not to use ingredients that are considered to be harmful to your pet. One such ingredient is grapes.
Grapes have been known to the kidneys, which can potentially be fatal.
Though it is not known how many grapes are considered fatally toxic, as few as 5 grapes can be poisonous to a dog that weighs 20 pounds.
What are the signs that your dog has eaten a toxic dose of grapes?
Within 24 hours, vomiting, weakness and diarrhea may be present. However, these symptoms can start in as little as a few hours. You may also notice that your dog is urinating a lot less. This can be a symptom of his kidneys shutting down.
What should you do now?
If you suspect that your dog has ingested any toxic substance, see your veterinarian immediately. It's likely that the dog will be monitored carefully and will receive large doses of fluids until the symptoms subside.
All of this can be prevented by not feeding your dog people food. Find some good recipes (that are meant for dogs) and know that you are not only treating your pet to a tasty snack, but a safe one, as well.
