Feeding fruit to dogs?

[Sibe]

Is it a good idea to supplement a diet with fruits? What kinds are best and which are not?:confused:

[Jini]

Some dogs love fruit, any kind of fruit and from practical experience I have seen that it does keep them healthy. However, very recently I met a lady who told me that her Poodle was allergic to grapes. So......
I think safe fruits are Bananas and Apples. Citrus fruits might be a bit too tangy for most dogs.

[pbrdog]

Grapes and raisins are are highly toxic to dogs. Bananas and apples are alright.

[Sibe]

I have heard that citrus is not at all good for Siberians. My Sibes love apples. I have been giving them the whole apple, but it looks like the seeds in them may be harmful. So, guess I should be coring them first.

Strawberries, blueberries ok? No grapes/raisins, check!
:)

[wyattabby]

my two used to eat comqouts (sp?) right off the tree with no probs.

[Sibe]

Has anyone heard of the author WD Cusick. He writes about breed specific diets. And one of the issues with fruit would be citric acid, for Sibes. I don't know if other animals have a problem with it.

Is a cumquat a citrus fruit? :confused: Oranges, pineapple, lemon, lime, are citrus.

What else do you allow your dog/s to eat?:D

[wyattabby]

Has anyone heard of the author WD Cusick. He writes about breed specific diets. And one of the issues with fruit would be citric acid, for Sibes. I don't know if other animals have a problem with it.

Is a cumquat a citrus fruit? :confused: Oranges, pineapple, lemon, lime, are citrus.

What else do you allow your dog/s to eat?:D

well i did a search on yahoo..and what i found was kumquats are not considered citrus...and what else do i allow them to eat..well let's see..abby will eat just about anything up to and including some of wyatt's clumps of hair when he's blowing his coat haha...wyatt's fav thing in the world is cheese

[Rio&Nickysmommy]

My dogs love fruit. From what I have heard grapes are not good for them but I am not an expert. I also do not give them banannas because I know they are high in potassium and that can effect a person heart if they have to much or too little. SO parnoid me does not feed them. But we do give them apples and watermelon they love that. My guys love tomatoes too but dont think they are the best for them.
RioNickysmommy

[catcher T]

a limited amount of fruit probably isn't bad,,just like anything else to much of one thing...,,I would be careful just for the weight gain,,sugar is sugar even if its in fruit. my dogs like raw carrots,,and I toss them raw chicken,,they are in heaven with that

[Sibe]

Weight gain is not a problem for these kids. They are active! But moderation is usually a pretty good rule to follow. I heard that tomatoes are not good for dogs esp. the vine- which can be toxic.

What about green beans? They love carrots. Other vegies that are good too?

Has anyone heard of the author WD Cusick?:confused: He writes about breed specific diets. The things he writes seem to make good sense, but dont know what his credentials really are exactly.

[GSP4619]

You are correct pbrdog about the raisins & grapes. I know onions are not good either. Their is a whole list that is not good for dogs. I have to find it, I know I seen it on the web.

[luv4gsds]

I feed raw to my dogs. The eat meat (poultry and so on) veggies and fruits.

[GSP4619]

A Poison Safe HomeFoods to Avoid Feeding Your Pet
- Alcoholic beverages
- Avocado
- Chocolate (all forms)
- Coffee (all forms)
- Fatty foods
- Macadamia nuts
- Moldy or spoiled foods
- Onions, onion powder
- Raisins and grapes
- Salt
- Yeast dough
- Garlic
- Products sweetened with xylitol
Warm Weather Hazards
- Animal toxins—toads, insects, spiders, snakes and scorpions
- Blue-green algae in ponds
- Citronella candles
- Cocoa mulch
- Compost piles Fertilizers
- Flea products
- Outdoor plants and plant bulbs
- Swimming-pool treatment supplies
- Fly baits containing methomyl
- Slug and snail baits containing metaldehyde

Medication
Common examples of human medications that can be potentially lethal to pets, even in small doses, include:
- Pain killers
- Cold medicines
- Anti-cancer drugs
- Antidepressants
- Vitamins
- Diet Pills

Cold Weather Hazards
- Antifreeze
- Liquid potpourri
- Ice melting products
- Rat and mouse bait

Common Household Hazards
- Fabric softener sheets
- Mothballs
- Post-1982 pennies (due to high concentration of zinc)

Holiday Hazards
- Christmas tree water (may contain fertilizers and bacteria, which, if ingested, can upset the stomach.
- Electrical cords
- Ribbons or tinsel (can become lodged in the intestines and cause intestinal obstruction—most often occurs with kittens!)
- Batteries
- Glass ornaments

Non-toxic Substances for Dogs and Cats
The following substances are considered to be non-toxic, although they may cause mild gastrointestinal upset in some animals:
- Water-based paints
- Toilet bowl water
- Silica gel
- Poinsettia
- Cat litter
- Glue traps
- Glow jewelry

[Sibe]

That is a good list GSP...also.

In addition to " Moldy or spoiled foods " I would like to add that if you keep your dry dog food for long periods of time you can also be leary of spoiled fat that will go rancid and you should discard old dog food, and wash and dry any containers regularly.

:cool:

[GSP4619]

Thx got it from the ASPCA site.

I did not know that about the dog food Sibe. I never had it stay around long enough. That's good to know though.

[luv4gsds]

You can give garlic to dogs. It helps keep fleas and ticks off dogs by getting into the dog's system and creating a garlic odor that fleas and ticks detect and avoid the dog altogether, helps reduce dog's cholesterol level for good heart function and it helps out in many more ways.

[DiggityDogs]

Someone mentioned earlier about apples- yes the seeds can be dangerous, but the apple is safe if cored. Blueberries are also pretty good for them, full of antioxidants! I don't know though, I'd probably eat all the blueberries before I even made it over to my dog's dish.

[dogma]

am curious as to WHY people think raisins and grapes are toxic. Ours eat them right off the vines, as do the local foxes and I have yet to see a single problem. Our dogs eat apples, pears, plums, and berries from our orchards. They also enjoy melons especially canteloupe and watermelon (one even eats the peel)
Onions can cause anemia. Worst case I ever saw was a dog who lived near a burger joint and had a thing for onion rings.
Chocolate has theobromine which can interrupt heart rhythms
Too much fruit can cause GI distress. Some seeds (such as apple, and apricot) have toxic components but you would have to eat a heck of a lot of them to cause a problem.
The dog is a scavenger - rotten foods are very much part of the diet of wild dogs everywhere and this does include fruit. Some mold (corn in particular) can be toxic in small quantities so moldy DOG FOOD is a lot more dangerous than the nasty old dead thing he found on your walk and wolfed down before you could stop him . Other than intoxication from fementation most fruits are quite healthy and most veggies are a wonderful lo-calorie and healthy snack for dogs

[Sibe]

Has anyone heard of the author WD Cusick? He writes about breed specific diets. The things he writes seem to make good sense, but dont know what his credentials really are exactly.

Anyways it does seem like you have to watch everything the dog puts in its mouth as the list of "poisonous/toxic food and plants" can be lengthy. It would be good to find a tried and true explanation of it all. Which is why I started the thread. The author above if you look him up seems credible but I don't know much about him and looks like I can't find the book on the shelves anywhere. Does anyone know about him or another author with this expertise?:confused:

[DiggityDogs]

I've never heard of him :confused:

My dog loves banana peels. LOL... He'll creep up very slowly when you're eating the banana, and when you're not looking, BAM! he grabs the banana peel and runs, usually ripping it right off the banana. If he happens to get banana too, he doesn't touch it. Only wants the peels. What a wierdo :rolleyes:

[Sibe]

DiggityDogs, what is it about banana peels. My old husky loved em and one of my puppies grabbed a bite off the banana on the counter, just the peel mind you. (although, I am sure he would eat the banana as well given the opportunity!) It caused a lot of diarrhea in the older animal. Not sure they are too good for huskies.:rolleyes:

[GSP4619]

NEW YORK, NY) July 6, 2004 -- The ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center continues to caution dog owners that raisins and grapes may be toxic to some dogs.From April 2003 to April 2004, the Center managed 140 cases, each involving one or more dogs that ingested varying amounts of raisins or grapes. Of these cases, over 50 animals developed clinical signs ranging from vomiting to life-threatening kidney failure, and seven dogs died.

Sarah Wright of Wisconsin lost her two year-old Australian Shepherd / Saint Bernard Mix, Penny (see picture) early this April to kidney failure after Penny ingested approximatelyone cup of raisins."Penny ate the raisins and vomited later that same day," recalls Sarah."I took her in to be evaluated by our local veterinarian, who felt that she was simply experiencing stomach upset, as the clinic was not aware of the potential for toxicity with raisin ingestions in dogs.A few days later, when Penny didn't improve, my veterinarian ran blood tests and found that Penny had developed acute renal failure, and despite efforts to save Penny, she passed away."


Sarah wanted to share her unfortunate loss with others "so that other dog owners can be educated about the toxic potential of grapes and raisins, and avoid having their dogs go through what Penny did." She would also like to urge pet owners to educate themselves about issues pertinent to their pets' health, in order to become an effective advocate for the medical care they receive.

Much is still yet to be discovered about the toxic principle associated with grape and raisin ingestions, as well as the exact mechanism leading to kidney damage in some dogs. It is also not clear if only canines are susceptible to developing a toxicosis, and additionally if only certain dogs are affected, or if chronic, long term ingestions can lead to the same effects as large, acute or single ingestions.As there are still many unknowns with the toxic potential of grapes and raisins, the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center advises not giving grapes or raisins to pets in any amount.

The ASPCA will continue to monitor this situation, and will provide any additional information as it becomes available. Please call (888) 426-4435 if you have a pet that has ingested grapes or raisins, or you suspect may be experiencing problems.

[GSP4619]

Their you go dogma got that off the ASPCA site. You can do as you like no one is telling you not to. All I know is I am not gonna chance it my dog will not get grapes or raisins:) .

[DiggityDogs]

DiggityDogs, what is it about banana peels. My old husky loved em and one of my puppies grabbed a bite off the banana on the counter, just the peel mind you. (although, I am sure he would eat the banana as well given the opportunity!) It caused a lot of diarrhea in the older animal. Not sure they are too good for huskies.:rolleyes:


It used to drive me nuts- tyson, the one in my avatar- practically turns into a ninja when bananas are around. He will NOT touch a piece of a banana. I've tried giving him some just to get him to leave me alone, but he just spit it out and made a face like 'ah, this tastes horrible!' I don't know how a banana can taste horrible in comparison to it's peel. I've learned to eat my bananas standing up or by removing the whole peel and throwing it away first, but I have to make sure he doesn't see me put it in the trash can or else he's sniffing around, trying to knock it over. There must be crack in those things- because he's hopelessly addicted!

[GSP4619]

LOL Diggity, Ava is not a big fan either. Now if I have pasta with sauce she will want some. Now if it is the same kind of pasta but a buttered on. OMG she takes it keeps it in her mouth then spits it out and decides it's more suited to be a toy :eek: .LOL I tell her all the time this is not kind you like and you think she would get the hint LOL. But nooooooooo she has to see for herself LOL.

[mycatsluvme]

I found this:http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_apcc_publicationsgrapes


Pattyjo

[Veruca's Mommy]

My pits *love* cantalope and asparagus. They actually beg for asparagus :p

[DoggyMom]

I'm a nanny, and the little boy I nanny for loves Mac and Cheese. He offered some to Lily one day, and that was the end of that! Now she begs like crazy whenever we eat any kind of pasta, but by far mac and cheese is her favorite! She is also a huge fan of peanut butter :) I haven't found any fruits she likes, although on occasion she will eat a piece or two of an apple.

[pitlover]

My pit is named Lili too, just with an 'i'!! She loves all fruit! We've stayed away from grapes because our vet has recommended that. Otherwise, she eats anything we give her or drop. Her favorites are strawberries and bananas, although she likes veggies more. Her favorite veggies are carrots, broccoli and cauliflower. Now that it's hot I like to give her frozen bananas and strawberries, which she really seems to like!

[DoggyMom]

My husband gave Lily some broccoli tonight, and she took it, mouthed it a bit, then spit it out on his foot! I was like, my thoughts exactly! LOL She ate the carrots he offered her however :) She barked at him everytime he tried to trick her with another piece of brocolli, she kept holding out for the carrots :)