Ask a Vet: Are fruits and nuts safe treats for dogs?

Have a nonemergency question about your pet's health? Dr. Heather Oxford of L.A. veterinary hospital California Animal Rehabilitation (CARE) is here to help! In this installment of Ask a Vet, Dr. Oxford has some tips for reader Jasmine about the dangers of feeding some "people foods" to dogs:

Jasmine's question: Hi Dr. Oxford, is it safe to feed dogs fruits and nuts?

Heather Oxford, DVM: Great question, especially with us going into fruit season. Fruits and nuts that are toxic include grapes, raisins and macademia nuts. Feeding large amounts of rinds of citrus fruits can also cause toxicity due to increased ingestion of essential oils. All other fruits and nuts are not known to be toxic to dogs, but must be fed in moderation or else gastrointestinal issues could occur.

To submit your question for Dr. Oxford, just leave a comment on this post or send us a tweet @LATunleashed and look for her answer in an upcoming installment of Ask a Vet!

About our vet: Dr. Oxford received her bachelor of science degree at Bowling Green State University, Ohio. She also received a master's of public health degree in epidemiology from Emory University and went on to work at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta. She then went to the University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine, where she received her doctor of veterinary medicine degree. She practices at California Animal Rehabilitation and is also certified in veterinary rehabilitation and acupuncture. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Wade, and German shepherd, Tess.

Photo: Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Jillian]

My friend just adopted Poppy, a 6 month-old puppy from the county shelter. However, Poppy, who is fed 3 small meals a day, has been refusing to eat breakfast! She will eat lunch and dinner, but she picks at her food and does not always finish. My friend gives her Wellness dog food and mixes in some wet food as well. Is this a sign of illness? Do you have any recommendations to encourage young Poppy to eat?

[Nsanchez]

I just recently moved to the LA area and want to make sure my dog is protected and healthy. What prevenative mediciations to I need to give my dog for this location? (ie flea/tick, heartworm, etc....). Where I lived previously they stated that they werent a concern r/t high altitude....
Thanks

[Connie B.]

First, let me warn you that my question is long. I apologize, but these are the vital details & unfortunately, this has been ongoing for YEARS now - WITH NO SOLUTION thus far!

Out of the blue & seemingly almost 'overnight', my cat developed a LUMP, about the circumference of a nickel, under his chin almost 4 years ago - along with over-scratching, biting and pulling out his hair. I immediately took him to the vet, had a blood test (normal) & biopsy of the lump done and was given antibiotics, which I gave him. The results showed no cancer (thank God!) & I was told it most likely was an allergy (especially since - THEY SAID - the lump had immediately deflated with the biopsy). The vet felt the lump was most likely caused by food. So, I switched my cat to wheat free & then entirely grain free food. Then, I switched the litter from corn-based back to pine. I bought all kinds of skin wipes & shampoos and used them. Still, the lump got larger. And over 3 years ago, his lips also became grossly distended. He stopped badly maiming himself, but he still scratches/bites himself AND he also began hissing, not just at the other cat or when disturbed, but...all the time! He was never a big "talker", but...hissing?

So, I took him to another vet about 2 years ago, who again took a blood test (again, normal), gave me an antibiotic, which I administered fully, as well as ZD food for a month. Other than a temporary easing of my cat's discomfort & swollen lips a bit, there was no change. Hissing became his only form of communication! I also removed all plastic, too, but nothing had an impact.

An online vet thought the lip was a "RODENT" or "INDOLENT" tumor. And, photos of that online DID/DO look like his lips. But, the lump...? No ideas...

Well, towards the end of 2009 it got worse & he was not happy. Unable to afford more tests, I sought more advice EVERYWHERE, to no avail & by January, I was afraid I might lose him.
So, I borrowed money & took him to yet another recommended vet an hour away (!) and thought we'd finally found our savior.

BUT - in a nutshell, over NUMEROUS visits, this is what happened:
My cat's blood/urine tests were - once again - normal, and the steroid injection (Prednizone) the doctor gave him to help with the indolent/rodent tumor on his lip and soft palette and the lump (feline acne, the vet thought) on his chin, SEEMED to help A BIT. A BIT. He hissed less & there was some visible improvement of BOTH the lip & chin.

BUT - apparently, the steroid shot also INDUCED DIABETES, which the vet said "must have been latent". (Having devastatingly lost my first NYC cat years ago to mistreated diabetes, I'd learned a lot. So, thankfully, I had noticed - and so, relayed to the doctor - how copiously my baby was suddenly drinking and urinating.)

Anyway, on his next visit the vet confirmed my fears about diabetes & started him on insulin and an antibiotic (Dioxycycline) since he was afraid to give my guy another steroid, not being positive about what the lip distention was.
There was small improvement, but not much.

So, the vet subscribed Prednizone in pill form BID. No change.

Next visit, I had a BIOPSY of the still very distended LIP done. (Remember, years ago, a biopsy was done of the lump, but Bide-a-Wee thought the lip distension was just due to his "over-grooming".) I had told the doctor about my research & the online vet's guess about it being a "RODENT TUMOR". But, since neither the antibiotic, nor the small dosages of insulin administered by me - who else? - twice daily, nor the Prednizone pills (2 weeks worth) had caused any real improvement, I agreed. I was told the results confirmed that it "seemed to be" just that - a "rodent tumor".

He consulted with another vet via phone & AND another dose of antibiotic was suggested. He said the consult had also suggested a very expensive protocol (I don't recall the drug) that involved WEEKLY visits for BLOOD TESTS because that particular drug affects the white cell count & thus, would have to be closely monitored. There was no way I 1) would put my cat through that, 2) could even do it, myself & 3) could afford that.

So, I simply tired that second round of Dioxycycline. No improvement.

Meanwhile, I managed - months ago - to get his diabetes in remission on my own - through endless research. Against the vet's advice (and at the advice of my cousins who had successfully gotten their diabetic cat into remission in just weeks), I switched over from ProZinc (which I'd had to titrate up a bit & then back down) to Lantus & continued to titrate down - all the while watching him like a hawk.

So, currently, my kitty's still in diabetic remission BUT...HIS LUMP HAS GOTTEN LARGER, HARDER AND...I think the glands in his throat have gotten larger, as well. Though, he is still eating & drinking 'normally', HE IS NOT COMFORTABLE! And I am at my wit's end & feeling helpless and guilty! WHAT CAN I DO TO CURE HIM? He is my heart. I rescued him at about 4 months of age & he'd already been through a lot. He deserves a long, long life of love. PLEASE, PLEASE help me in any way you can! THANK YOU!