INGREDIENTS THAT ARE HARMFUL TO PETS
After her second daughter was born, Cori Doern left a career as a producer in Toronto’s world-class post-production industry and moved from the city to the country. Cori traded cutting video for cutting vegetables and creates soup stock instead of film stock.
Cori presented a jar of home-made soup to her daughter’s schoolteacher as a thank-you gift. Within weeks, Cori had sold 250 jars to local soup lovers. By the end of the year, she was supplying liquid gold to cafés in the Greater Toronto Area. By 2011, Cori had received a tremendous amount of critical acclaim.
The Toronto Star and Toronto Life deemed Cori’s soups “Delectable.”
Cori’s Café has received more than a handful of awards, including Small Business of the Year award for 2013, Small Business Georgina 2014, Small Business York Region 2015, and the Café was voted Best Salads and Best Desserts by Georgina Advocate readers for both 2013 and 2014.
Cori has embraced country living to the fullest and is part of a team of residents passionate about local, organic farming.
During several visits to the café, and over many delicious meals, Cori and I discussed her love of food and my love of animals. During one of these conversations, Cori suggested I join her as a guest on the television show she hosts. ‘Cooking with Cori’ is where this talented individual has come full circle to television again, sharing her passion for cooking and healthy ingredients and produce (noun, not verb) on-screen.
The show is featured on Rogers TV, Georgina Cable 10. This episode will air in the New Year.
I was thrilled to participate and speak about the importance of nutrition for our companions and what foods to avoid sharing with our companions – foods that may be toxic to them.
FIVE……FOUR……THREE……TWO……ONE!
When creating feasts for friends and family, we are easily distracted. We focus on conversations with our guests, constantly aware of our timing (what needs to go in the oven and when), and being a wonderful host or hostess. “Who needs more wine”?
When distracted, we might be less inclined to notice when pieces of food drop to the floor, never mind WHAT TYPE of food item!
Feeding scraps to dogs can be dangerous. Some human foods may cause digestive problems for our dogs and cats, and some can even be life-threatening.
A good habit to get into is teaching your dog ‘on your bed’ or crate (if you use a crate) while you’re busy in the kitchen and while eating (until the family has finished with food at the table) and again during clean-up.
All pet parents should learn and teach dogs the training commands: ‘leave it,’ and ‘give’ or ‘drop.’
Foxy Apron – a gift from Penny Latham of Honeysuckle Cottage Sales (link below)
Dangerous food items for your pet
- Alcoholic beverages
- Dairy – Dogs do not have the digestive enzymes to break down the sugars in cow’s milk, so drinking milk can cause gas, bloating, diarrhea, and vomiting in dogs.
- Apple seeds
- Apricot pits
- Avocados
- Cucumber (peel is toxic)
- Cherry pits
- Chocolate—toxic to dogs, cats, and ferrets—and any candy containing the toxic sweetener Xylitol
- Coffee (grounds, beans, and chocolate-covered espresso beans)
- Garlic
- Grapes and Raisins
- Gum (can cause blockages and sugar-free gums may contain the toxic sweetener Xylitol)
- Hops (used in home beer brewing)
- Macadamia nuts
- Moldy foods
- Mushroom plants
- Mustard seeds
- Onions and onion powder
- Peach pits
- Potato leaves and stems (green parts)
- Rhubarb leaves
- Salt and salty foods – Processed foods, such as sausages, deli meat, and canned soup, contain a lot of salt. Too much salt can cause electrolyte imbalance, kidney disease, and seizures in dogs.
- Tea (because it contains caffeine)
- Tomato leaves and stems (green parts)
- Walnuts
- Xylitol (artificial sweetener that is toxic to pets)
- Yeast dough
List compiled from various sources.
During the show we also discussed:
- The link between our health and diet, and the environment (Endocrine system, and diabetes)
- Excess itching in dogs (especially ears) and upset stomach could be a sign of food allergies or intolerances.
- Congo Raw diet available locally. Owner Mathew will discuss your concerns before suggesting a protein for your dog.
- Nutrience Subzero is a Canadian, grain-free product that contains pieces of freeze-dried, Canadian-sourced protein. Nutrience Subzero is now available at PetSmart Canada.
- Consult your veterinarian and try switching to a ‘grain-free’ or ‘raw’ diet.
AND CUT!!!
That’s all we have time for on today’s show. Please visit us tomorrow – we will post the recipe for Reese’s favourite (gluten-free) PB & Molasses cookies. You won’t want to miss it!
Still in need of a unique Christmas gift?
Check out the gorgeous aprons available at Honeysuckle Cottage Sales!
Thanks,
You look great in that photo – love the book! Really good to share this list. I had no idea about grapes, onion and xylitol until I started working on Talent Hounds and got Kilo the greedy ninja Pug (he has managed to steal chewing gun in a dirty tissue, chocolate, onions and numerous other things – he had his stomach pumped as he got a whole tray of dark chocolate brownies his second week with us). I keep the 24-hour ASPCA emergency poison hotline 1-888-426-4435 handy (they are fantastic and have databases of poisonings, research and vets on hand – fees may apply but you get a fast recommendation). Look forward to the recipe tomorrow. X Susie
Talent Hounds recently posted…All Tucked In
Thank you Susan. I’m so glad you like the book! Wow, sorry to hear Kilo had to go through that ordeal. Thank you for sharing the emergency poison hotline number – very good to have programmed into our phones!
Sounds like a terrific way to help remind or teach pet parents about the importance of keeping toxic foods away from dogs and teaching the commands “drop it” and “leave it.” I need to work on that with Theo.
Beth recently posted…Easy DIY Treat Jar + Free Holiday Printable Gift Tags
Thanks Beth. Yes, even when out on walks those commands are useful. Especially just after ‘garbage day.’
Really great post – and we lub dat you shared your television appearance with us! How wonderful! Plus da topic is so very important – people need reminders about what dogs can and can’t eat, so this is great!
Thank you MattieDog!
Mr. N dislikes almost everything on the banned list but we had to be careful with our foster pup because he would put everything in his mouth.
Ha! Your foster pup sounds just like Henry!
Interesting list of toxic foods. I hadn’t heard about cucumber peel – not that the cat’s would be interested anyway!
Pawesome Cats recently posted…Holly, Mistletoe and Other Christmas Plants Toxic to Cats
I hadn’t either. Thankfully someone informed me as Mr. H. LOVES cucumber! Know better, do better.
How Exciting! The lists are extremely helpful and you look so pretty in your photo. ☺
M. K. Clinton recently posted…HodgePodge Friday
Thank you so much! I was THRILLED with my apron – very special as I adore foxes.
Very interesting. I don’t give my kitties table food. Except for a little chicken now and then.
Sorry to exclude Kitties in this post Patty. Thank you for being an advocate for them. Good to be aware of dangers for ALL our companions.
Very interesting read! thank you for sharing.
Thank you for visiting Kerri!
Great advice, especially the list of dangerous foods.
Sweet Purrfections recently posted…Sunday Selfie
Thank you Sweet Purrfections.
Great list of toxic foods and a perfect time of year to remind everyone!
Maureen recently posted…DIY Healthy Holiday Dog Treats
Thank you Maureen.
Great post! Thank you for sharing the toxic food list, really important info to circulate!
A Husky Life recently posted…Wordless Wednesday: Footprints
Please do! I must admit, when I first became a dog owner I didn’t realize there were so many food items that were toxic to dogs.
Reading, and understanding, the ingredients of the foods we offer our dogs is so important! How tragic it would be to offer a “treat” only to inadvertently provide something toxic to out dogs!
So true! Thanks Bernard.
Interesting post! Great reminder to watch out for toxic foods hitting the floor, especially during holiday cooking & entertaining.
Love & biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
Cathy Armato recently posted…Weekend Holiday Celebrations
Thanks Cathy – we can never be too careful.
Very informative, thanks.
Thank you for visiting Annette!
What an interesting change in career! Thanks for sharing these tips about cooking with pets. It is so important to watch what your pets are getting into. There are a lot of foods that are healthy for us and dangerous for them.
With the holidays on the agenda and all the foods that will be around, this is a very timely and well done post.
Thank you Carol!