Anyone who
has ever owned a dog will know that they are not particularly fussy eaters, to
put it mildly! Anything and everything that can be consumed will pass through
pooch’s digestive system at some point, and by no means will all of it be food
as we know it!
Your dog also has a very well developed sense of smell, so that what he or she
considers to be “foodstuffs” (yesterdays chicken bones in the kitchen trash can,
for example), stuff that you may believe is hidden (i.e. out of sight) is as
evident to your dog as the nose his face. Rest assured that your dog will find
anything that can be eaten, wherever it is!
Ninety-nine percent of the time, this will not be a major problem. An
inconvenience maybe when tonight’s dinner that was cooling in the kitchen
miraculously disappears, but not a major drama.
The problem is that dogs (obviously) have little or no knowledge of whether what
they eat is good or bad for them, nor do they care. Reverting to the previous
example, every human probably knows that, whilst beef or lamb bones are a
delectable treat for Fido, chicken bones are a definite no-go, owing to their
tendency to splinter and stick in the dogs throat.
However, not every dog owner is aware that some of the everyday foodstuffs that
we consume and take for granted, and are happy to give to our families, could be
very dangerous, even potentially lethal, if given to your dog.
For example, were you aware that the simple chocolate bar that is stashed at the
back of your fridge might actually constitute a potentially deadly hazard for
your four legged friend? This is potentially a major problem, as the majority of
dogs seem especially partial to chocolate, in my experience.
Whilst it has been recently reported that it may be high in human-friendly
antioxidants, the problem for your dog is that chocolate contains various
chemicals, which can be highly dangerous, if not lethal.
Sadly, consumption of relatively minor traces of these chemicals can cause your
dog such serious medical problems as increased heart rate, palpitations and so
on. Large amounts could even lead to total cardiac failure, seizures, coma and
eventually death.
Of course, we have to keep this in perspective and it is extremely unlikely that
one small piece of chocolate given as a “treat” every now and then will harm
your dog in any way. However, be aware that different breeds of dogs show
different levels of resistance to the chemicals in chocolate, and that the dogs
size and weight would also be a factor to consider. Whilst a pound of the wrong
kind of chocolate might kill a smaller dog, it may merely cause a Bull Mastiff
or a Doberman to have a day or two of digestive discomfort, and no doubt one or
two unpleasant “accidents” along the way!
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The simple
answer is the obvious one, so don’t give the family pet huge amounts of
chocolate! At the same time, take precautions to minimize the risks, by making
sure that any chocolate in the house is stored above the dogs “forage level” and
that your family members, especially young children, know not to give their
chocolate away!
There are a few other goods that we consider to be food that, again, may not be
too good for the family dog. Some strains of mushroom, for example, can cause
your pet problems (liver and kidney damage, abdominal pain) and, whilst garlic
is extremely good for humans, it can cause vomiting and diarrhoea in dogs.
The bottom line is, do not assume that just because you can eat it, so can your
dog.
Whilst he will regularly devour a host of things that you would never go near,
understand that there are a few things that your digestive system handles
without problems that your dog just cannot cope with!
About
the Author:
Steve Cowan
is an Asia based businessman and writer, as well as an international racing
driver and full time father. For more dog caring and training hints, tips and
suggestions, visit my site at
http://webbiz99.com/dogtraining/index.html
