By Bronwyn Turner
Correspondent
Published January 23, 2011

Canine cuisine can range from homemade Bulldog Banana Bites to dry nuggets from a store-bought bag.

But owner beware of the temptation to turn human food into dog diet.

“I know some people who drive through Jack-in-the-Box and get their dog a burger,” Caroline Dorsett-Pate, executive director of the Galveston Island Humane Society, said.

“It’s just not healthy; it doesn’t give them the nutrients they need.”

Many pet owners dine in with their pets, slipping them portions of the family meal.

“When the dog is sitting there, looking at you while you’re eating, you feel you’ve just got to share with them,” said Wydell Dixon, owner and founder of Whiskerville Animal Sanctuary Inc. in Texas City.

“But you shouldn’t feed a dog that stuff.”

She recalls one dog owner who shared shrimp Creole with her pet and unknowingly dispensed a near-fatal dose of shellfish.

“Dogs just can’t process that stuff,” Dixon said. “You’ve got to be real careful about that.”

Many types of table food can hold dangers for dogs, said veterinarian Dr. Dana Beckham, chief epidemiologist at the Galveston County Health District and a veterinary consultant.

“Their stomachs are simpler than ours, so things we can easily eat may upset a dog’s stomach,” Beckham said.

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Dog Food Tips

Here are some tips from Caroline Dorsett-Pate, executive director of the Galveston Island Humane Society; Wydell Dixon, owner and founder of Whiskerville Animal Sanctuary Inc. in Texas City; and Dr. Dana Beckham, chief epidemiologist at Galveston County Health District and a veterinary consultant; on how best to direct your dog’s diet.

Good Dog Food

• Seek your veterinarian’s advice before planning store-bought or home-cooked dog meals. The vet will take into account the dog’s age, activity level and medical condition.

• Check the ingredient list on dog food; the first listed ingredient should be a recommended item, not a filler.

• Organic and premium dog foods might be worth the higher cost. “A lot of the organic foods are pricey, but the flip side of that is you need to feed the pets less,” Dixon said.

• Good home-cooked meals include cooked white rice and pasta. A serving of white rice with boiled chicken can help settle a dog’s stomach. Other entrees include carrot sticks, green beans or a plain baked potato.

• Dog treats can range from a canine form of baked cookies to freeze-dried chicken chunks.

Bad Dog Food

• Foods with onions, onion powder or garlic can lead to anemia.

• Chocolate, especially baker’s chocolate, can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

• Fatty foods like fried chicken can cause pancreatitis in dogs.

• Caffeinated drinks like tea, coffee or energy drinks can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

• Gum or candy with artificial sweetener can cause liver failure in a dog.

• Macadamia nuts can make a dog ill and can cause death.

• Alcohol can cause vomiting, diarrhea and difficulty breathing.

• Raw meat and fish can contain bacteria that lead to food poisoning.

• Avocados, grapes and raisins can be toxic to dogs.

• Food from the family dinner table can be addicting.

• Dogs get hooked on human food and would rather eat your food “with you,” Dorsett-Pate said. “They don’t want to go back to dry food.”

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Bulldog Banana Bites
2 1/4 cups whole-wheat flour
1/2 cup nonfat powdered milk
1 egg
1/3 cup ripe banana, mashed
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 beef bouillon cube
1/2 cup hot water
1 tablespoon brown sugar
Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
Mix all ingredients until well blended.
Knead for two minutes on a floured surface.
Roll to 1/4-inch thickness.
Use a bone-shaped cookie cutter to cut out treats.
Bake 30 minutes on an ungreased cookie sheet.

SOURCE: bullwrinkle.com

For more information contact Kurt Koopmann, GCHD Public Information Officer, 409-938-2211 or kkoopman@gchd.org