Did you know that March is national pet poison prevention awareness month? Of course, most dog owners know the obvious foods dogs shouldn’t have, like chocolate for example. However, there are a lot of things that you shouldn’t give your pups that most wouldn’t think twice about. With March being the month to highlight these things, this gives veterinary professionals the opportunity to educate on what could potentially harm pets. To start, we’ll just go over some of the most common ‘human’ foods that dogs shouldn’t have.
‘Human’ foods to avoid giving your dog:
#1. Grapes and Raisins: Although science has yet to discover what is in grapes that makes them so toxic to dogs, we know there is a substance in them that can lead to sudden kidney failure. Until more is known, it is best to avoid giving these to your dog all together. Common symptoms include lethargy, diarrhea, vomiting, weakness, and decrease in appetite.
#2. Milk or Dairy products: This can really upset your dog’s stomach due to the fact that pets do not have a sufficient amount of Lactase which is needed to break down Lactose. This can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, and overall abdominal discomfort.
#3. Yeast Dough: Because yeast dough rises, this can cause a gas build up in the digestive system- as it produces Ethanol and Carbon Dioxide. This becomes painful and may even cause the stomach to bloat. If this results in the stomach twisting- this can become a serious emergency. Common signs of bloat include abdominal distension, restlessness, retching, and pawing.
#4. Alcohol: This is an obvious one to most, which is good because it’s among one of the worst things your pet can ingest. Ingestion of alcohol can cause a dangerous drop in blood sugar, blood pressure, and body temperature. Some animals can even experience seizures or respiratory failure. Alcohol of any kind and any amount should be avoided at all costs.
#5. Onions and Garlic: No matter what form they come in, if ingested in a large enough quantity they can kill off your dog’s red blood cells which can result in anemia. Symptoms include but are not limited to: abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, increased heart/breathing rate, and lethargy.
#6. Xylitol: This is a sugar substitute used in many ‘sugar free’ products. This is commonly used in sugar free gum/ candies, toothpaste, baked goods, and vitamins. Ingesting this can cause blood sugar to drop and can potentially cause liver failure. Symptoms start to show rather quickly after it is ingested. Signs include vomiting, weakness, and seizures.
#7. Coffee, Tea, Caffeine: Sodas, energy drinks, caffeine pills, diet pills, etc. can cause a rise in blood pressure and cardiac arrhythmias- both being very dangerous for pets. Even a small amount can be very toxic.
#8. Macadamia Nuts: Nuts have a high fat and oil content- Macadamia nuts contain up to 80% oil- which can increase the risk of pancreatitis due to the high amount of fat. In high quantities they can cause weakness, hypothermia, tremors, and stiffening of joints.
#9. Table Salt: Ingestion of too much salt can cause sodium poisoning- meaning there is a rise in the sodium concentration in the blood. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, tremors, and seizures.
#10. Fat Trimmings and Bones: Bones can cause blockages or puncture or cause damage to their insides. Fat- could cause the pancreas to become inflamed which can result in vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, and abdominal pain. This also puts your pet at risk for developing pancreatitis.
These are the top ten most common ‘human’ foods that are potentially harmful to your dog. Of course, we highly encourage everyone to do their own research on the matter, as there is tons of information on the internet about what dogs should and should not eat. Although there are a lot of our snacks that they shouldn’t have, there are still a lot of fun things you can get for your dog as a treat. You can always stop by a local dog bakery, they have many things your pup is bound to love. Best part is- these treats are formulated specifically for our doggie friends!
…Please stay tuned for part two- as we go over some of the most dangerous household items for dogs!
Spring break and Easter are upon us and our hotel will be full for the next few weeks. This means both hotel and daycare will be busy every day, but especially during the weekends.
Hotel Drop-Off:
- Our lobby will be hectic, if you have a plane to catch we recommend you arrive early to ensure a smooth check-in.
- Our most busy times of day are between 7-9 am and 5-7 pm.
- For a reminder of items you need to bring with you have a look at Tiki’s Check-In List http://bit.ly/1BWgVHD
Daycare Drop-Off:
- Spots in daycare will be limited, reservations are HIGHLY recommended.
- If you do not have a reservation, give us a call before heading over & we will be able to tell you if we have space.
A year after adopting our stray Buddy, his parents sent us an update on his new life.
Rudy’s First Year
When we first met Rudy (his name was Buddy at the time), it was love at first sight. He’s so incredibly sweet and immediately took to us. During his first drive home, he laid nervously on the backseat, a little anxious of the whole “moving tin can” thing and certainly scared of the open windows. He was also terrified of our staircase at first, but treat by treat, he found the way to his bed upstairs. He’s a quick learner; he nailed sit, stay, and lay down immediately. Now, he gives the best “high fives” and can finally “speak,” with bonus command “louder” … It took about four months to hear his first bark!
This spring, we bought Rudy a pass to the dog park, and his personality really shines amongst the other dogs. He loves playing chase and is happiest when sprinting directly toward us from the farthest corner of the park, usually covered in mud. He continues to work on “fetch” and usually prefers a game of keep-away first. At home, he is a lover. He loves cuddling on the couch but has been known to suddenly attack his stuffed gator from afar. Every bone or large treat he receives is painstakingly hidden before it’s enjoyed. His favorite spots are inside the couch, under his bed, and corners. We’ve even found him under our pillows a time or two!
We anxiously waited for the right time to get a dog, so when the stars aligned to adopt Rudy, we felt like we won the lottery! He is playful and affectionate, loves to make us laugh, and always greets us at the door. Rudy has brought a lot of love into our home, and he helps us to be more active. It has been a great experience watching Rudy grow and learn. You are most likely to see his smiling face at the dog park, getting pets from strangers on the Monon, or hanging out of the car window with his tongue out, on the way to visit friends.
Thank you, Good Dog Hotel, for playing matchmaker! We couldn’t be happier.
Mandi, Brendan & Rudy
For our 3rd installment in the Mini Me blog series, meet Hawkeye and Willow. Hawkeye is a 9-year-old weim who has been visiting us since he was a pup — his mini-me is a tiny 3-year-old dachshund spitfire named Willow. Here is a little more about each pup:
| Willow |
Hawkeye |
| Silver Dachshund |
Weimaraner |
| 4 pounds |
60ish pounds |
| Nickname: We lovingly call her Weeeeeeelow (you have to sound it out and smile when you say it). |
Hawkey, Hawkey-do, Handsome Boy. |
| She’s often spotted on the bed in our littles’ section. |
Often spotted on the bed in our littles’ section, despite his size. |
| Takes the shape of a tiny little cinnamon bun when napping on bed. |
Takes the shape of a giant cinnamon bun when napping on bed. |
| Willow is sassy and sweet. She rules the roost when in daycare, and gets lots of love and attention from humans. |
Hawkeye is noble, calm, mindful and loving. One of our oldest clients, he’s adored by everyone in our building. |
| When we first met Willow, she weighed barely a pound. She could actually fit in a pocket, which only made us want to put her in our pockets and run away with her. |
Hawkey’s routine is to run through our doors, dash into daycare, open the gates himself and plop down on the bed. He used to roll with the bigs when he was younger; he has since retired to the slower pace of our littles. |
| Willow’s mom and dad are originally from Spain and moved here to teach Spanish. |
Hawkeye comes from a big family of Iowa fans, hence his name. |
| Why we love her: all of the above, plus her parents are the nicest people on earth and her adopted sister Lola is a sweetpea! |
Why we love him: all of the above. Hawkey has been part of our family for almost a decade, and his mom and family are some of our favorite people! |
I worked out, I trained, I carbo-loaded (Ok, mostly I just carbo-loaded), all so I could participate in Mutt Strut 2014. It’s not only The Greatest Spectacle in Dog Walking, it’s Indy Humane’s biggest fundraiser for our shelter pups and kitties, so I just had to offer my support! This was my first year participating and it exceeded all expectations. Four members of my Good Dog fam accompanied me, plus my bestie Millie, the Good Dog daycare queen. Here are a few of my memories from the event … Enjoy!
Love,
Tiki
