10 Dangerous Foods Your Dog Should Never Eat

 

When working at the kitchen counter preparing a meal for the day, those who have dogs will be familiar with having a shadow. They sit there with their puppy dog eyes, just waiting and watching for something to drop their way. Most of us can’t help but throw them a bit of whatever we are cooking at the time.

Although our dogs might look like they want what we have more than anything, it doesn’t mean that they should get it. Our digestive systems work differently from theirs. We, humans, enjoy many things that we can’t digest or that are toxic for them.

When you have a dog and know that there is a chance that you will share some of your food with them, it is essential to understand what they should and shouldn’t eat.

In this article, we go over the most common human foods that your dog shouldn’t eat and why it is dangerous for them.

Dangerous Foods That Your Dog Shouldn’t Eat

Dogs are animals that don’t need much more than meat in their diet. They can glean some beneficial nutrients from fruits and vegetables, though. You need to be selective about what you feed them and take special care to ensure that the food isn’t dangerous.

1. Alcohol

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At the end of a long day, a beer or a glass of wine can go a long way. However, alcoholic beverages and food containing even traces of alcohol can be incredibly damaging for your dog. It can cause vomiting and diarrhea.

Like humans, it will induce depression in the central nervous system and even cause difficulty breathing, tremors, coma, and even death. Their body is simply not meant to digest alcohol. If your pet has ingested any alcohol, contact the Animal Poison Control Center or your veterinarian immediately.

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2.Avocado

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Avocados might be a superfood for us humans, but it doesn’t usually sit well with dogs. They don’t have as much of a problem with it as horses and birds will, but it is still hard for them to digest. In large quantities, it can cause cardiovascular issues.

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3. Bones

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We can’t give bones to dogs? But what about all of those bones sold by pet stores across the country? Have we been giving our pups dangerous food this whole time?

No, not necessarily. Bones that come straight from animals and have been cooked are different from bones processed by pet food companies. You can still give your dog bones from something like livestock, but you shouldn’t ever give them bird bones because these will splinter. You shouldn’t give them cooked bones because these can also splinter and get stuck in their throat.

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4.Caffeine

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We might live off of coffee but our dogs shouldn’t. Caffeine contains a compound called methylxanthines. When ingested by your dog, it can cause vomiting and diarrhea, excessive thirst, urination, panting, hyperactivity, tremors, seizures, and even death. That just means you get to keep your coffee all to yourself.

Candy

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Sugar is essentially unneeded and dangerous in your dog’s diet. There might be times when you can let them try a small piece of something sugary, but even a little too much can cause adverse reactions. The sugars and preservatives in candy can cause hyperactivity and increased heart rate. If they overeat, it can eventually cause diabetes and unhealthy amounts of weight gain.

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6. Chocolate

Chocolate falls under both categories of candy and coffee because the cacao seed used to make chocolate also contains methylxanthines. Chocolate is incredibly toxic for dogs, and they should never get to indulge in this tasty treat. Dark chocolate is the most dangerous because it contains the highest percentage of cacao, along with baked chocolate. Even white chocolate, which has the lowest level of methylxanthines, shouldn’t be fed to your dog.

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7. Citrus fruit

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You might have seen the videos of someone trying to feed their dog a lemon. While funny and entertaining, it is not the best choice for the continued health of your pup. Citrus fruits contain citric acid. These essential oils cause irritation and even some swelling in your dog’s mouth and throat.

If they overeat any part of a citrus plant, it can cause depression in their central nervous system. They have to eat large helpings of citrus fruit for this to happen, though. It is unlikely to give them any problems in small doses beyond an upset stomach.

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8. Coconut

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Coconut is not one that you have to be inordinately careful with, unlike chocolate or coffee. Coconut and its products, such as coconut oil, shouldn’t harm your pet in small amounts. Fresh milk from a coconut can sometimes cause loose stool and diarrhea. It is best to use caution when offering anything with coconut to your dog.

9. Grapes (That Includes Raisins)

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Grapes and raisins are quite toxic for dogs. Scientists have yet to figure out what compound inside of grapes causes the reaction. However, if your dog eats grapes or raisins, it can cause kidney failure even in smaller amounts.

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10.Macadamia Nuts

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Do you ever crave a taste of Hawaii’s tropical shores? A macadamia nut might be a tasty, textural treat for us, but they are practically poison for a dog. They cause weakness in the limbs, vomiting, depression, tremors, and even hyperthermia. These signs will typically manifest within 12 hours of them eating the nut but won’t usually last for more than 48 hours.

Do I Need An Outdoor Cat Shelter?

 Even though it seems like we haven’t really had much of one, summer is drawing to a close. If, like me, you’re not looking forward to the winter ahead, spare a thought for your cats! For many cat owners, letting their feline friends come and go from the house isn’t possible so how important is it to have an outdoor cat shelter? While it’s definitely worth looking at installing a cat flap (Microchip cat flaps help to solve a lot of issues that regular flaps have), we understand that some cats will have to stay outside for extended periods of time. Outdoor cat kennels will provide your pet with shelter when the weather takes a turn for the worse. We will give you more of an idea of the benefits of an outdoor cat shelter along with the features of our range of Mr Snugs Outdoor Cat Kennels. They will be sure to prepare you and your cat for the winter months ahead. 

Benefits of an outdoor cat shelter

• Provides shelter from wet and cold weather
• Provides shelter from the sun in the summer months
• Enables you to leave your cat outside if you don't have a cat flap
• Allows them to freely wander outside but with the safety of having somewhere to retreat

We have a range of  Mr Snugs Outdoor Cat Kennel. Available in different colours and some with extra accessories. It is made from one piece of moulded plastic, which ensures the kennel is damp, leak and rot-proof and therefore exceptionally long-lasting.

Mr Snugs Cat Kennel Features

• Waterproof and windproof
• Drain hole for easy cleaning
• No joints for water to leak through
• Resistant to micro-organisms or parasites to ensure hygiene
• Made from a single piece of moulded plastic - No assembly required
• Will not rot like wooden cat kennels
• Also suitable for small dogs
• Damage and UV resistant
• The drainage hole at the bottom allows you to easily hosed down the interior
• Front roof overhang and recessed door to keep the interior dry
• Raised floor panel keeps the shelter warm, dry and cosy
• Available in 6 packages

You can simply have a Mr Snugs outdoor cat kennel shell, where your cat will be able to retreat to whenever they want shelter. We also have the same cat kennel that includes a heating pad that fits inside to give your cat that extra bit of warmth. Or to go that one step further, we have a kennel mattress and liner accessory that is specifically made for our Mr Snugs kennels. This will keep your cat well insulated, and being machine washable enables you to keep on top of your cat's hygiene.

The Best Outdoor Dog Kennels

 If your dog's kennel is starting to look a little bit weathered and worn, it might be time to treat your beloved pooch to a warm new cosy shelter outside your home. Perfect for winter and summer, we stock a fantastic selection of wooden and plastic dog kennels that will provide your dog with the ideal place to relax and shelter itself from the elements.

 

Goodspeed Flat Pack Shiplap Dog Kennel

The Goodspeed Flat Pack Shiplap Dog Kennel is a traditionally styled dog house that is perfect for positioning in your garden or backyard. The kennel is flat-packed for easy transportation and tidy storage, designed with shiplap boarding to keep the rain and cold wind at bay. The apex roof will offer ample room for your dog to stand and manoeuvre inside, making it feel spacious and non-restrictive for the time they need to spend outdoors.

 

Rosewood Weather Tuff Kennel Apex

 

This modern dog kennel is constructed from a wood and plastic composite, which has come from recycled sources. The kennel has the look and feel of machined wood, but without the maintenance that it would usually involve. It is quick to assemble and very easy to clean in order to keep looking and smelling as good as new.

 

Ferplast Kenny 01 Plastic Kennel

If you are looking for a way to give your dog shelter outdoors, but need to be able to move the location to another side of the garden or even to a different garden altogether, then a dog crate might be a more suitable option. The small kennel feels safe and secure, with plenty of room to sleep comfortably inside.

 

Ancol Sleepy Paws Self-Heating Pet Pad Dog Bed

Perfect for placing inside your new dog kennel, this self-heating mattress has a soft fleecy cover that is removable and washable. No batteries or mains power are required, as the thermal filling traps and reflects body heat to keep your dog cosy and warm.

How To Tell If Your Dog Is At A Healthy Weight

 For dogs to lead an active, healthy life it is important for them to maintain healthy body weight, and as a dog owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that they do so. The most important factors to consider when it comes to your pet's weight are the intensity with which it exercises, how often it gets to do so, and, of course, its daily food intake.

The results of an in-depth study carried out by Purina Pet Food and professional animal nutritionists in 2002 showed that by eating a properly regulated diet, dogs can live almost two years longer; which is quite a difference considering that the average lifespan of a dog is between ten and thirteen years. There are clear benefits to maintaining your dog's weight at a healthy level, but how do you know if your dog is at the correct weight?

If you are concerned your dog is underweight or overweight, you can get an accurate answer to this question by visiting a vet or pet nutritionist, but there are a few simple ways of finding out for yourself if your dog requires a lifestyle change.

Profile Analysis

• As a rule, a dog's abdomen should be higher up than its ribcage, so that from its front legs the underside gradually inclines up toward its rear.
• A steep incline suggests that your pet is underweight, whereas a shallow incline or no incline at all indicates that your dog is overweight.
• The best way to check your dog's profile is to lower yourself so that you are level with your dog and view it from the side.

Rib Examination

• Another way that you can quickly tell if your dog is overweight by placing your thumbs on your dog's spine and opening your hands over its ribcage.
• If your pet is at a healthy weight then you ought to be able to feel their ribs under their coat and skin, but if there is too much fat then you will not be able to.
• Make sure you look with your hands and not just your eyes, as a dog's coat can easily obfuscate its ribcage.

Overhead Inspection

• With a healthy body weight, a dog will have a shape similar to that of an hourglass figure, and you ought to be able to see it by standing just in front of its face and looking down.
• Ideally, you will be able to see its waist tucked behind the ribs.
• If you can see the outline of your dog's individual ribs and the waist is noticeably more narrow than its ribcage, then your pet is underweight; however, if the waist is in line with the ribs or bulges out past them then it is overweight.

You should adjust your dog's lifestyle accordingly depending on whether you find that it is overweight or underweight. If your pet is underweight then it is possible that you're over-exercising it and giving it food that is too low in calories. A specially developed working dog food would be ideal in this instance, as it is designed to provide dogs with an ample supply of energy and also contains an assortment of vitamins and minerals that will allow them to get back to a healthy weight whilst also improving their physical output.

If on the other hand, your dog is overweight, you should proceed by increasing its daily exercise regime and changing its diet to one that mainly consists of light dog food. Considering that in 2014 vets reported that almost half of the dogs in the UK are overweight, now is the time for dog owners to actively tackle canine obesity. If you find that your dog tends to get tummy upsets from certain foods, try them with grain-free dog food, which will aid digestion and help to reduce bloating.

Why Are Dogs’ Noses Wet? (Vet Answer)

 The first bit of any dog you’re likely to encounter is its nose since all dogs will always introduce themselves and investigate their nose first! The nose is a vital sensory organ for dogs, providing incredible amounts of information about their surroundings – especially (but not only) the smells! We often take noses for granted but dogs’ noses grant them serious superpowers and there’s a lot going on in there.

From our perspective (commonly when that nose gets shoved in your face!), most dogs have cold and wet noses, but why is this the case? Read on for more information!

What Is a Normal Nose for a Dog?

Most dog noses are wet and cold, most of the time. However, just like dogs in general, they do vary a lot from individual to individual, and from time to time.

An old saying advised us that a wet nose is healthy, and a dry nose means the dog is poorly. This is not true and all you need to know is what is normal for your dog. Some dogs naturally have wet noses, while some naturally have drier noses. Many dogs, especially as they age, get dry and sometimes slightly roughened or crusty noses after a lifetime of hard sniffing. Usually, this is nothing to worry about, although if you are worried about any redness or soreness then it is worth contacting your veterinarian.

The specific feel of a nose will vary depending on lots of factors like exercise, time of day, temperature, hydration, and humidity. Dogs also lick their nose a lot and this can change things too! All these variables are totally normal. Noses might dry out after sleep or when your dog is relaxed. Alternatively, the nose may be wetter after strenuous exercise.

Normal wet noses should be covered in a light covering of thin, clear mucus. Again, it is worth observing what is normal for your dog.

Is There a Problem With Your Dog’s Nose?

Many possible problems can affect the nose and may need a proper investigation by your veterinarian, although these are mostly quite unusual.

Consistently dry noses may be seen as part of a wider illness (dehydration and fever for example), but your dog will typically be showing other symptoms, more than just a dry nose. These might include lethargy or lack of appetite.

Noses can be involved in wider skin problems, such as allergic reactions (allergies), skin infections, and auto-immune diseases. In these situations, the nose or skin around it might be red, sore, crusty, angry looking, or abnormally discharging with pus or green tinges.

What if my dog’s nose has lots of discharge?

Normal wet noses should be covered in clear mucus. Again, it is worth observing what is normal for your dog, but any changes in this mucus or particularly any discharges from the nose might be worth contacting your veterinarian about if you are worried. Lots of discharge (snot, boogers, or sometimes blood) from the nostrils is not normal and should be checked by your veterinarian where possible. You may also notice this crusting as it dries around the nose. Small amounts of clear discharge are normal, but any other color of mucus is not normal.

If you are concerned about your dog, especially if they are showing any of the signs of ill health listed above, it is important to contact your local veterinarian for advice sooner rather than later.