A taste for sugar and coffee!

Crisp_£_note

Our dog is a rescue and is a neutered Greyhound x Salukie. We don't really know much of his history he is about 8-9 years old and we've had him since he was about 3 or 4.

He has always been a scavenger and we have dealt with this by keeping everything food wise out of sight and reach and all the general guidelines of training such as not to feed food at the table or respond to begging or scrounging. We got a folding gate put across the kitchen area to reinforce the no getting to the kitchen worktops and to keep them safe from the cooking area and out of our way when we were cooking.

The vet said the junk he was eating wasn't any harm it would just cause an upset tummy and didn't seem concerned told us to just keep to routine and feed him a bit less on the day he has raided the dustbin or whatever it was of his choice that time.

All was ok and has been working well and we have had a few mishaps but nothing as bad as it used to be several times a day whether we were at home or out for a while.

But over the past week he's suddenly decided to raid the sugar jar twice (he saw me refill it with a new bag of sugar the first time - we replaced the bag and put it in the jar unopend but he found a way to knock the jar off the worktop and took the bag of unopend sugar into another room and opend it there. He has also knocked the coffee canister off the worktop and lick that until its empty! Theyve always been on the worktop and hes never been interested in them before.

Im quite concerned he's developed a craving for coffee and sugar and he is certainly suffering tummy upsets but this doesnt deter him.

As I said the vet wasnt worried previously so is it worth the expense of another visit? I dont mean to sound like I dont care for our pets of course but just wondered if anyone had any knowledge of what he maybe lacking or trying to tell us here.

Of course Ive now moved them all out of reach of the dog before he gets a taste for teabags next!

Thanks.

teddysmum

Sugar can give a dog quite a bad tummy ache.


Many years ago (therefore can't remember details), I had a little peke . After making a mess of something I was making with eggs, I gave whatever it was to her, forgetting that there was sugar added.


She had no longstanding harm, but spent an uncomfortable evening, panting, with her sore tummy pressed down on the cool kitchen floor.

pawsies

Sorry to say but put them in a high cupboard rather than on display.

Also does he have much in the way of chews like cow ears/antlers etc and kongs? Frozen kongs may be a good option especially if you make it look like you are putting 'human' food (as in sugar/coffee) in it and put cheese/ham/sandwich paste and freeze.

Crisp_£_note

I have considered trying a Kong but up to now we haven't ventured into this as we have another dog and are working hard to stop the food agression between them so concerned this wont help. However saying that I cant say I have observed the behaviour whilst they are home alone (thinking of trying to borrow a video camera or something as sure it will help) but considering this latest where he took the bag and opend it somewhere else might suggest he would be ok with a Kong as the other dog isnt interested (probably not wanting to get into trouble)?

He certainly seems to have a sweet tooth and a new found taste for sugar highs and caffine fixes (but yes we put a stop to this by removing the jars to a higher cupboard).

Thanks again.

pawsies

I would separate them with their own kongs when you go out. If you are concerned about separation issues then separate them now for short periods so they get used to being apart from each other.