E5 - People Foods Dogs Should AvoidThere's a rite of passage for every dog owner. It's that moment when you have to pry your dog's mouth open and fish out something that it shouldn’t have.  In fact, it happened to me just the other day when I had to pull an M&M out of my dog's mouth.

Yes, there is that moment when you debate whether to dive in or just let them what they found. Since it started with me catching him chewing, I wasnt sure what he had and and wanted to play it safe. That’s ALWAYS preferable to a vet visit.

So in this episode, we focus on seemingly harmless people food that dogs should AVOID because they could get very sick or even die.

People food dogs should AVOIDGrapes and raisinsThey seem so harmless, and green grapes are actually my favorite snack. But consuming grapes and raisins can cause kidney damage and even sudden kidney failure in dogs. When I do have grapes at home, I make sure to keep the bowl far from my dog’s reach. That means, I avoid sitting bowls on low coffee tables or on the floor during tv time. It's simply not worth the risk. And if you have small children, you know that when they snack -- treats land EVERYWHERE. So be extra cautious.

If you listened to Episode 2 of this podcast, you know that we featured trainer Rachael Maso with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA.org). Rachel offered some excellent tips about dog-proofing your home. My favorite tips was to regularly check things out from a dog-eye level. That’s a good way to find potential dangers. In the case of those M&Ms, my nephews had paid a visit and the candy fell under a couch. No surprise that the dog would sniff out goodies. So the next time I have little kids visiting, I’ll be sure to sweep the house from Louie’s eye level.  Garlic and onionsThese are some of my favorite ingredients in savory dishes. But garlic and onions -- members of the allium family of plants -- can cause stomach upset for dogs. This means, avoid giving your dogs table scraps of goodies like salsa or pasta coated with pesto sauce. No one wants to clean up after a sick pet, especially if it’s from something preventable. AlcoholIt seems like common sense to have your dog avoid alcohol. Again, this can be an issue when you have people over and beverages are within a dog’s reach. Be sure to exercise caution and keep beverages out of reach. This means you don’t leave an icy cold beer can on the floor where it can tip over. Same for those red SOLO cups filled with alcoholic concoctions. If you have guests visiting for cocktail hour, play it safe and give your dog some kennel time with a good treat. Consuming alcohol can cause vomiting, stomach upset and even death. CaffeineAgain, watch where you sit those coffee mugs and soda cans. Caffeinated products contain a substance called methylxanthine, which may fuel your day, but can wreak havoc on a dog’s system. The list of side effects includes vomiting and diarrhea -- which is more than enough for me. Consuming caffeine also can cause excessive thirst, abnormal heart rhythm, seizures and even death. ChocolateMost dog owners know the dangers of chocolate and keep it away. But life happens -- just like with my dog and the M&Ms. Make sure you keep candy out of reach -- let guests know that chocolate is off limits -- and try to be extra vigilant during the holidays when chocolatey treats are most popular. In the US that means (February - around Valentine's Day, April - during Easter, and then entire month of October, which kicks off the holiday season with Thanksgiving in November on through to Christmas in December. gifts.

Health hazzards are similar to consuming caffeine. Note: Dark chocolate is more dangerous than milk or white chocolate because it has higher levels of methylxanthines. XylitolThis isn’t a product you think about, but xylitol is a sweetener that can be found in several products, including gum, candy,