I don’t usually share press releases (I get eleventy million a day) but since Ollie is a garbage gut I thought I’d share this list of the most dangerous summer foods for pets. MrChewy.com conducted a poll and found that the majority of pet owners aren’t aware of the risks of certain foods to their pet’s health, so it’s pretty important stuff to know.

Top Five Summer Foods Dangerous to Pets

Avocados

You make think Spot loves yummy summer guacamole as much as you do but in fact avocados are toxic to dogs. According to the ASPCA’s website, all parts of the avocado, including the pit and skin, contain a substance called Persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs.

Onions

Picture this: you’re grilling up some kebabs out back when a piece of grilled onion falls to the ground. Do you let Rover eat it? According to WebMD, you shouldn’t. Onions and garlic in all forms can destroy your pet’s red blood cells, leading to anemia. Symptoms include weakness, vomiting, little interest in food, dullness, and breathlessness. Cats are especially susceptible to the dangers posed by onions.

Lemons and Lemonade

According to the ASPCA, lemons and limes are toxic to both dogs and cats. These fruits contain a substance called psoralens, which when combined with the acidity in lemons and limes, can make ingestion dangerous. Plus, the essential oil found in lemon peel can be toxic to cats when taken internally, applied to the skin, or simply inhaled.

Grapes

Although they are one of the most refreshing of summer’s fruits, grapes and raisins should be avoided when it comes to Fido. Although the specific toxin is unknown, grapes have been known to cause vomiting, lethargy, depression and eventually kidney failure, especially among older dogs and puppies.

Ice cream

In small quantities, your pup should be able to handle a few licks of your ice cream cone, but according to the ASPCA, because pets do not possess significant amounts of the enzyme that breaks down lactose, milk and other milk-based products cause them diarrhea or other digestive upset.

This is not a sponsored post, but Mr. Chewy is free to send Ollie treats to sample at any time. His favorites are chicken, sweet potato, and duck.

No kibble for breakfast today – it’s Ollie’s birthday! Scrambled eggs with cheese for everyone and a new stuffed toy to rip to shreds for dessert!

Do we know how to celebrate, or what?

Do you celebrate your pet’s birthday?

Is it just Ollie, or do your pets know when something is for them? Do they nudge your shopping bags when you bring home a new toy? Wait in the kitchen when new treats are put in the cabinet? Scratch at the box when UPS makes a delivery? I had a box waiting when I came home from work last week and I set it on the floor when I walked in the door. That was Ollie’s cue to sniff, scratch, pace, and whine until I finally opened the box to see that it contained dog treats from Innova. I opened the bag and Ollie immediately stuck his head in to grab one.

Innova is a brand of all natural dog and cat food made from farm fresh ingredients, high-quality beef and poultry, and holistic ingredients from each of the five major food groups. They offer different formulations of their dog and cat foot to cater to your pets age and needs. Ollie didn’t hesitate to dig in and I could tell from the smell (ie – it didn’t make me gag) that these treats were something special.

We haven’t had a chance to try the dog foot yet, but I have two coupons for a free bag of Innova dog or cat food to giveaway. Let’s try it together! Leave a comment letting me know what brand of food your pet eats and why you’d like to try Innova to win. Like the Hot Dog in the City Facebook page for another entry. Please leave a separate comment for each entry. I’ll pick a winner at random on July 18th.

Good luck!

I was given samples of Innova to try and giveaway. I was not required to write about Innova and if Ollie didn’t like the treats so darn much, I probably wouldn’t have. All opinions are 100% my own (and Ollie’s). Please see our site policy with any questions.

Two old socks and an endless game of fetch make Ollie one happy puppy. This went on for 15+ minutes.

Has it really been a month since we’ve heard from Ollie? Well, he’s been busy! He was back at Zoot for another stay over the 4th of July weekend while I traveled home to Chicago to visit family. This report card is a bit lackluster compared to past visits, but I still love that Ollie enjoys “resting inside.”

Lazy dog.

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