The loss of a family dog is difficult

Our chihuahua named Peaches died. Her body was older than her age, but it finally gave out on her. While we mourn her loss and remember all the good times we've had with her I also remember last year our 5-month-old puppy named Moto died of a black widow ingestion. Instead of writing about our chihuahua I would like to write about the hazards our dogs face in common foods that are harmful and even fatal.

Now I have always believed dogs should only eat a good quality dry dog food, maybe a little cheese for training purposes and scrambled eggs because we have chickens. But that's it. I watch people hand make their dogs food with lamb and rice, or chicken and rice. Well, I would rather spend my time cooking for my family. So let me talk about some harmful foods if you are one who passes the scraps along.

n We all know cooked bones can splinter and tear a dog's internal organs.

n Pennies made since 1980 contain zinc, which can cause kidney failure. Even one swallowed by your pet can cause him to become sick or even die.

n Dairy products that are high in fat can cause pancreatitis, gas and diarrhea. Small amounts of non-fat plain yogurt are usually safe.

n Raw egg whites contain a protein called avidin which can deplete your dog of biotin, one of the B vitamins. Biotin is essential to your dog's growth and coat health. The lack of it can cause hair loss, weakness, growth retardation or skeleton deformity.

n Raw liver or too much cooked liver (three servings per week) can lead to vitamin A toxicity. This can cause deformed bones, excessive bone growth on elbows and spine, weight loss and anorexia. Make sure if you feed canned dog food that it does not contain liver if you are feeding your dog liver.

n Ham and bacon have too much fat and too much salt and can cause pancreatitis. Also large breeds that eat salty food may drink too much water and develop bloat, which can be life-threatening. This is where the stomach fills up with gas and within several hours may twist, causing death.

n Onions destroy red blood cells and can cause anemia, weakness and breathing difficulty. Garlic can cause the same problems as onions.

n Nutmeg can cause tremors, seizures and death.

n Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs. As little as a single serving of raisins can kill him. Just eating a few your dog can be severely damaged.

n Any diet product containing the sweetener Xylitol can cause a sudden drop in blood sugar, resulting in depression, loss of coordination and seizures.

n Macadamia nuts can cause weakness, muscle tremor and paralysis. These symptoms are usually temporary.

n Walnuts are poisonous to dogs.

n Apple seeds, cherry pits, peach pits, pear pits and apricot pits all contain cyanide which is poisonous to dogs.

n Lastly, chocolate can cause seizures, coma and death. Baker's chocolate is the most dangerous. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous. Just one ounce of chocolate can kill a 30-pound dog.

So please, from one dog lover to another, watch out for all hazards that your dog can encounter. Spray for black widows. You will have your companion for many years.

n Don't forget, this Saturday you are all invited to a book-signing event from Johnson Lane resident Ruth Keil Posselt at the Westside Ink: Books-Art-Pie at 710 North Curry St. off Washington Street in Carson City from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. You may call 885-9777 for more information.

n Lisa Welch is a Johnson Lane resident and can be reached at 267-9350.