Many of us like to think of ourselves as responsible pet owners, but there are still many dog owners that don’t know all the risks and dangers of certain foods, snacks and drinks. Moreover, we don’t always think about our visitors, for instance, if there is a big game night or a party, many don’t know if all their friends know about the dangers of these foods and drinks that can potentially harm our pet. Therefore, in this article we will discuss some of the dangers that can arise during a game night or party, and you may be surprised at some of the things that are quite dangerous to our dog.
First of all, one of the main things to do before a big game night or a party, is plan ahead, we plan for the party or game, but we also need to plan ahead with our pet in mind. For instance, if you know for sure you are going to be having snacks, food or drinks that may harm him, maybe it would be better if he is kept out of harms way in another room while the celebrations are going on. If this is not possible, you may want to discuss with your guests about not giving the dog any treats, or what they may consider treats, or let them know which foods are hazardous to your pet, so they don’t give him what they are thinking is a treat.
Drinks
On game night, or when there is a party, there will inevitably be drinks, whether it be alcohol, soft drinks or energy drinks, and even though no one would intentionally give a dog a drink, there will often be spills that a dog will willingly lap up. Having said that, there are many different drinks that can have an adverse effect on our dog, some of which can harm them, and put their health at great risk. That being said, here is a list of drinks that should not be allowed to be in reach of a dog due to the high risk factor, and be sure to mop up spills immediately.
Beer is probably the most common drink on game night, and we’ve probably all heard of someone who lets their dog have a little drink now and then, but this is a bad idea. The hops in beer are poisonous to dogs, and it doesn’t take much for them to become disorientated, and this can effect their central nervous system. Alcohol of any kind should be avoided as it can lead to seizures, tremors, abnormal blood acidity, breathing difficulties and even coma, so avoid all alcohol being given to your dog.
Soda, soft drinks and high energy drinks may also be popular during game night, all may contain high levels of caffeine, and yes this includes coffee. Caffeine is poisonous to both dogs and cats and the level of toxicity can be from moderate to severe, and even life threatening, so be aware and make your guests aware of this too. Things to look for in a pet that has ingested caffeine are: hyperactivity, vomiting, restlessness, elevated heart rate and or blood pressure, tremors, seizure, and coma, which can lead to death.
Snacks & Food
Some of the most popular game night foods, and snacks can be the most dangerous for your pet, and it could be something that is easily forgotten, or not even thought about at the time. For instance, chicken wings is a great party snack for us, but for dogs and cats, the bones can splinter, and cause choking hazards to them. In addition, these bones can damage their gums, mouth and even block the intestinal tract, and the same applies to cooked ribs. Moreover, it’s not just the bones that can be a problem, chicken wings can have a high salt content, which can lead to high blood pressure in dogs and contribute to heart disease and kidney problems.
Chocolate and ice cream can be great at parties, but they can be a deadly combination for our pets, chocolate is especially poisonous to both dogs and cats alike. Chocolate can cause death in pets, so don’t give any at all to them. In addition, dogs lack the enzymes needed to break down the lactose in dairy products, so be certain to keep them out of there reach as well. Grapes and raisins can also be deadly for pets and can lead to kidney failure, and it doesn’t take much either. Having said that, another popular snack might be gum and candy which is also bad for pets, especially the sugarless variety, an ingredient called xylitol can lead to liver failure and death.
Guacamole is another party favorite, however, the ingredients are very dangerous for dogs, onions, garlic, avocados, all of which if consumed in quantity by your dog can lead to elevated heart rate, damage to blood cells and intestinal issues. Even simple foods like fatty meats or bacon can be dangerous to your pets, with high sodium content and high fat, your pet could end up with ‘bloat’ where the stomach flips and causes a blockage. Finally, when having a game night or party, be sure to keep pets away if possible, if you can’t, then maybe you can have a bowl of his favorite treats, which he is allowed and tell your guests that he can have treats from that bowl only, just be sure to limit the amount.