Pet Food Safety
How to keep your furry friend healthy~
What do you feed your pet?
Pizza? Cupcakes? Bananas? Or maybe just regular generic pet food? Some owners feed their pets anything and everything but the kitchen sink. The reason why many people feel the need to share their own food with their pets is simply because they are part of the family. However, some owners may not know that the foods they are feeding to their pets could be harmful and fatal to their health.
What are the risks?
Many pets that are fed table scraps on a daily basis are more likely to suffer from obesity. They begin to ignore their own food, tempting owners to offer their own. This is a big problem especially around the holidays when a lot of food is present. Owners treat their dogs with foods like turkey, stuffing, and gravy, which can cause upset stomachs. Others feed them mince pies and raisin breads, which can cause kidney failure. Not to mention feeding your dog table scraps can also cause behavioral issues, such as begging, dominance, and hyperactivity.
Red Flag Foods!
Avocado
It may be strange to feed your dog this anyway, but don't try it. Avocados contain a toxin called persin. When ingested, it causes diarrhea, vomiting, and breathing problems.
Garlic
Garlic contains a substance called sulfoxide, which is a strong toxin. Consumption of this will stop red blood cell production and the dog's urine may be dark red or orange.
Apple Cores
Although they are not harmful to humans, apple cores contain cyanide, astrong toxin that dogs are not able to handle. The effects from this are dizziness, seizures, shock, hyperventilation, and coma.
Are there any safe human foods for my dog?
I know it's hard not to give in to those adorable puppy dog eyes, but there's good news! Safe and healthy "human foods" are out there that your furry pal can enjoy. Below are the most popular foods that owners treat their pets to.
- Peanut butter
- Cooked rice
- Fresh broccoli
- Sweet potatoes
- Fresh berries
Just keep in mind that all dogs are different. Just because your neighbor's dog doesn't react badly to a certain food, doesn't mean it's safe for your own dog. It would be a good idea consult a veterinarian with questions before feeding your dog a new food.
Works Cited
"Are Human Foods OK For Dogs To Eat?" Dogs. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2014.
- "12 Human Foods You Didn't Know Could Kill Your Dog." Foodbeast. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2014.
- "New Take on Feeding Your Dog Table Scraps: Is It Actually OK?" Pets Adviser. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Dec. 2014.
Pictures
- Pizza Dog. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.thisblogrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/Pizza-Dog-6.jpg>.
- Avocado. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.mnn.com/sites/default/files/Avocado_main_0511.jpg>.
- Garlic. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.thecandidadiet.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/garlic-large-620x360.jpg>.
- Apple Cores. Digital image. N.p., n.d. Web. <https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4047/4319953731_fa8659d820.jpg>.