A List Of Foods That Healthy Dogs Should Not Be Fed
Posted on March 3rd, 2010
Even though a dog may think something is appetizing, and try to eat it, that doesn’t always work out for the dog and his or her health. Some types of foods can cause serious damage to the digestive system of a dog, or in some cases, even quickly cause critical heart problems.
Garlic and onions, and anything that may contain them, should not be given to dogs. Onion and garlic can damage the red blood cells of both cats and dogs. This includes any raw ingredients, powders, and products that have been prepared with trace amounts of either substance. An example would be with baby food, which often contains a trace amount of either garlic or onion for flavoring purposes.
If raw foods such as onion and garlic can cause harm, then of course artificial foods and sweeteners can too! Xylitol is an example of an artificial sweetener that has been known to induce liver failure in dogs when consumed. Xylitol is found in a variety of consumer products, but is easily spotted on the ingredients list for those that want to know what they can feed their dog.
Sometimes problems such as diarrhea can be a result of feeding your dog dairy products, whether it be milk or foods prepared with mentioned dairy products. Not every dog has the ability to break down the enzymes that are in milk. As a result, the dairy is passed through the digestive system and will cause problems for the dog as long as dairy remains in the diet.
Caffeine is one all pet owners should remember. Caffeine can be found in chocolate, coffee, and many types of drinks such as soda. Caffeine will speed up the heart rate of the dog and cause problems to the nervous system. This is why it is urgent that dogs never be fed chocolate, even though the caffeine in chocolate is often just a small amount. Dogs given caffeine will often observe severe heart problems and jitters.
Dog diets are hard to balance, since every breed of dog can be different. Each individual dog will also have different likes, tastes, and personality. Focus on building a well-balanced diet instead of feeding a dog table scraps or solely “human food.” Otherwise the proteins and fats may be off balanced, and could lead to health issues later on.
Closing Comments
Feeding a dog is a science. You have to show responsibility in caring for your dog, and brush up on other foods that you should not feed to him or her. Otherwise you may cause unintentional harm to your dog, and in some cases, could face actual legal charges.
Learn more about Flint River Ranch Dog Food and Flint River Ranch Pet Food.
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