Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I've got a few questions.

I've read a lot that grapes are toxic to dogs in large amounts. I have a 11lb chihuahua that has always been just a little overweight most her life. I've had her for 7yrs and a few years back, I used to feed her grapes. In fact, they're one of her favorites. I had no idea that grapes could be bad for her or make her sick/kill her, and just fed her as much as I ate. One day I left the basket of grapes out and she jumped up onto the table and ATE THE WHOLE THING! Obviously, I still have my dog and she is still just as healthy as she was back then.
Why is it that grapes have never seemed to affect her at all? I don't feed her grapes anymore ever since I read about the potential harm a year ago, but I can't help but wonder about it everytime someone advises against it.

Also, Deerhounds mentioned several posts down that dogs dont have the digestive system to break down cellulose so there isn't a nutritional benefit from eating veggies. So if carbs are all they're getting, is there any way we can prepare it so that they would?

So would it be a good idea to feed a slightly underweight dog a lot of veggies in addition to his kibble to help add the calories in his diet for weight gain?

I've been reading a lot about a better diet for my 15mo lab mix, 7yo chihuahua, and 3mo staffordshire, so I hope for a lot more help and patience from everyone soon.

Thanks!

These are all questions worth asking your vet next time your dog goes in for a visit. In terms of the grapes, I too used to give my dog a few every now and then until I learned (on this forum, in fact) that they can be toxic to dogs. I stopped feeding her grapes and also asked my vet who told me that some dogs have a reaction to grapes, some dogs don't. She didn't think the issue was the amount. Although my dog had no ill effects from the grapes, I still don't give them to her--just to be safe.

I know a lot of dogs who eat carrots (mine isn't impressed), and they seem to help with their teeth.

Protein seems to be the most important ingredient for dogs, so my dog gets more protein than any other ingredient. In terms of keeping her (and me!) at a decent size, we walk a lot--three walks a day, sometimes more.
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