Addressing some comments... :)
Is shrimp toxic? Does Cedric sh*t all over the house? Here's the truth...
“You’re going to give him pancreatitis!”
Some believe that a single high-fat meal can cause pancreatitis. It’s not true. The reality is pancreatitis is complex and not fully understood, even by veterinarians. It happens when the pancreas becomes inflamed and the digestive enzymes produced in the organ start to break down the organ itself.
According to a heavily cited literature review, pancreatitis is linked with metabolic disorder, like being overweight, having high blood pressure and high blood sugar. It often involves a cytokine storm where the immune system gets overwhelmed. The likelihood of a healthy dog getting pancreatitis from one high fat meal is virtually zero.
If your dog is healthy, there is no reason to be concerned by the occasional high fat meal. If you’re interested, one study actually showed improved athletic performance on a very low carb, high fat diet (check out the post linked below).
However, dogs being fed high-fat and salty human foods in combination with their processed kibble is a totally different story. I can see that being a recipe for disaster. Dogs who are overfed, obese or otherwise unhealthy will have major issues. Similar to unhealthy people who can get a heart attack triggered by a really indulgent meal, the disease was actually caused by years of unhealthy eating habits. The meal was just the final straw.
“I bet he sh*ts everywhere after”
While Cedric does occasionally revenge poop on the floor (he’s petty), it’s pretty easy to pick up. Many people say that if their dog ate what Cedric eats, they’d have instant diarrhea. That isn’t normal. If a person had diarrhea every time they ate something different or new, they’d probably need to book a doctor’s appointment.
I believe dogs should be able to eat all kinds of food without issue. I’m guessing the reason that many can’t is because they’ve been fed one thing their entire life and haven’t developed the ability to digest anything else. This is why I think variety is so important for your pup’s well-being. Of course, some dogs may just have extra sensitive stomachs or food allergies. If your dog has been eating one food for years, introduce new foods slowly and in small amounts.
“OMG, don’t you know that’s toxic for dogs?!”
Shrimp is one of the main foods people seem to think is toxic for dogs. As with any food, allergies are always possible, but other than that it’s perfectly safe.
Some foods that humans enjoy are indeed toxic for dogs, though the extent of toxicity is often overblown. Garlic is a prime example. Large amounts can make your dog sick (think multiple cloves of garlic in a short amount of time), but the lethal amount is not well defined. If a person ate 50 cloves of garlic, they’d probably get sick too. Death from onion or garlic consumption is extremely rare in dogs. This is not to say you should feed your dog garlic or onion. I don’t—because I don’t see any reason to. The point is just to reduce unnecessary fear.
Table of common household foods that could be toxic for your pup and their toxic doses:
Hopefully this information can help you wade through the myths and misinformation. :)