Is it safe to give milk chocolate in small amounts to my dog?
No, it’s unsafe. Dogs are very sensitive even to small quantities of theobromine, which is the component of chocolate that is poisonous and potentially lethal to them. This component occurs in milk chocolate, not just dark. (Chocolate also contains caffeine, which is toxic to dogs.)I know this from personal experience. My medium-sized, 22 kg dog ate one of these after they spilled on the floor:She was up all night with an upset stomach, whining in pain. I took her to the vet the next day and got her treated, but she still took days to fully recover.So if your dog eats what seems like it should be a trivial amount of chocolate, don’t take it lightly - go to the vet asap.
My dog ate a small amount of onion?
That small an amount of onion won't hurt your dog, but you shouldn't let her/him eat very many or very often. My dogs occasionally eat onions when they are mixed with other food and haven't had any problems. "The quantity of onions required is high enough that dogs can generally tolerate small doses of onions without any problem and moderate amounts of onion without clinically apparent disease, even though there may be measurable changes on lab test results." (vetinfo4dogs.com)
Will a small amount of decaf coffee hurt my dog?
As much as they love it, chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine, which will accelerate your pet's heartbeat to dangerous highs, often fatally. Vomiting, diarrhea, increased heart rate, heart arrhythmias, muscle tremors, rapid breathing, hyperactivity, and seizures are signs that your dog has been poisoned. This also includes caffienated beverages such as sodas, teas, and coffees. In some dogs it is enough to severely weaken or kill the dog. Common symptoms that would be noticeable are dark colored urine, fever, dizziness, weakness, confusion, increased heart rate and heart murmur. Seek veterinary care immediately. Sorry about the bad news but I hope that this helped.
Can we safely put garlic or some other condiments in dog food to make the dog food more appealing?
Garlic (and onion) can be poisonous to dogs and cats. The amount required to cause serious harm varies from animal to animal, so you should never give them garlic or onion, just to be safe.Loss of appetite can be a sign of health issues- always take you dog to the vet ASAP if you suspect any health problem.That PSA out of the way, there are several ways you can trick picky animals into eating a healthy meal:Do make sure they are hungry- don’t feed them lots of treats or snacks through the day and then expect them to eat the same amount at dinner! Try banning treats for a couple of hours before each meal.If you use a lot of treats in training, remember that they only need a taste of the food as a reward - the ideal training treat should only be the size of your little fingernail. Remember that, for some dogs, play, petting and praise are also great rewards.Don’t give in and feed them treats or human food when they don’t eat their own! This just teaches them that if they don’t eat it, then they are rewarded with something better.Do mix in or sprinkle on some cooked unseasoned meat, cheese, ham, raw carrot or other favourite healthy treat to get them to eat their own food. Do this before you put the bowl down for them.Warming wet food can often make it smell stronger and more appealing. Just make sure that you mix it through and test it to ensure none of it is too hot for your dog.Giving the dog a set amount of time to eat encourages them to clean their plate. Don’t force them to gulp it down too fast, but give them 30 minutes and then pick the food up and clean the bowls. If they don’t eat their breakfast the first day you try this, then they will be absolutely fine to wait until lunch/dinner unless they have special dietary needs, or are a very tiny dog.
Dog won't eat and the test came back OK?
I posted a question a few days ago about my Shih Tzu that went in for blood workup because he is;nt eating and losing weight fast..He is 7 years old and nothing interest him..I took him yesterday for X-Rays to see if he may have a Tumor as the Blood and Stool came back Normal..I called today to see if maybe he lost his sense of smell and she said that does;nt come on as quickly as his condition did..She is at a loss right now,so does anyone have a similar story that may help me get him to eat and put weight on??.He does'nt get sick and eats just a very tiny bit..His teeth are also fine..What can be wrong??? Please Star
Do you feed your dog with fruits and vegetables?
We love to share food with our dogs, and since fruits and vegetables are healthy for us, we often assume that they’re healthy for our pets, too. This is often the case, but that certainly doesn’t mean it’s always the case. In fact, there are some fruits and vegetables that are toxic to our dogs. The main issue with fruits and vegetables is that people seem to think that just because its “healthy” for humans it must be great for a dog, right?. Dogs digest differently than humans, and eating the wrong foods can lead to long-term health problems and, in extreme cases, even death. As carnivores, they have no need for fruits and vegetables as part of their diet, but an occasional fruit or veggie as a treat is OK. Lets go over the most common.The Good and The Bad:Apples – Good. They are the most common fruit in the home. Apples are an excellent source of vitamins A and C, as well as fiber for your dog. They are low in protein and fat, making them the perfect snack for senior dogs. Just be sure to remove the seeds and core first.Grapes – Bad. The understanding of how grapes affect dogs is actually recent, but it’s been discovered that they’re associated with canine kidney failure. Keep in mind that raisins are dried grapes so be sure to never confuse the two.Carrots – Good. Carrot sticks are widely considered to be a healthy alternative to traditional dog treats. Some vets even recommend cold carrots for teething puppies as a way to relieve teething discomfort, and large frozen carrots make cheap and edible chew toys. Chewing on carrots can even help improve your dog’s dental health.Onions – Bad. According to ASPCA, Onions can cause gastrointestinal irritation and could lead to red blood cell damage.Avocado – Bad. It contains toxic principle known as persin. Avocado is primarily a problem for birds, rabbits, donkeys, horses, and ruminants including sheep and goats. According to the ASPCA, dogs won’t experience serious illness from eating avocado. They must eat large portions of the stuff but try to stay away from it.Strawberries – Good. Strawberries are full of fiber and vitamin C. Along with that, they also contain an enzyme that can help whiten your dog’s teeth as he or she eats them.Broccoli – Good. It is high in fiber and vitamin C and low in fat. Broccoli is safe for dogs to eat in very small quantities and is best served as an occasional treat.Can My Dog Eat That? - DoggyCrap.com
Food coloring: Is it safe for dogs?
Generally, it's OK to use food coloring in dog food. Dyes that are safe for humans are generally safe for dogs, too, though they haven't usually been specifically tested on dogs. Some things that are safe for humans are toxic to dogs (see below), food dyes aren't on that list. In ordinary amounts, in fact, most people food is safe, but dogs are very prone to eating ridiculous amounts of anything given the opportunity. Since you should be giving the treats in reasonable amounts, it's safe enough. Just be aware that your dog could be a allergic to it. Just watch for strange behaviour or symptoms. http://www.vetinfo.com/dtoxin.html
What will happen if a human eats a dog biscuit? What are the risks?
It actually depends on the biscuit and what it’s made of.I took a bite of one before. It was a regular cookie like the picture above, it tasted very bland. No excitement there.But 99% of dog biscuits that are sold in stores contain something harmful to humans.Specifically, raw meat.Let’s take a look at the ingredients of Milk Bone Original Dog SnacksWheat Flour, Wheat Bran, Beef Meal and Beef Bone Meal, Wheat Germ, Beef Fat (Preserved with Tocopherols), Poultry By-Product Meal, Lamb Meal, Salt, Chicken Meal, Dried Beet Pulp, Dicalcium Phosphate, Bacon Fat (preserved With BHT, Propyl-gallate, And Citric Acid), Brewers Dried Yeast, Whey, Artificial Color (Includes Red 40, Yellow 5, Blue 1), Vitamins (Choline Chloride, Dl-Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate [Vitamin E], Vitamin A Acetate, Calcium Pantothenate, Riboflavin, Vitamin B12 Supplement, D-Activated Animal Sterol [Source of Vitamin D3]), Malted Barley Flour, Iron Oxide, Casein, Natural Flavor (Source of Peanut Butter Flavor), Sodium Metabisulfite (Dough Conditioner), Minerals (Zinc Sulfate, Calcium Carbonate, Copper Sulfate, Ethylenediamine Dihydriodide [Source of Iodine]), Soy LecithinSo there are Five ingredients in them that could cause food poisoning.I’m not going to eat one to give you the results. Not to mention that it would taste horribleBut I don’t suppose They’re too dangerous, especially considering that being a professional dog food taster is a legitimate job that typically pays up to $30k per year.[1] Ingredients for Milk Bone Original Dog Snacks[2] Professional Dog Food TasterFootnotes[1] MILK-BONE® Original Dog Snacks[2] Professional Dog Food Taster Is Actually a Real Job | Oddity Central - Collecting Oddities