September 17, 2024

Know what your dog can safely consume

Dogs are like vacuum cleaners. I have seen how they will eat anything they find whether it is good for them or not. It is important to know what dogs can safely eat. Learn what can cause your dog to get sick and keep items that are toxic safely out of their reach.

The most common first signs that a dog has eaten something bad is an upset stomach. This can include vomiting and diarrhea. Our vet sees a lot of these symptoms around holidays. At Christmas time, we tend to spoil our pets with table scraps. This is sometimes referred to as Christmas diarrhea. Dogs can become dehydrated and even pass blood with their diarrhea. I always feel so bad when my pups don’t feel well.

Medication safety

There are medications that can safely be used when a dog is not feeling well or their skin is irritated. I do recommend checking with your vet first. Keeping medications out of a dog’s reach/sight line can prevent any temptation. Dogs can reach the counters and snatch food or other items that look good. I have even seen smaller dogs jump up into a chair and snatch food off the dinner table.

Toxic Plants

Do you have house plants that are in reach of your dog? Some of these plants can be toxic to dogs. Please be aware of plants that can be harmful to your dog. https://aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/toxic-and-non-toxic-plants?

Food for Dogs

While we love our pets and want to spoil them, our best intentions could have serious results. I enjoy chocolate but, it is very toxic to dogs. Our dogs love apples. Did you know the stems and seeds of apples are toxic and should not be given to a dog?

I feel it is important to talk about Xylitol. It is an artificial sweetener that can be fatal in dogs. It can cause their blood sugar to drop, as well as causing potential liver damage. Xylitol can be found in sugar-free gum, candy and other foods. Recently, some peanut butter was found to contain xylitol.

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/human-foods-dogs-can-and-cant-eat/

Other items to be aware of:

Shaving cream, personal lubricants, deodorant, sleep aid pills like melatonin and toothpaste can contain xylitol that pose a risk to dogs.

Another very dangerous toxin that I want to address is Antifreeze. It is a chemical used to help balance a vehicle’s engine during extreme temperatures. It can drip from the car, or be spilled on the garage floor when filling your vehicle’s cooling supply tank.

The main ingredient in antifreeze is ethylene glycol. It is odorless and has a sweet taste. It can also be found in windshield washer fluid, paints, solvents and hydraulic brake fluids. Ingesting even small amounts can be fatal. If you think that your dog has eaten anything harmful, act quickly to get emergency care. For more information on antifreeze, please click on the link.

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/antifreeze-poisoning-in-dogs/

I want to keep our dogs safe and healthy. It is a commitment that will give our fur babies a long and healthy life.