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Here’s a list of No-No’s that goes for every dog owner - not just Dalmatians!!!!
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Unfortunately, I have to add this stuff in. I am not a veterinarian, and do not have any medical training with animals. I have hands-on experience with handling, and that is it. The information contained below is from my personal experiences, friendly word-of-mouth, and information that I have researched from other sites. I am not liable in any way, for any actions taken in regard to the information below.
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Toxic foods and foods that can lead to upset tummies!
Here is a list of foods that you should avoid at all costs
Chocolate is toxic to dogs!! Dogs can ingest small amounts of chocolate (for example, my dog decided to eat $30 of Ghirardelli from San Francisco!), but it’s the pure baker’s chocolate that is lethal. Even the regular chocolate can lead to an upset stomach, and trust me, you won’t like the messes you find afterwards. If you want to pass on your sweet tooth to your puppy there are some companies that are making carob coated goodies, that taste like chocolate.
Raisins! I read somewhere recently that they were performing tests (yikes!) that confirmed that raisins are also toxic to dogs (and maybe cats). You can’t quote me on that, but it’s better to be safe than sorry! Ditch the raisins when it comes to your dog!
Other toxic foods (this list from Bullwrinkle.com):
Alcohol, almonds (I would avoid nuts just to be safe, but peanut butter is great - see below in the section about bones), apricots, avocado, caffeine, cherry, garlic, onions, peaches, potatoes, and tomatoes.
Preservatives
Something to look out for when buying dog food. Three preservatives, known as BHT , BHA and exothyquin have shown to be potentially hazardous to your dogs health. BHT and BHA have been linked to cancer in humans. These preservatives will be labeled on the list of ingredients, so it’s always a good idea to check. There are some companies that are now substituting other preservatives such as Vitamin C, but these will have a shorter shelf life. If you have the choice, I would buy one of these brands, and rule of thumb is to only buy what your dog can eat in a month. After that it will spoil. Also, make sure and buy an airtight container to store the food in. If you ever open a bag of food that smells rancid, return it immediately and make sure you tell the storekeeper to check all of the dates on the other bags of that brand!
Toxic plants
Below is a list of plants that are toxic to dogs. This list is by dogpack.com . If you want further information on these plants, go to http://www.uexplore.com/health/poisonplants.htm . I have highlighted the species that I believe are native to Hawaii. Highlighted list is from http://www.starbulletin.com. I am new to this area, so this probably is not a complete list. If you know of others, please let me know.
Bulbs: Amaryllis, Autumn Crocus, Daffodil, Day Lily, Elephant Ears, Gladiolas, Hyacinth, Iris, Lily of the Valley, Narcissus, Orange Day Lily, Tulip
Ferns: Aparagus Fern, Australian Nut, Emerald Feather (aka Emerald Fern), Emerald Fern (aka Emerald Feather), Lace Fern, Plumosa Fern
Flowering Plants: Cyclamen, Hydrangea, Kalanchoe, Poinsettia
Garden Perennials: Charming Diffenbachia, Christmas Rose, Flamingo Plant, Foxglove, Marijuana, Morning Glory, Nightshade, Onion, Tomato Plant, Tropic Snow Dumbcane
House Plants: Ceriman (a.k.a. Cutleaf Philodendron), Chinese Evergreen, Cordatum, Corn Plant (a.k.a. Cornstalk Plant), Cutleaf Philodendron (a.k.a. Ceriman), Devil's Ivy, Dumb Cane, Golden Pothos, Green Gold Nephthysis, Marble Queen, Mauna Loa Peace Lily, Nephthytis, Peace Lily, Red-Margined Dracaena, Striped Dracaena, Taro Vine, Warneckei Dracaena
Lillies: Asian Lily (liliaceae), Easter Lily, Glory Lily, Japanese Show Lily, Red Lily, Rubrum Lily, Stargazer Lily, Tiger Lily, Wood Lily
Shrubs: Cycads, Heavenly Bamboo, Holly, Jerusalem Cherry, Mistletoe "American", Oleander, Precatory Bean, Rhododendron, Saddle Leaf Philodendron, Sago Palm, Tree Philodendron, Yucca
Succulents: Aloe (Aloe Vera)
Trees: Avocado, Buddist Pine, Chinaberry Tree, Japanese Yew (a.k.a. Yew), Lacy Tree, Macadamia Nut, Madagascar Dragon Tree, Queensland Nut, Schefflera, Yew (a.k.a. Japanese Yew)
Vines: Branching Ivy, English Ivy, European Bittersweet, Glacier Ivy, Hahn's self branching English Ivy, Needlepoint Ivy
Misc/Uncategorized: American Bittersweet, Andromeda Japonica, Azalea, Bird of Paradise, Buckeye, Caladium hortulanum, Calla Lily, Castor Bean, Clematis, Fiddle-Leaf Philodendron, Florida Beauty, Fruit Salad Plant, Golden Dieffenbachia, Gold Dust Dracaena, Heartleaf Philodendron, Horsehead Philodendron, Hurricane Plant, Mexican Breadfruit, Mother-in-law, Panda, Philodendron Pertusum, Red Emerald, Red Princess, Ribbon Plant, Satin Pothos, Spotted Dumb Cane, Sweetheart Ivy, Swiss Cheese Plant, Variable Dieffenbachia, Variegated Philodendron, Yesterday/Today/Tomorrow
I also have a list of species native to Hawaii that are toxic to humans. I am assuming that they would also be toxic to animals: Be-Still Trees (Thevatia Peruvania), Jimsonweed, Black Eyed Susan beans, Jotropha species (a popular ornamental shrub), and various mushrooms (Chlorophyllum Molybdites and Amanita Marmorata are two of the names I could find).
Fertilizer - If you will be using any kind of fertilizer or pesticides in your yard, be sure and read the warnings on the back. Most are probably toxic to animals, and you will want to keep your dog out of the yard until it is safe. When walking your dog in other areas, it is also good to keep a lookout for areas where others may have spread fertilizer.
Bones
Dogs love bones, but there are some very important guidelines that you should follow
Cooked bones!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can’t stress this enough. Cooked poultry bones are the worst. Cooking bones makes them very brittle, and when your dog chews them, they are likely to splinter and become lodged in their throat! This can block their airway, leading to suffocation, or it can puncture the inside of their throats! Very bad, very painful, and very expensive at the vet’s office!!! If you really want to give your dog a cooked bone, the best kind to buy are smoked beef or buffalo bones. Smoking doesn’t leave the bones quite as brittle, and they are usually available in any pet store.
Watch for snags!
Marrow bones are great, but they leave a hole in the center! When choosing a bone for your dog, make sure that the whole in the center is either way to small for them to fit their snout in, or way to big for them to get it stuck. Unfortunately I learned this from a lady who’s dog had already been through this terrible ordeal. His snout got stuck inside and he was in an extreme amount of pain and couldn’t breathe for quite some time....and of course the vet bill was enormous. You do not want to put your dog through this!
Good Bones
Uncooked poultry with the bones in is a great addition to a dog’s diet. (For more information on this read about the B.A.R.F. diet). Just make sure you never cook the poultry bones!
A great way to keep a dog occupied is to find a sterilized bone with a very large, or very small, center and put a tablespoon or so of peanut butter in the middle. They will sit there and lick and gnaw at it for hours! Just don’t forget about them - bone chewing should always be monitored from time to time.
Frozen, raw, beef and buffalo knuckle or marrow bones can give your dog hours of enjoyment! I would advise serving this on a towel or on tile surface as it can get very messy. There are many companies that sell pre-packaged raw bones that are sterilized and ready to go! As always, this should be monitored from time-to-time.
Dogs in the backs of trucks!!!!!!!!
This little number really gets me angered when I’m driving down the road! You can have the best-trained dog in the world that won’t move an inch—but that’s not going to help you out when you skid, hit a bump, or collide with something! If you are going to transport your dog in the back of a truck they should be in a carrier that is strapped down. At the very least, harness them between the two sides (you can buy these in pet stores or build your own), so that they can’t get flung over the side. Harness means around their body–not their neck!
Water!
Always, always, always have fresh, clean, water available. Dogs don’t sweat like us, so it is very easy for them to become overheated and dehydrated. You should check their dish at least once or twice a day! Oh, and if you are on vacation - saltwater from the beach will not do!!! Saltwater is toxic to dogs!!!!
Crate Training
I would recommend crate-training for all dogs. Even if you usually keep your dogs outside, it is a good idea, for you never know what situations can arise! ( i.e. traveling, yard work, staying at other people’s houses). Personally, I would always bring the dog in at night. When you are asleep and unavailable, there is no telling what could happen to the dog! If you crate train your dog, they can come inside at night, and sleep quite comfortably all night. And if you don’t keep your dog outside, you should definately get your dog accustomed to their crate. Put some old pillows, blankets or their doggy bed inside so it will be nice and comfy. Throw in a few toys and they will be in heaven. Crate training doesn’t have to be hard! Just take baby steps. Try starting out sitting next to the crate with the door open. Next day try closing the door, and sitting by them. Day by day, try moving further and further away, and leaving for longer amounts of time. Let them know they are safe. Do not run to them if they start whimpering!!! This lets them know that if they cry, that you will come, and they will take advantage of this!!!
Dogs and Children
Children and dogs (or any domestic animals for that matter) can form a special bond that will carry on for years of friendship! But they must be taught how to handle them properly, just as adults do. A good idea is to let your child participate in obedience training. Let them know proper feeding and water techniques, and how to play without causing injury to themselves or the animal. Most importantly it is important to instill the knowledge that this is not a toy - it is a life and a part of your family!
Last, but certainly not least -
No toy can ever stand in for love and affection from your dog’s most important person—YOU!!! Living your life chained to a tree in the backyard is no way to live. Just supplying food and water isn’t enough. Your dog is a part of your family, NOT A PIECE OF PROPERTY, and should be treated as such. They need interaction, just like all of us do. Obedience training is a wonderful way to spend time with your dog! Classes are available, or you can even try it out for yourself. Either way, you and your dog will be spending quality time together!
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