January 19, 2007, No Claws, Beaks or Feathers, By Mauri Formigoni

My aunt Ruth always wore a chenille bathrobe with flamingos on it and collected Kewpie dolls. She had a powerful sweet tooth and liked to hide candy in her house. She especially loved chocolate. To show her love to her adored her tiny apricot poodle, full of bows and jewelry, she fed him lots of M & Ms, which the dog loved and gobbled up. Dogs don’t always make sound choices.

However, as the dog aged, his teeth showed the effects of constantly eating chocolate, and many teeth had to be pulled. Consequently, he could only drink liquids. None of us knew that chocolate is toxic to dogs.

Canine nutrition is a fascinating and extensive subject. There is a lot on the internet, but I had to learn a great deal quickly seven years ago when my nine-month-old male Great Dane gobbled down his food, ran across a field and began to experience labored breathing. He died shortly after we got him to the vet and found out that he had “bloat.” He had eaten commercial dog food too quickly, and the gas expanded in his belly, restricting his breathing. This was new to me, but it is common in horses and other deep-chested, small-bellied dogs that are bred to exaggerate their form, thus putting them at risk. I found that if I had been feeding him good, fresh food in small helpings he might have lived. When I got his sister some months later, I began cooking for my dogs, especially the Great Dane, who is now eight years old and is very healthy and happy.

So, I would like to write about feeding your pets and why it might be better to cook their food. It is safer, more economical and preferred by dogs. First, we all need to know what not to feed our dogs. DO NOT feed your dogs chocolate at all. It is a heart stimulant. Also, DO NOT feed onions or garlic (often found in leftovers or garbage), especially not to young animals. Baby food is sometimes used to feed young puppies but may contain powdered onion for flavor. NO mushrooms, grapes, raisins or Macadamia nuts. Dogs are allergic to soy, so no new-age dog food containing soy. Milk products should be lactose-free. Dogs are carnivores and need lots of protein as well as carbohydrates and should get 1/4 cup twice a day, or more, depending on size. Cooked chicken is a good protein source as well as liver (chicken or beef), ground beef, cottage cheese, fish or hard-cooked eggs. Some advocate raw foods, but there are dangers there as well. Raw bones are good for dogs, keeping their teeth clean and acting as pacifier
s. Look for beef knuckle bones that can be chewed a long time and don’t splinter. Raw chicken necks or feet are great fun and all protein, but please, no claws, beaks or feathers. Watch also for individual allergies. Brown rice is very nutritious, but my dog can’t keep it down. Some fruits and vegetables are good. There are good grains, even oatmeal, that provide bulk for your animal’s food. However, look at their feces to see if they are discarding material, such as corn, whole. I like cooked rice with lentils, dried green peas, carrots and chicken liver and broth. Most importantly, choose quality food for your pets. It greatly affects their health and happiness.

We are greatly indebted to volunteers Al Lanier and Stewart Hammer for working so hard to make us look so good. Walls, floors, doors, and window frames have just been freshly painted, and the SPA looks great. There is a new puppy area, and the isolation room is improving—little by little.

When we write about an animal, we look for stunners to tempt you: blue-eyed puppies, cats with many homes but no owner and razzle-dazzle, flash animals just dropped off. No black and brown dogs, looking like street dogs. Yet, the nicest animals we have don’t always flash. Take a look at Savannah, the sweetest dog in the shelter. She is 4 or 5 years old and very calm and affectionate. Puppies are fast and rowdy, and adolescents are often hyperactive and in need of training. Savannah is calm, stable, centered and not excitable. She would be great for mature people or families with many children. We have adopted many of the mid-winter roses, Siamese kittens, except for one beauty that craves affection. She is a lovely kitten and is still available. Come see her.

Try www.spasanmiguel.org to see our animal roster. Please consider volunteering. Our animals need touching, and our needs are varied. Call me at 154-5930 if you have questions or call the clinic at 152-6124. We are open Monday through Friday, noon to 2pm to visit, or call for an appointment at the clinic, 10am to 2pm at Los Pinos 7, just off Calzada de la Estación near the bus station.

Mauri Formigoni is an Associate Professor of Visual Arts at the University of Illinois, a long-time San Miguel resident and a lifelong animal lover. She can be reached at 154-5930 to answer questions.