Nutrition

Pet owners are often tempted to give their pets leftovers, or table scraps, especially to dogs.  But, even a seemingly innocent indulgence can cause problems for your pet.  

You've probably heard that you shouldn't give your pets chicken or turkey bones, because they can splinter and cause punctures in the stomach or intestinal tract.  What most people probably don't realize is that the fatty skin from  these foods can create problems that are just as dangerous.  

Fatty foods cause digestive system upsets, but can also trigger a pancreatic inflammation.  Symptoms of this condition include pain in the abdomen, diarrhea, vomiting, depression, and in severe cases can be fatal.  Pancreatic inflammation is most likely to occur in a middle-aged, inactive, overweight dog.

Such symptoms could also signal less serious problems.  You should call your veterinarian and let her/him decide whether the symptoms sound serious enough to bring your pet in for treatment.

Continuous vomiting or a combination of the aforementioned symptoms definitely warrant a call to your veterinarian.  Even if it turns out that the problem is merely an upset stomach due to overeating, it's better to seek professional medical advice than to  try a home remedy.

One way to avoid this problem entirely is to stick with commercial pet products as treats, but only in moderation.  These products are not as likely to cause digestive problems, as are table scraps.  Even canned dog food can cause diarrhea in a dog that is used to dry dog food.  Moderation is the best policy, and you should completely avoid feeding your pet fat and poultry bones.

In general, cats don't appear to have as many digestive problems as dogs, although a sudden change in their diet can cause diarrhea.  This may be due to the fact that cats are finicky eaters, making them less likely to eat potential problem-causing foods.