As all pet parents know, our fur baby/ies love to put absolutely anything in their mouths. As long as it smells good their impulse reaction is "YUM, I wanna eat this". The thing is they don't know what is and isn't good for them. That is why it is our responsibility to know what is good and bad for their health.
We all wish our fur baby/ies could live forever but even if we hate to admit it, our fur babies don't live as long as we do. But by getting to know as much as we can about the do's & dont's and the good's & bad's in bringing up our fur baby/ies, we can make sure they live the longest life they possibly can.
So... What can you do to make sure your fur baby/ies live a long and happy life?
1. Do some research: Get to know your pets breed more
I know, I know... "Yuck, research". But that is the best way to know how to take care of your fur baby. Especially if you have never had the same breed before. You don't need to spend hours on hours on your laptop reading up about it, if your not the type of person that likes to read, you can always just ask your vet. Always keep in mind that your pet also needs to maintain a healthy lifestyle to live a long and happy life.
2. Don't buy just any treat: Your pet might be allergic and/or intolerant to one or more of the ingredients
Keep in mind that your pet can also experience allergies and have dietary restrictions like humans. The thing is they can't tell us whether or not their tummies are acting up or if they have a really bad rash because of something that they ate.
It is our job as pet parents to always keep an eye out on the reactions of our pets to what we feed them because some ingredients can be deadly to some breeds that aren't for other breeds.
3. Keep it all natural and organic! Keep a look out for these ingredients
Dogs have a very different metabolic rate. Some foods that are perfectly suitable for human consumption and other animals, may not be safe for your fur baby, instead it could toxic and even poisonous to your dog, posing a serious threat to their health and well-being. Now as a pet parent we need to know the most dangerous of those foods which can be seen in our everyday meals and in the reach of our fur babies. Here are the TOP 8 to keep in mind always.
1. SUGAR
Even in the diet of humans, sugar can be lethal and cause health issues, that's why splenda was made, right?
Well, for dogs, it's also corn syrup, fructose, dextrose, sucrose, and other simple sugars that can be found in sweets like donuts, cookies, and cakes. Too much sugar for your fur baby/ies can lead to dental issues, obesity and even diabetes. If you want to give your doggo a small light sweet treat, make sure that the treat is made with honey or maple syrup.
2. XYLITOL
Xylitol is a sugar alcohol used as a sugar substitute. It is used in making various candies, gums and other sweets. It is also a common ingredient in peanut butter. Generally, peanut butter is a great treat for dogs, that's why a lot of doggie treats have it, you just have to always make sure that there isn't any Xylitol in the mixture, as it is extremely toxic to dogs. Even just a pinch can cause low blood sugar, seizures, liver failure and even death for your pup.
3. GRAPES & RAISINS
Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure for dogs. Even a small amount can make your fur baby very ill. Vomiting is an early symptom followed by depression and low energy. There have even been cases of dogs dying from only a handful of grapes, so to be super duper safe, do not feed your pup grapes & raisins or even have them within their reach as this is extremely toxic food.
4. MILK & DAIRY PRODUCTS
Most canines are lactose intolerant; it's hard to know for sure if your dog is or isn't lactose intolerant, therefore it will be much safer and wiser to use milk substitutes such as almond milk or lactose free milk when treating your pup with some good old calcium. Fresh milk and dairy products such as cheese, butter, etc, can cause digestive problems as well as trigger food allergies in your fur babies. Fresh cow's milk given in small doses to your pup/s aren't going to harm them. You could get some smelly farts and some nasty cases of diarrhea. Given that, we most definitely don't want our fur baby/ies to experience unpleasant tummy aches, so it's best to stay away from them all together.
5. CHOCOLATE
To us humans, chocolate is deemed as a gift from above. However, to our pups, it is lethal. Chocolate contains theobromine and caffeine, which speed the heart rate and stimulate the nervous system. Depending on the type of chocolate, amount your dog ate and the weight of your fur baby will determine how sick (or not sick) your pupper can become.
The intake of much theobromine and caffeine in chocolate can result in restlessness, tremors, vomiting, diarrhea, increased urination, elevated heart rate, seizures and, if not bought to the vet right away, death. Listed below is the ranking of most dangerous (1) to least dangerous (6) chocolate to dogs:
1. Cocoa powder
2. Unsweetened baker’s chocolate
3. Semisweet chocolate
4. Dark chocolate
5. Milk chocolate
6. White chocolate
If your dog has ingested any of these chocolates no matter the rank, it is always the safest option to go straight to your vet.
6. ARTIFICIAL FLAVOURS & COLOURS
When buying treats for your fur babies, like anything, variety of colours or flavours always make us look twice and make it more likely for us to buy them. BUT, know this, some chemical dyes come from coal tar. Why would you want your fur baby to ever eat tar? As for artificial flavours, their smell and "taste" only trick our dogs into ingesting low quality treats which without them would most probably taste bitter and unappealing.
7. MEAT BY-PRODUCTS
Yes, meat by-products are used when making dry dog food and is a good source of protein and other nutrients, but when making treats, using dried dog food isn't an option. Therefore, meat by-products are a NO NO. Did you know that low grade meat by-products are made from but is not limited to lungs, spleen, kidneys, brain, livers, blood, bone, partially defatted low temperature fatty tissue, & stomachs & intestines freed of their contents. Would you eat that? I wouldn't. And I wouldn't want to feed that to my fur baby either. Always make sure that if your are going to choose a treat with meat, make sure the meats are of high quality.
There are many many other health hazards for your pooch that is why it is best to do some research, ask your vet or ask me and I'll do the research or ask a vet.
Never forget, all natural ingredients are the only option when thinking about safe treats and goodies to put in your fur baby/ies tummy. Make sure that all the ingredients in the packaging are of high quality, don't need/have artificial colourings and/or flavourings, and/or have poor grain fillers just to make them taste good. Keep in mind, THAT'S YOUR BABY, well, FUR BABY, that your are feeding. "Quality over Quantity" when it comes to buying treats for your pooch, that is the only way to go.
If you have any questions or comments, please hit me up! I'd love to hear some of them :)
xx
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