Many
vets have reported an increase in dogs being brought into their
surgeries, suffering from aliments which can be directly traced to inappropriate feeding over Christmas.
Most
vets attribute
this
rise in harmful consumption to
human treats such
as
stuffing,
chocolate,
Christmas pudding,
mince pies
and grapes. This type of food can be dangerous for dogs and even
prove fatal in a few cases.
Well
meaning owners, who want their dog to have a few extra treats at
Christmas may end up causing their best friend great distress.
“If
you suspect that your dog has eaten something harmful, like
chocolate, raisins, or onions, see a vet immediately.
Onions
or food containing onions is dangerous because dogs do not have the
necessary enzymes in their digestive system to deal with onion and
related foods such as garlic. Chocolate can cause serious harm to a
dog because it contains a substance called theobromine. Similar to
caffeine, the stimulant is poisonous to dogs and can affect the
heart, central nervous system and kidneys. Symptoms can occur from
four hours after ingesting chocolate and can include vomiting,
diarrhoea, increased heart rate and seizures.
Also,
it should not be forgotten that controlling a dog's diet is a
discipline for the whole year, not just over the Christmas season.
Along with avoiding chocolate, owners should avoid feeding dogs
grapes, raisins, onions or garlic
No comments :
Post a Comment