Articles. News. Information.

Category of Information, News & Articles


What 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 may 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(sometypes 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 veternarian 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 veternarian 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 andd 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. Miscletoe can cause vomiting, abdominal pain and depression. Onions can causeliver 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, 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. it's 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.

About The Author

Aaron Wilmont is an author and researcher in the fields of human and pet health. For more info. go to http://www.dog-food-nutrition.com.


MORE RESOURCES:

Wildlife officials euthanize woman's pet deer
MSNBC - 14 hours ago
By TONY BURBECK / NewsChannel 36 E-mail Tony: TBurbeck@WCNC.com GASTON COUNTY, NC -- A Gaston County family's pet deer has been euthanized by North Carolina ...


WJBF-TV

Bad economy leaves more pets homeless
The Coloradoan, CO - 22 hours ago
"If people were looking to abandon or give their pets away, you wouldn't see that kind of reclaim rate; you'd see the opposite,'' Rentola said. ...
Calaveras animal shelter sees brighter days Stockton Record
Pets abandoned during tough economic times WNDU-TV
Berks Humane Society to distribute pet food to needy owners Reading Eagle
Examiner.com - Live 5 News
all 77 news articles


De-Icer Bad for Pets
MSNBC - 12 hours ago
But if used improperly, it can be harmful to pets and the ground. BILLINGS - De-icer is a common product used to clear snow and ice from sidewalks and ...


Kalamazoo Gazette - MLive.com

Advice for Pet Owners
Washington Post, United States - Jan 7, 2009
Financial setbacks often effect the companions we love most -- pets. But animal expert Arden Moore can give advice on how to provide your pet with ...
Pet Scoop: Max is the most again as top cat, dog name Memphis Commercial Appeal
Charity cat show this weekend Houston Chronicle
Cats, Dogs Find Common Ground KBTX
AOL News Newsbloggers - Kalamazoo Gazette - MLive.com
all 14 news articles


CatChannel.com

A Year of Pet Pulse News
Zootoo.com, NJ - 16 hours ago
by Robin Wallace BY CATEGORY: BY PET: The good and bad, ugly and pretty all rose to the surface in pet related news that broke during 2008. ...
Don't dump your pet when times are tough USA Today
Pets (dogs) in truck beds Longview Daily News
Adopt-A-Pet matches senior citizens with older pets Fenton Tri County Times
Examiner.com - OurayNews.com
all 32 news articles


Pets, art vets at Cape Coral fest
The News-Press, FL - 4 hours ago
"People love their pets," Serrano said. "My dream is to create mini art galleries of people's pets." Watercolor and acrylic artist David Wong, Chino, ...


Finances force owners to give up pets
Indianapolis Star, United States - 3 hours ago
An increasing number of pet owners are citing financial reasons for dropping off their animals, Humane Society for Hamilton County shelter officials said. ...


Pet limit plan questions
Northwest Herald, IL - 5 hours ago
McHenry County is considering whether to limit the number of pets someone can own in unincorporated areas of the county. The idea was floated at a McHenry ...


Residents fear for pets after man shoots neighbor's dog
McKinney Courier Gazette, TX - 9 hours ago
"My dog is not the only dog that gets out,'' said pet owner Kevyn Allen. "Why did he have to shoot my dog? Our whole family is beside itself. ...
Pit Bull Fatally Wounded After Shooting, Neighbors Fear for Their ... WiredPRNews.com (press release)
all 13 news articles


Loyal pet follows ambulance carrying owner
Whittier Daily News, CA - 11 hours ago
In what could have been a scene right out of the Disney classic "Homeward Bound" - the tale of three pets' cross-country trek to find their owners - a dog ...

Pets - Google News

Home | Sitemap
© 2006 eInfoJunction.com Homepage | Web Directory | Article Directory| Bid Directory