|
 Our pets are our babies. When they hurt or something hurts them, we hurt too. Although we sometimes treat our doggie friends as humans, they are not humans. They are dogs and as such have a different metabolism than our own bodies do.
Sometimes, even with the best of intentions, we can hurt our four-legged friends. We love to give our dogs treats that we know they will enjoy because we enjoy them. Take chocolate for instance. It is great tasting and for us (except for the weight gain factor) relatively harmless. But it is not so for dogs. We have all heard that chocolate is bad for dogs—and can even sometimes be fatal.
There are other substances out there that we humans can tolerate, but dogs cannot. Did you know that dogs should not be given onions or garlic either? These common food items are poison for dogs. They contain thiosulphate, which is the substance that the dog reacts to. Onions contain more of it than garlic, which tends to make the garlic a bit less toxic. What happens when a dog eats onions is that the animal develops hemolytic anemia, which is where the red blood cells burst while circulating through the body. A few days after ingesting onions, the dog will display gastroenteritis with vomiting and diarrhea. You may be able to see the red pigment from the blood cells that burst in the animal’s urine. Because red blood cells carry oxygen throughout the body and the toxic substance reduces the red blood cells in the body, the animal becomes breathless.
All types of onion can cause the above affect in your dog, everything from dehydrated onions, raw onions, cooked onions, or even table scraps that contain onions (or garlic). Often the reaction can be from a single dose of eating onions, or in other cases the reaction can occur after only a few instances. The good news is that the condition can be improved if onion use is terminated.
Macadamia nuts are also a cause for concern for dogs, in either raw or roasted form. These nuts cause a locomotory problem in dogs. The dog can develop a tremor in his skeletal muscles and a weakness, or even paralysis, of his hindquarters. The dog may be unable to rise or stand up, and may seem in distress. Noticeable distress may be shown by the dog panting excessively.
As few as six macadamia nuts have been known to cause the toxic effect in some dogs. For other dogs it can be a larger quantity however. Macadamia butter has been proved to be just as bad for your pet as the nuts themselves.
Although the reaction to the nuts may be painful and frightening for the dog, they usually do recover after a short duration. Veterinary treatment is recommended, however.
Recently it has also been found that raisins and grapes are also toxic for your dog. If eaten in sufficient quantities, these foods can also result in the death of your pet. Symptoms for raisin and grape toxicity include vomiting, diarrhea and shaking. If these symptoms occur as a result of your dog eating grapes or raisins, the dog should be taken to the vet immediately for treatment.
Other substances that are considered toxic for dogs include:
- Pear pips, plum, peach and apricot pits, apple core seeds (all of these contain cyanogenic glycosides and can result in cyanide poisoning)
- Raw potato peels and green looking potatoes
- Rhubarb leaves (these are also poisonous to humans)
- Moldy or spoiled foods
- Alcohol of any kind
- Yeast dough
- Coffee grounds, beans and tea (caffeine)
- Hops (often used in home brewing)
- Tomato leaves & stems (green parts)
- Broccoli (in larger quantities)
- Cigarettes, tobacco, cigars
- Antifreeze
As mentioned, our dogs are our babies and they need to be protected as much as our children do. Generally, dogs are not aware of things that are bad for them. They love to eat as much as we humans do—and they love great-tasting food too. It is up to you as a pet owner to keep your dog safe from all harmful substances.
©Denny Phillips
|
