Saturday, July 30, 2011

Indigestion and More: Foods Your Dog Should Avoid

By Regina T. Roby


Dogs make terrific companions and with unusual personalities, habits and quirks it's normally easy to overlook that they're not human. As our ever-present friends, dogs serve as confidants, supporters and playmates, so is an infrequent indulgence taken from the table really dangerous? Sad to say, it all depends on what's in that indulgence; sometimes a normal treat can generate chaos with your pet's health. Even though many dog owners' are wary of their dog's size, these offerings can lead to damage much greater than simple weight gain. In many incidents standard foods suitable for people will make a dog remarkably ill and even lead to death. Let's explore several of the foods you must steer clear of to prevent your dog from becoming a sick puppy.

Adult Beverages

When beer, liquor and wine are well tolerated by humans, alcohol based drinks have a much greater outcome in dogs. For some the thought of giving your dog a beer might sound amusing, but given knowledge of how that beer may make your best friend ill, it may change their minds. Alcoholic drinks have similar consequences on a dog's liver and brain as it has on humans, though the main difference is that small quantities can result in lasting damage. Even a modest amount of alcohol can cause vomiting, diarrhea, coordination problems, difficulty breathing, and even death. If that's insufficient, the diuretic effect also can bring on uncontrollable urination. So leave alcohol based drinks for humans and give your dog water instead.

Caffeinated Sodas

Adopting the suggestion to "Have a Coke and a Smile" does not pertain to dogs, mainly because caffeine and caffeinate beverages can make your dog sick. Like many things, caffeine in large quantities can be fatal for dogs and there's no known antidote. Additionally, there are a wide variety of beverage related items that also pose a threat to your pet like ground coffee, coffee beans and tea, in addition to typical household items like cold medications and medications. Symptoms of caffeine poisoning include restlessness, quick breathing, heart palpitations, muscle tremors, fits and bleeding. So to prevent possible severe affects to your pet's nervous system avoid caffeine wherever possible.

Some Popular Fruits

Fruits are generally considered part of a healthy diet for humans and this can occasionally apply to dogs too, but there are a number that can present real medical problems for your pet. To begin, pitted fruits such as Persimmons, Peaches and Plums create a hazard to dogs since the pits can cause soreness or an obstruction of the small intestine. As if that's not sufficient, Peach and Plumb pits contain cyanide. Grapes and Raisins are also two fruits to avoid, seeing that an unknown chemical present in them can result in kidney failure in dogs. Finally, leave the guacamole for the humans; dogs are intolerant to Persin, a chemical found within Avocados. Although dogs can safely eat some fruits, these are definitely six to stay clear of.

Chocolate

It's almost common knowledge that chocolate is bad for dogs, but its' devastating effects justify a reminder. Chocolate Toxicity in dogs is driven by the compound Theobromine. A naturally occurring stimulant located in the cocoa bean, Theobromine is harmful to dogs and increases urination, affects the central nervous system as well as the heart muscle. In critical cases, the ingestion of substantial amounts of chocolate can cause death. Found in all kinds of chocolate, dark chocolate and unsweetened baking chocolate are the most dangerous. While some would argue that a significant quantity needs to be consumed to cause serious illness, dogs eating chocolate or even just licking the icing bowl have been known to vomit, have diarrhea and develop abnormal thirst. Evidently one of human kind's preferred treats must be kept from your dog.

In Case of Emergency

Dogs are inquisitive by nature and examine with their mouth, which may create a great deal of havoc. Just like a young child, dogs will get into a variety of things and no matter how careful you are, it's feasible that your dog can find and swallow exactly what it shouldn't. As a result, it's smart to have emergency information ready in case it's needed. Posting the telephone number of your local vet, the nearest emergency clinic and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888) 426-4435 on your refrigerator, bulletin board or other easily accessible place will be helpful. Consequently, if you think that your dog has ingested something harmful, call for emergency help at once.




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