The Happy Dog of Hanalei

Walking along a winding road on the North Shore of Kauai, I meet Jake, an elderly statesman of a Dog.  He happily waddled down the road alone on his daily walk, with a shiny green orb in his mouth.  He had been out hunting for avocados.

I enjoyed watching Jake stop and relish a hunk of the pale green flesh that can be only described as avocado in color. In the 1970’s avocado was all the rage. Splashed across the pages of Better Homes and Gardens Magazines and the homes of the rich and the famous. It was a color that felt at home in the kitchens of American suburbs. There is no other color like the color avocado; I was intrigued how the unique color had avoided staining the fur around Jake’s mouth.

I once shared a home with a wheaten Scottish terrier named Brandy, who would sit up and beg whenever I made guacamole. She would smear the green paste into her tufts of beard like a facial mask staining her fur.

I had not formally been introduced to Jake, but I had heard of his passion for the “alligator pear”. I was happy to make his acquaintance. He wagged his tail, the canine version of a gentlemanly tip of his hat.   He swathered down the road, a king in his domain. Firmly yet tenderly he held the avocado between his jaws. Like a mother carrying her pup, never bruising or tearing the skin in transit.

A few feet away, he settled down on the matching green grass and began “peeling the skin”. With a tug he pulled away the armor that shielded the green flesh and began gnawing at the fruit.

Watching Jake relish his morning breakfast, I thought about dogs and avocados. I remember with worry some neighbor scolding me that avocados are harmful to dogs, similar to chocolates and birth control pills. My history with furry family members includes stories of stealth raids that ended with large amounts of all three being consumed.

Jake was clearly a master of his own life.  According to his, pleasure he shared moments with two legged friends and families. It was obvious that there would be no way to do an intervention to Jake’s avocado addition. Was he really in danger of harming his health?

Human food that dogs must not eat!

Grapes and Raisins
Grapes and the dried variety of grapes, including raisins and sultanas, can cause severe kidney damage.

Potatoes which are green or the potato has sprouted
Green potatoes or potato sprouts  contain solanine glycosides which can cause vomiting, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, nervous system stimulation, depression, trembling, paralysis and cardiac arrest.

Tea, Coffee or Caffeine Fortified Sports Drinks
Caffeine impacts the central nervous system and the heart. Symptoms of caffeine poisoning can include vomiting, a rapid or irregular heartbeat and often death.

Fat Trimmings from Ham, Chicken, Turkey and other meats
Never give your dog fat trimmings from meat and especially from ham.  High fat consumption could lead to an attack of pancreatitis. Pancreatitis can range in severity from mild to life threatening and is an extremely painful condition for your pet to endure. Turkey skin is also very high in fat content. Unfortunately, veterinarians see sizable increases in pancreatitis over Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Chocolate
Dogs should never eat chocolate. Chocolate contains a stimulant diuretic called theobromine which affects the central nervous system and cardiovascular of the dog. If you have reason to think your dog has eaten chocolate, seek veterinary advice immediately.  Ingestion of chocolate can cause death. Cooking or bakers chocolate contains the most theobromine, followed by dark chocolate, milk chocolate and white chocolate.

Symptoms of chocolate poisoning include vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, hyperactivity,  muscle tremors or seizures, increased urination and increased heart rate. Be especially careful with chocolate. Dogs just love the smell and taste of chocolate, and no matter how normally well-behaved a dog may be, they cannot seem to resist the temptation of chocolate. Please be aware and do not leave a chocolate, chocolate bars or cookies anywhere that your dog might find it in your absence. Never give your dog chocolate ice cream.

Avocados
The peel, fruit, pit and avocado plant are all toxic. They can cause difficulty breathing, rapid heart rate and fluid accumulation in the chest cavity, abdomen and heart.

Yeast Bread Dough
Dough that contains yeast can expand and produce gas in the digestive system, causing severe pain and possible rupture of the stomach or intestines.

Tobacco
Nicotine affects the digestive and nervous systems. ingestion of tobacco products can result in rapid heart beat, collapse, coma and death. Dogs seem to be attracted to the scent of tobacco and many have been known to chew on cigarette packages. Be careful not to leave them laying about.

Hops
Unknown compound causes panting, increased heart rate, elevated temperature, seizures, and death.