To feed or not to feed - stuff that will poison your animals

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To feed or not to feed - stuff that will poison your animals
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Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Thu Jan 06, 05 7:03 pm Post subject: To feed or not to feed - stuff that will poison your animals

Right, this is from The Telegraph's Saturday Pet Subjects column, so I don't stand by it, but it might be useful to someone:

"Bananas are safe for dogs but grapes are poisonous. They can even cause kidney failure. 'Raisins seem to be particularly dangerous' says Alexander Campbell of the Veterinary Poisons Information Service. 'It may be just because of the sheer quantity of raisins that dogs eat or the fact that they swell up inside the stomach'. But even a few grapes can make a dog ill."

Don't have the date - but to plug the Telegraph in return, this is a jolly good column with a nice mix of real info and anecdotes.

The same question also says "Never show a spaniel anything you don't want it to know"

I thought I'd start a new thread so that other people could include any major no-no's, whether food or something likely to be nibbled anyway, for any animals.

Chocolate is another obvious one for dogs...and following from that I believe cocoa shell mulch is not a good idea either.

nettie

Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 5888
Location: Suffolk

Posted: Thu Jan 06, 05 10:18 pm Post subject:

Good thread!

I had to take our neighbours ( a caravan park full of old folks) gently to task last year for putting grass clippings over the fence for the ponies. Also someone put spud peelings in the field too. I sent them all a nice note with a picture of the ponies on saying "Chelsea and Angel say it's lovely when you come and say hello but please do not feed us, however much we may plead, our mummy says we are too fat as it is"

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Thu Jan 06, 05 10:26 pm Post subject:

That's something else that would be useful to post up. When we are out we like to say hello to any willing animals and horses are often top of the list.

But you see people feed them sugar or polos and I've always thought that's bad for their teeth and the only thing I would do was feed a little grass that they couldn't reach. I don't do that now in case it would upset people. Is it just a matter of a friendly stroke is best and not treats like carrots or long grass?

nettie

Joined: 02 Dec 2004
Posts: 5888
Location: Suffolk

Posted: Thu Jan 06, 05 10:35 pm Post subject:

Hi Treacy, their teeth don't rot, as they constantly grow and wear down. They ingest a lot of sugar from the grass, far more than a Polo can offer, especially in Spring! People are more likely to be upset as some horses can develop a nasty habit of biting if you don't give them a titbit. They can also raid your pockets and rip off zippers in the process of finding the elusive sweetie. Best to just give them a nice stroke

Marigold123

Joined: 06 Feb 2005
Posts: 224

Posted: Tue Feb 08, 05 2:49 pm Post subject:

Someone on here said never give chickens, rhubarb leaves, green potatoes or lettuce. I am right alongside the first two, and by the same token as the rhubarb, I'd have thought too much spinach would be a bad thing too.

I'm wondering about the lettuce, though? I think lettuce contains some kind of opiate, (not precisely sure, so correct me if I'm wrong), but do all kinds contain the same amounts?

I had been giving ours the odd outside leaf from a supermarket iceberg, which they seemed very keen on - chickens on drugs?! - Has does anyone else been doing this, and do you think it's harmful?

mrsnesbitt

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 1576

Posted: Tue Feb 08, 05 3:55 pm Post subject:
"Never show a spaniel anything you don't want it to know" Same goes for German Shepherd seen here.......... so far remote control plastic jug chair leg my boots towel duvet cover must make sure I leave the telegraph lying about.......if she reads it she may see the dangers she faces!

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Tue Feb 08, 05 4:17 pm Post subject:
She's so gorgeous you have to forgive her though, don't you?

wellington womble

Joined: 08 Nov 2004
Posts: 15051
Location: East Midlands

Posted: Tue Feb 08, 05 4:51 pm Post subject:
bread and milk kills hedghogs (not that we have any here) Really, really stupid question - but can you feed breadcrumbs to birds, or do they swell up and do them a mischeif. If you can, we are going to have some very lucky birdies!

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Tue Feb 08, 05 4:56 pm Post subject:
RSPB says... "Crumbled bread is suitable in small quantities, but moisten if very dry. Brown is better than white. Although bread is not harmful, it should not be offered in large quantities, since its nutritional value is relatively low. " https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds/whatyoucando/feedinggardenbirds/what_food.asp More breadcrumbs for the freezer?

Tristan

Joined: 29 Dec 2004
Posts: 392
Location: North Gloucestershire

Posted: Tue Feb 08, 05 5:06 pm Post subject:

If you do feed bread to the birds, try not to squash it too much as you crumble it as that's what makes it swell. Stale and even slightly mouldy bread is O.K. for the wild birds.
I know that lettuce goes straight through our chickens.

Poisonous plants include: Clematis, Daphne, Runner Bean roots, Lupins, Foxglove, Datura, Iris foetidissima, Tulip bulbs, any Fritillaries, Hyacinths.

I'll post a better list tomorrow but those are toxic to most pets and poultry

Gertie

Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Posts: 1638
Location: Yorkshire

Posted: Tue Feb 08, 05 5:43 pm Post subject:
mrsnesbitt - that didn't include alcohol did it, just your friend looks like they have over-indulged, somewhat!!!

mrsnesbitt

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 1576

Posted: Tue Feb 08, 05 6:00 pm Post subject:
Wilma and alcohol It just does not bare thinking about

Gertie

Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Posts: 1638
Location: Yorkshire

Posted: Tue Feb 08, 05 6:45 pm Post subject:
She's lovely!

mrsnesbitt

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 1576

Posted: Tue Feb 08, 05 9:22 pm Post subject:

yep! Wilma is fantastic! She came from the german Shepherd Rescue place in Newcastle. When we went to view her, she, along with her sister were clambering to be behind each other! They had not got any ounce of confidence between them. They had been rescued from a house in Birmingham. Owner had bought her mother to make money from breeding copious amounts of litters. They had no socialisation at all! Wilma's mother, had to be put to sleep

because she had had no contact with adults! Wilma's case made the headlines in all the kennel associated press! We brought her home at 5 months old! She stayed in the corner of the kitchen for weeks,,slowly building up the confidence to venture into the lounge.just for a second! That second developed just as she has! We love her to bits! max, our other GSD is so patient and forgiving! It is quite a sight to see Wilma go down the stairs each morning with her jaws round Max's head! I have tears in my eyes now,,,,,we love her to bits..............but it was humans who put the voices in her head!

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Tue Feb 08, 05 10:14 pm Post subject:
I'd just like to clarify, for any new visitors, that Max is Mrs Nesbitt's other GSD, and not her husband.

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