Things you should never feed your Dog
Unfortunately, there are a number of household items which we tend to take
for granted that are potentially very dangerous to your dog's health. It is
especially important to be aware of this because as you know, dogs are essentially
scavengers and will often eat just about anything they can sink their fangs
into. I would say that my own dog is more like a mobile garbage disposal. It
is also very important to be aware of these items since their sense of smell
is so well developed that your pooch will be able to find what you may think
is well hidden.
One of these dangerous household items, it turns out, is simple chocolate.
While chocolate has been reported recently to be high in human-friendly antioxidants,
it appears to be potentially lethal for our pets, and particularly for our dogs.
Cats are mostly unaffected since they do not care for the taste of chocolate,
but dogs tend to be crazy about it. Certain breeds of dogs react indifferently
to chocolate. The root of the problem is that chocolate contains various chemicals
which are called methylxanthine alkaloids (some types have more of these chemicals
than others) Sadly, relatively miniscule amounts of these chemicals are capable
of causing such serious problems as constriction of the arteries and an increased
heart rate. Large amounts may cause even more dire symptoms and a pound of milk
chocolate could possibly kill a sixteen-pound dog. If you find that your dog
has eaten chocolate then by all means take note of the it's type and try to
estimate the amount eaten. Then get on the phone with a veterinarian or an emergency
facility. Be sure that your children know how important it is to keep chocolate
out of your dog’s reach.
If you are not aware that your dog has consumed chocolate, the consequences
could be severe. If consumption is not found within 4 to 6 hours without the
right treatment, cardiac failure, seizures, coma and death could result, according
to veterinarian Dr. Jane Bicks.
In addition to seemingly innocent chocolate, there are a number of other common
household items that may seem safe for our dogs but that can be downright dangerous.
Some mushrooms, for example, can produce abdominal pain, liver and kidney damage
and amenia. So be aware of wild mushrooms when you are out walking your dog
in wooded areas. Garlic may seem benign but can cause vomiting, liver damage,
anemia and diarrhea so do not give your pet baby food since it can contain garlic.
Anti-freeze can shut down your dog's kidney and they tend to love the taste.
Mistletoe can cause vomiting, abdominal pain and depression. Onions can cause
liver damage, anemia and diarrhea. Onion can also sometimes be found in baby
food. Cats are actually somewhat more sensitive to this one so keep out of the
reach of both. Coffee, like cocoa, is especially dangerous, and may cause heart
rate increase, diarrhea, seizures, coma, and death. Caffeine just does not have
the same effect in dogs. When outside be careful around apple and cherry trees.
While the fruit is safe, the leaves and roots are not. And be very careful about
Moth Balls. Its primary chemical naphthalene is extremely toxic to dogs and
can result in tremors and seizures.
Concerning dog food, you should be looking
for dyes and other chemicals, according to Dr. Jane BHA, for instance, which
is one of the main synthetic antioxidant preservatives used to prevent food
discoloration, has been observed to cause cancer in laboratory rats at certain
doses. Small doses are as yet unclear but since dog food is eaten every day
caution is advised. Many conventional dog food brands have large quantities
of sodium to make them palatable, and this can be quite harmful to a dog.
Other ingredients to wary of are dairy, by-products , chemical preservatives
and artificial colors. For more information go to Dog Food Nutrition from Life's
Abundance
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aaron Wilmont is an author and researcher in the fields of
human and pet health. For more info go to
Dog Supplements and Vitamins from Life's Abundance
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