I just have to interject a few comments here regarding a discussion I see on
the FML recently.
My family and I have used vanilla, in all it's different grades from
original "bean" to expensive or cheap extracts my entire life. Copious
amounts in cookies, ice cream, cakes, etc., as well as for room deodorizer,
psuedo- perfume and additions to bath water. Never once has anyone had any
kind of an allergic or toxic reaction to this substance. Never. At all.
And we are talking spanning over 90 years (my Grandmother is 90 and
according to her, her mother used it HER entire life.......so I know that
can go back to the 1800's since she attended the World's Fair in St. Louis,
and told me about it in detail). That is why I thought it was such an
excellent idea to use in ferret bedding or to clean up "no-no" places as
suggested in the very good article written by Bob Church for Modern Ferret.
Haven't had any reactions from the fuzzy rulers, either.
As far as onions go, well........let me share a little personal story. Talk
about almost killing someone or something you know from kindness. I have a
precious little Chihuahua named Lupita. Lupita, like her ferret brothers
and sister, is a pamper, spoiled little devil dog (just kidding....at least
about the devil dog part) who was catered to by me and the whole family,
except "Ricky Ricardo," since her infancy. She did not, and still DOES not
like "doggy dinner" (as we call it, ok?). She has been fed off the table
all her life like all the other dogs we have had, and they lived to be over
13-16 years old. All of em'.
Well, 'Pita was always skinny and a very, very picky eater. She didn't
weigh over 3.5 pounds. I worried so much about her, tried to put her on dog
food, and she refused and got skinnier. Well, I gave in. All kinds of vets
visits, all kinds of tricks to put weight on her didn't work. Then we found
the common denominator. See, Lupita has always had a thing for onions (and
green peppers for that matter) to the point of where I would buy her Philly
Beef N Swiss sandwiches from Arbys and she would eat the onions and green
peppers before the meat. Consistently. Onions were a daily part of her
diet, in large quantities, since they are a big part of ours.
Well, one day I heard a report of onion toxicity in dogs. It described her
symptoms to a tee. So, I eliminated onions from her diet. (And if you
think that wasn't hard to do, guess again......) Yes, I had a very
rebellious pouting little dog. But in less than a month, the change was
DRAMATIC. Removing onions was the only change I made, seriously. She put
on almost a pound, and when you're that size, well, that's a lot. She has
continued to thrive, got more energy, is not anywhere near as cranky (but
then, chihuahua's are never cranky, right?).
I mentioned it to the vet, he did some research and told me I like to have
OD'd my dog on onions. And they were the last thing that he would have ever
looked for. I mean, really, how many chihuahuas do you know that would kill
for an onion over sirloin?
Yes, I know we are talking about a dog here. But a little dog. And if they
can do that to dogs, well, I'm not taking a chance with my little ferret
angels. Would you? No, I'm not saying the occasional piece of clandestein
onion ring will make them drop dead. But I wouldn't risk more than an
occasionally treat. The reactions are just too scary to think about for me.
No, I don't want a flame war for disagreeing with someone. But I felt
obligated to state the facts as I have experienced them. No, I'm no
scientist. Far from it. But I do know what has happened to me and mine
and wanted to share it.
And, before all the flames hit my mailbox over my dog's (and the possible
extrapolation to my ferrets) diet, I want to state that my vet has
complimented me numerous time, and again just recently, upon their state of
health. I may go against popular opinion, but I must be doin' something
right.
Dooks to you all.........
Catherine, Pato, Snowball, Hubert and Elsie (and Lupita the onion-free
Chihuahua)
"Behind the Zion Curtain"
[Posted in FML issue 2331]
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