Dog Food Dangers on Holidays
Dogs love the holidays. People are busy and often slack off when enforcing the rules. One of the most dangerous rules to skip over is that of feeding dogs table food. Some are toxic and some are a chocking risk. A slim and strong smallest turkey bone can become lodged in the roof of your dog’s mouth and shred the skin.
Here is a list of 7 most dangerous human foods you should never feed your dog during the holidays and all the the days in between:
1-Grapes and raisins are highly toxic. They can cause total liver failure in dogs.
2-Alcohol has the same affect on a dog’s liver as it does on a human’s liver, just much faster and with immediate tragic consequences.
3-Macadamia Nuts can cause vomiting, muscle tremors, and death.
4-Coffee is as toxic as a nut and the symptoms of poisoning can include heart arrhythmia, seizures, and death.
5-Avocados and all parts of the tree, including the leaves, are highly toxic to dogs.
6-Fat and bones from all cuts of meat are serious choking hazards and the number of dogs seen in emergency rooms has risen steadily each year, as well as the death rates.
7-Yeast can cause severe blockages and lead to surgery or even death and leads to making your dog feel and act drunk.
In addition to the extremely concrete dangers, human food has behavioral affects on dogs. It is of course more delicious and decadent to them than their own low level food and the motivation to obtain human food will impact your relationship. If you relent, the begging, crying, and all other bad manners will continue to evolve. It can also lead to discomfort and pain in your dog. This can lead to aggression in a normally non-aggressive dog.
Human food can also cause havoc in your dog’s intestinal tract. In addition to the pain and discomfort written about above, this can lead to a mess on your floors, furniture, and clothing. You may get upset thereby leading to your irritation coming out and becoming angry with the dog. When the reality is, it is really on the human; the pain, the illness, and the mess.
Dog food, good and healthy dog food, is perfectly safe and will be beneficial for your dog. You do not have to feed your pet human food to show love. You can make snacks from approved ingredients, or include a safe wet food with their dry mix, or use food related toys, such as a Kong as a special treat. Always avoid dog food made in China as there have been a multitude of poisonings and follow-up recalls. Look for meats and fish to always be the first ingredient. Dogs can be raised vegetarian, but their evolutionary pattern is that of a carnivore. It is best if you be the human and the dog be the dog.
