The Secret to Learning

Today I discovered the secret to learning and remembering what you learn. Charging learners for not knowing information. I was able to discover this today when I paid (about) $50 to learn that dogs simply can not eat acorns. Eating acorns is particularly bad if the dog chews the acorns before he eats them. Indulging in the behavior causes a dog to have many gastrointestinal problems. More often than not these problems will require the dog to be seen by the vet-and put on a special diet as well as antinausea meds as well. All of this is a bargain at $50- Especially when you consider that his special diet dog food is $85 per bag. (And, no the new cheaper dog food is NOT normally okay for his diet...sigh.

Anyway, here is some of what i learned today. hopefully it will be of worth to you...especially if you have a dog.

*Dogs can not eat acorns for the same reason they can not eat grapes. The acid in both can be deadly to dogs. Especially if they are chewed.

* If your dog won't eat or drink try ice cubes. Dogs love ice cubes and they will often stay hydrated from the ice cubes. If they won't even eat ice cubes, call your vet ASAP

* The dog antinausea med is the same as reglan- a drug that 2 of my children were on as infants for reflux. Reglan is no longer used in anyone under 18 as it can cause major organ issues.

* it also knocks the dog out- for HOURS

* Sick dogs are as bad as sick babies. They can be lethargic and whimper the same as a baby. And it's almost as frustrating to not know what they need.

*There are some scary meds out there. While Iwas waiting for Sam's meds, one of the vet tech's was on the phone to a sales rep to ask some questions about a medication from the horse. This medication looked like a caulk gun. It was at least that big and actually looked a little bigger. What was so scary about this medication is: one that it was a supository and two: that the tech was calling to find out if this medication was safe to give to horses. Apparently it was meant for a different animal. All I can think of is maybe it was meant for a cow, but the gun looked like it was meant for a clydesdale. It's still scary to wonder who normally took that medication!

Anyway, Sam is on the mend and even tried to eat several more acorns today. So, we'll have our hands full here for awhile as our neighbor's oak tree drops tens of thousands of acorns each year (Seriously, I think he filled 50 5 gallon buckets last year.) So learn from us and keep acorns away from your dogs- otherwise these too might be facts you never forget......