The people food thing bothers me.....

[107barney]

All three of mine eat people food and have their whole lives. They are very healthy and happy and so am I.

I agree with you that processed foods are bad for us and our dogs - they are not garbage disposals!

[Sgt_Cooper]

Thats what my vet said. Mini Schnauzers and Yorkies were the top two to get pancreitis. also I will add I think we all should be careful and choosey of the advices we take. I know we all love our babies but we take advice some times that others give because it worked for them or what not, but I'd rather know right from a vet. I mean its great to share what we do or try thats worked for us, but I think we should take things w caution too. I read things on the net that some people do or does, then you read how some things are bad.... I wish we had a website to go to that gave you clear strait facts. Not picking on anyone, but ie I had someone tell me to use deoderant on furniture to keep dogs from chewing but then some where I read that deoderant can kill them or is very harmful or something. anyone know of good websites that state plain clear dog safe to dos and not to dos? That are Known facts.


When you get advice from a vet, I'd strongly adhere to it, theres a reason we pay them big bucks.

[FlDebra]

BTW my vet has always described all of my dogs as "lean." I even asked if they needed to gain, but he said they were perfect as he preferred them on the lean side. Ben did just gain some weight after he was neutered but it has leveled off -- I think it was a combo of the neutering and trying to sneak Annie's puppy food along with his own.

I might not have made it clear in the other thread how little "bad things" like ice cream and chips they got. I don't normally even have chips in the house. If my son has friends over when he is home from college I might buy them. If we are at a picnic or something people may have them. But it is not something they will have on a daily, weekly, or even monthly basis. Ice cream is another matter. I have that probably once or twice a week and they will get their licks in at the end -- but if you totaled it is less than a teaspoon.

Mostly I eat very well -- nothing greasy or fatty (even my ice cream is the 1/2 the fat kind), as I explained in the other thread, I have chronic pancreatitis myself. I will share cheese -- I buy real cheese not the cheese food stuff. I can't have much of it so they get even less. I will share scrambled eggs when I make some for my son (I don't eat eggs normally). They also LOVE the crust from my toast in the morning. So they might each get a 1/2" piece of that every other day. They will eat a green bean, pea, or carrot when I have them. Two of them will eat a small slice of banana, Ben doesn't like them. But they are not eating these things all in one day so they still eat a normal serving of their dog food unless I cook FOR them. Then it is always the same -- baked chicken breasts shredded with brown rice and sometimes I will add some finely chopped green beans and/or carrots to it.

I think some people food is just as good for them as their dog food. Now I wouldn't go giving them pizza or cheeseburgers and I found out even a tiny bit of hot dog is a NO GO! It was actually my Jack Russell and not the Yorkies who had diarrhea all over the foyer when I gave them each 1-2 thin slices of fried hot dogs. I fry them to get the grease out and wipe them on a paper towel -- did not matter, still went right through Candy!

None of my dogs have ever been sick with the exception of Candy's diarrhea problem with the hot dog and another time from Bacon Strip dog treats. But other than injuries, bee stings (I wasn't sure what it was), and routine visits -- they have never had to go to the vet. So if you watch what you feed them and how much, I think common sense can allow them to taste some human food occasionally. Hopefully I have described their diet in better detail between these two posts than it might have seemed when we shared "bad things" they ate in the other thread.

[107barney]

Originally Posted by Sgt_Cooper

Thats what my vet said. Mini Schnauzers and Yorkies were the top two to get pancreitis. also I will add I think we all should be careful and choosey of the advices we take. I know we all love our babies but we take advice some times that others give because it worked for them or what not, but I'd rather know right from a vet. I mean its great to share what we do or try thats worked for us, but I think we should take things w caution too. I read things on the net that some people do or does, then you read how some things are bad.... I wish we had a website to go to that gave you clear strait facts. Not picking on anyone, but ie I had someone tell me to use deoderant on furniture to keep dogs from chewing but then some where I read that deoderant can kill them or is very harmful or something. anyone know of good websites that state plain clear dog safe to dos and not to dos? That are Known facts.


When you get advice from a vet, I'd strongly adhere to it, theres a reason we pay them big bucks.

I am on my 4th vet in 10 years and have seen incompetent ones and good ones. I spend thousands on vet care and I have not always been impressed. I think it is very important that we as dog owners educate ourselves and ask questions. My dog Daisy would be dead if not for me and my relentless advocacy on her behalf. I have been hated and considered a tough customer and that's ok with me - my money will not line the pockets of someone who I do not see eye to eye with (like the last vet I dumped who kept drawing up syringes of lepto vaccine despite my continual objections and decisions to not administer that vaccine to my dogs!!!). Some vets think I'm a tough customer because I challenge them and make them earn their fee but I want someone who shows mutual respect and doesn't blow off my questions. With that being said, I have excellent vets currently and am very happy. I still do my own research

[Rhetts_mama]

Originally Posted by Sgt_Cooper

Thats what my vet said. Mini Schnauzers and Yorkies were the top two to get pancreitis. also I will add I think we all should be careful and choosey of the advices we take. I know we all love our babies but we take advice some times that others give because it worked for them or what not, but I'd rather know right from a vet. I mean its great to share what we do or try thats worked for us, but I think we should take things w caution too. I read things on the net that some people do or does, then you read how some things are bad.... I wish we had a website to go to that gave you clear strait facts. Not picking on anyone, but ie I had someone tell me to use deoderant on furniture to keep dogs from chewing but then some where I read that deoderant can kill them or is very harmful or something. anyone know of good websites that state plain clear dog safe to dos and not to dos? That are Known facts.


When you get advice from a vet, I'd strongly adhere to it, theres a reason we pay them big bucks.

The problem with Vets and nutrition information is that most of them have only a cursory knowledge of it. I'll stick with a canine nutritionist for that information. There is a sticky in the diet thread that lists some definite no no's:
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...oods-dogs.html

As for the deodorant- I did ask my vet about that. She said the small amount you put on woodwork wouldn't cause harm. Now, if they ate the whole stick it might be another matter.

[Sgt_Cooper]

and by the way, I don't mean the "healthy" people foods. I just say KNOW FOR A FACT if you do cook them things what they are dog safe and spacifically Yorkie safe. Cause, yes I do know that chicken and carrots and some such things are good for them. But generally I'm speaking of the feed them off your plate whatever your eating kind of people foods or "I'll have what mom's having" and feed them like we do our selves. Thats what I meant by this thread guys. Cause none of us wants to feed them things to have them get sick on us to know it was our fault.

[107barney]

Originally Posted by Rhetts_mama

The problem with Vets and nutrition information is that most of them have only a cursory knowledge of it. I'll stick with a canine nutritionist for that information. There is a sticky in the diet thread that lists some definite no no's:
http://www.yorkietalk.com/forums/yor...oods-dogs.html

As for the deodorant- I did ask my vet about that. She said the small amount you put on woodwork wouldn't cause harm. Now, if they ate the whole stick it might be another matter.

I think the average training time for vets in nutrition is about 30 hours. Not at all adequate to develop any sort of in depth knowledge (I myself as a lay person have studied dog nutrition for more hours than that). This is why I only go to board certified vet nutritionists who have in depth training and knowledge.

[dinkyweil]

this is a good thread. I didn't know chips were bad for Yorkies. It's good to be reminded to be careful with the people food. Puppies especially need the nutrition from the right food. In fact in the morning I feed Dinky his kibble by hand, so that he starts the day with "a good breakfast." I think we do give him too many little bits from our food.

[Darlin Beauxs]

It really is a personal decision from person to person what they will and will not feed. Some people will read what is bad, and do it anyway, others will go to the other extreme.

All I know is that I had Pancreatitis one time and was in the hospital for a week with no food or drink, and I was too sick to care. It was a miserable feeling. I can't knowingly feed them anything I suspect will make them sick anymore, my poor pup could not tell me what was wrong, and we went thru a lot of money and 2 vets before I found out. It is just not worth it to me!

[LuvTaycieGirl]

Taycie has the cursed yorkie stomach, if it does not agree with her it takes her a good solid week to get back to normal. I do give her treats, usually homeade chicken jerky, carrots, green beans, or Zukes but that is about it.

I have never been on the "junk" food bandwagon. I feel it is a personal decision for most and even we as humans know McDonalds isn't a category on the food pyramid. Taycie definetly eats better then me that is for sure!

The biggest thing that made my mind up was, I nanny for a family and their dog eats GARBAGE! I mean tubs of butter, cake, ice cream, pizza, leftovers, you NAME it! And that dog has more gut issues and diaherra then I can put up with. It drives me CRAZY! Its so frustraing to clean up butter barf all the time! Watching this guy go through this I knew will never feed a crumb.. I just wouldn't be able to watch Taycie go through that, not to mention It would cause her some serious problems her stomach is so touchy! I can tell when she has had even ONE extra treat, I have to always err on the side of caution with her.

[nana911]

The hardest thing is stopping well intentioned others from sneaking ''treats'' to your 'kids'. I preach to everyone to not give anything to the yorkies. Baxter is a maltipoo and as I said before has a cast iron stomach that can take anything, so no problem. But Bear, all 80lbs of mixed breed mutt, around the campfire, everyone wants to give leftovers to the Bear, especially since he is the sweet kind of dog that does NOT beg. They want to reward him for that. He gets sick on anything but dog food, toast, rawhides or dog specific cookies. I miss someone giving him something, Bear and I both pay for it later.

I don't give any of them any dog treats that pretend to be bacon or things like that too...they kinda scare me.

[FlDebra]

I compiled a list from several online lists of what is not good and what is okay to feed dogs. Still, these are general lists and every dog may not have the same reaction to each food. I would still run any list of intended food through your vet to be sure it applies to your particular dog.

Even then, when introducing a new food, always go slow -- small amounts to see if there is any allergy present. There are some foods on the "good list" that I would not feed my dogs -- beef jerky for instance. I think it is too full of salt and spices. Others may find it works fine with their dogs. My late husband used to give it to that same old dachshund I told you lived to be 17 1/2 so I guess it was not all bad. I still think common sense will be our best tool in feeding our yorkies. For instance, I might give them one chip, but never a handful. Just because something is on the good list, doesn't mean they can have a lot of it either. For instance cashews -- obviously you would have to go very sparingly with those. I can tell you a handful of cashews WILL trigger a pancreatic attack for me, so I don't think it would take too many for a yorkie. That is again, one of the things I would not feed my yorkies even though it is on the good list. I would sooner give them a chip than a cashew. But that is just me based on personal knowlege. So, if we stay away from the dangerous foods, use our heads for the rest and moderation in all things -- we should do right by our pups without a lot of diehard rules.
What is NOT okay to feed our dogs:

Alcohol
Almonds
Avocado (all parts) -

the toxic ingredient in avocado is called persin (toxic amount unknown). Mmost documented cases of poisoning have been in livestock that have eaten all parts of the avocado and in large amounts. The toxin may be confined to the leaves, bark, skin or seed but the flesh is thought to be poisonous to birds.

Broccoli (in large amounts)
Cat food
Chives
Chocolate,
Cigarettes, tobacco, cigars
Citrus Oil extracts
Coffee,Coffee grounds, beans & tea (caffeine)
Cooked bones -

they can splinter and cause gut perforation, as well as blockages in the intestine, tooth fractures, and cooked chop bones can get stuck across the roof of the mouth

Corn cobs - a common cause of intestinal blockage requiring surgical removal
Garlic
Hops (used in home brewing)
Human Vitamin Supplements
Liver (large amounts - Vit A toxicity)
Macadamia Nuts
Marijuana
Milk
Mouldy/spoiled foods (keep garbage lid firmly on)
Mushrooms
Onions
Pear pips, the kernels of plums, peaches and apricots, apple core pips

(contain cyanogenic glycosides resulting in cyanide posioning)

Persimmons
Potato peelings and green looking potatoes
Raisins and grapes
Raw eggs
Raw/Undercooked Meat, Eggs and Bones
Rhubarb leaves
Salt (large amounts Sodium toxicity)
Spices
Sugary foods
Table scraps (in large amounts --not over 10% of diet)
Tobacco
Tomato--leaves & stems or unripe fruit (green parts)
Xylitol (sweetener often found in sugar-free gum)
Yeast dough

Foods that are safe:

Apples
Applesauce
Apricots
Baby Food (bananas, carrots)
Bananas
Beef (cooked)
Beef Jerky
Black Olice
Bouillon
Bran Cereal
Bread
Broccoli, raw
Carrots
Cashews
Cauliflower
Celery
Cheerios
Cheese American, cheddar, whiz
Chicken Broth
Cream Cheese
Croutons, plain
Dried Fruit (bananas, apricots, apples)
Eggs (cooked)
hONEY
Liver (freeze dried)
Macaroni & Cheese
Nectarines
Nut Butter
Oatmeal
Orange Slices
Pasta Noodles
Peaches
Peanut Butter
Potatoes, mashed, no skins
Pumpkin, canned
Ravioli
Rice
Rice Cakes
Steak (scraps)
Tomatoes (No green parts)
Tortellini
Tuna
Turkey
Velveeta
Wheat germ
Yogurt (plain, lowfat, unsweetened, unflavored)

I know there are a lot more GOOD foods than are listed here. Maybe this cold be thought of as a beginning list. Most of them came from a list of foods that are good for dogs to fill Kong treat toys with.

[Britster]

I think it just depends on the dog. Some have an iron stomach, others do not. Most of us know what our dogs can/can not handle. For me, it's inievtable that my dog is going to get occasional people food so I figured I'm not even going to try to stop it. I live with a 3 year old girl who is constantly dropping food, my dad will always share bits of his food with the dogs, as will ALL of my family so it's a decision I made to allow it. Every single one of my dogs growing up and family members dogs have been fed "table scraps" but I think it depends on how you define table scraps.

Typically speaking, Jackson doesn't like most junk food. He doesn't like Cheetos, or potato chips, or french fries, or any type of crackers, etc. So when he gets human food, it's usually meat (i.e. steak, chicken, etc) that we either cook or bring home from dinner. The only "bad" foods he likes are, like, pizza and things like that. And yes, I always give him little bites. When I say little... I mean, like, a piece of the crust that is the size of a nickel. It's never excessive. And honestly, I think giving a dog a piece of pizza or a lick of ice cream every now and then is WAY better than all the nasty treats and food that the dog food industry has to offer filled with by-products and fillers, etc.

He eats the healthiest dog kibble IMO, he gets raw food, he gets REAL meat, he gets a ton of exercise, and a ton of training and socialization. He's perfectly healthy thus far and I just don't see the big deal in giving a bit of people food every now and then. It's not like I'm feeding him a bowl of ice cream every night, a McGriddle for dinner, and giving him Cheese Curls in his food bowl.

Btw, Jackson is a HEALTHY 15lbs. Extremely GREAT figure and very athletic and muscular.

[jltwigg10]

I see that Avocados is on the do not eat list but their is a high end natural dog food that is made from Avocados. I have not heard anything bad about that one at all.
As a matter of fact I have heard really good things.

Any one know anything negative about Avoderm?

[Britster]

Oh, and I wanted to add that I do realize some dogs just have naturally sensitive stomachs, which can't be helped of course. So I totally understand why some won't feed people foods, etc. Totally makes sense to me. But I wanted to say that I like the fact that Jackson has tried lots of different foods, both people and dog stuff, so that if he by ACCIDENT were to eat something, it's not going to cause a huge stomach upset. I dogsit 2 Boxers and they are never given treats of any kind (dog nor human) so if they eat like one little piece of human food that was dropped... they sometimes will throw up or whatever just because they've never been exposed to it.