A Dog’s Health

There are many things that a dog can and cannot eat. What is most important for a dog owner to know are the things a dog cannot eat. Feeding a dog products it is not suppose to eat can cause severe consequences.

Dogs should never be fed chocolate, Tylenol, ibuprofen or Advil. Dogs should not ingest these products because it can be toxic and affect the heart and nervous system of the dog. The same effect is also with coffee, tea and other caffeine products. Alcoholic beverages can cause intoxication, coma, and death. Milk and other dairy products should not be consumed because some adult dogs and cats do not have sufficient amounts of the enzyme lactose, which breaks down the lactose in milk. This can result in diarrhea. Lactose-free milk products are available for pets.

Baby food can contain onion powder, which can be toxic to dogs. This can result in nutritional deficiencies, if fed in large amounts. Human vitamin supplements containing iron can damage the lining of the digestive system and be toxic to the other organs including the liver and kidneys. Marijuana can depress the nervous system, cause vomiting, and changes in the heart rate. Tobacco contains nicotine, which affects the digestive and nervous systems. This can result in rapid heart beat, the dog can collapse, go into a coma, and it can cause death.

Bones from fish, poultry, or other meat sources can cause obstruction or laceration of the digestive system. Cat food is generally too high in protein and fats. Hops have unknown compounds and causes panting, increased heart rate, elevated temperature, seizures, and death. Large amounts of liver can cause Vitamin A toxicity, which affects muscles and bones. Moldy or spoiled food and garbage can contain multiple toxins causing vomiting and diarrhea and can also affect other organs. Potato, rhubarb, tomato leaves, and potato and tomato stems contain oxalate, which can affect the digestive, nervous, and urinary systems. String can become trapped in the digestive system called a “string foreign body”. Sugary foods can lead to obesity, dental problems, and possibly diabetes mellifluous. Table scraps in large amounts are not nutritionally balanced. They should never be more than 10% of the diet.

Citrus oil extracts can cause vomiting. Grapes and raisins contain an unknown toxin, which can damage the kidneys. Mushrooms can contain toxins, which may affect multiple systems in the body,can cause shock, and result in death. Onions and garlic (raw, cooked, or powder) contain sulfoxides and disulfides, which can damage red blood cells and cause anemia. Garlic is less toxic than onions.

Macadamia nuts contain and unknown toxin, which can affect the digestive and nervous systems and muscles. Persimmons seeds can cause intestinal obstruction and enteritis. Pits from peaches and plums can cause obstruction of the digestive tract.

Raw eggs contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin). This can lead to skin and hair coat problems. Raw eggs may also contain Salmonella. Raw fish can result in a thiamine deficiency leading to loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death. Salt if eaten in large quantities may lead to electrolyte imbalances. Yeast dough can expand and produce gas in the digestive system, causing pain and possible rupture of the stomach or intestines.

The foods that a owner gives to a dog should be appropriate food that will not cause horrible side affects. Many products can result in serous problems or death. A dog is part of the family, pay attention to his heath and consumption just like any other member of the family.


People also view

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *