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TOXIC
FOODS
Weimaraner and Goldendoodle puppies are curious
creatures; they also like to eat and chew on things. This sometimes
gets them into trouble when they ingest something that they
shouldn't. Dog owners must be aware of the
products, foods, and plants that are hazardous to
canines, and they also must be able to recognize symptoms
of poisoning. This is extremely important because
the sooner that care is sought, the better the outcome for
the dog.
CHOCOLATE
Though
we think of chocolate as just a delicious treat, an
indulgent dog may find it lethal. An ounce of milk
chocolate per pound of canine can kill a dog;,
unsweetened baker's chocolate is 10 times more potent.
Containing a heart and central nervous system stimulant,
the early stages of chocolate ingestion include
vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness and excessive drinking
and urinating. This escalates to hyperexcitability,
muscle tremors, seizures, and abnormal heart rhythm.
Death can occur 18 hours to a few days later due to
cardiac and respiratory failure.
If caught
soon enough after ingestion, induced vomiting and
activated charcoal can be given to absorb the toxin.
Cases of extensive arthritis have been noted after
recovery.
XYLITOL, A HAZARDOUS
SWEETENER
An
artificial sweetener found in sugarless gum, beverages,
toothpaste, and cereals, Xylitol is harmless to
people but triggers a massive release of insulin in
dogs.
Clinical
signs include vomiting, weakness, depression, lack of
coordination, and even seizures.
Treatment
with intravenous glucose needs to be administered
quickly to prevent death.
GRAPES
Though
they may
seem
unlikely
poisons,
grapes
and
their
dried
out
relatives,
raisins,
can be
hazardous
to
canines.
At
first,
researchers
looked
for
toxins
(pesticides
and
such) on
the
grapes
to
account
for
poisonings,
but this
would
not
explain
cases of
dogs who
were
affected
after
eating
organic
grapes
directly
off of
backyard
vines.
Clearly
it was
the
grapes
themselves
that
contained
the
toxic
substance,
although
the
specific
poison
has not
yet been
identified.
Whatever
the
toxin in
this
fruit,
dogs are
highly
susceptible
to it.
The
average
toxic
dose is
about a
half
pound of
grapes
for a
medium-sized
dog, but
much
smaller
quantities
have
caused
death.
Early
signs of
poisoning
include
vomiting
and
diarrhea,
loss of
appetite,
depression,
and
abdominal
pain.
As the
kidneys
deteriorate
over
time,
urine
production
stops.
Intensive,
rapid
treatment
is
needed
to
retain
kidney
function.
ONIONS
It has
been
said
that the
amount
of onion
in a Big
Mac was
enough
to
trigger
poisoning
symptoms
in a
dog.
A toxic
agent in
onions
damages
red
blood
cells
and
destroys
hemoglobin,
diminishing
the
oxygen-carrying
capacity
of the
blood.
Symptoms
include
pale
gums,
anemia
and
seizure,
caused
by lack
of
oxygen
to the
brain.
YEAST
DOUGH
Rising
yeast
dough
can
cause
gas to
build up
in pets'
digestive
systems,
causing
their
stomachs
or
intestines
to
rupture.
Once the
dough is
cooked
this
risk
lessens,
so it's
generally
safe for
pets to
have a
small
amount
of bread
as a
treat.
However,
according
to the
ASPCA,
such
yeast-containing
foods
should
make up
no more
than 5
to 10
percent
of their
total
daily
caloric
intake.
OTHER
TOXIC
FOODS
Alcoholic
beverages,
avocados
(leaves,
seeds,
skin,
stem),
coffee,
cola
drinks,
hops
(used in
home
beer
brewing),
macadamia
nuts,
moldy
foods,
potato
(leaves,
stems,
sprouted
potatoes,
other
green
parts),
rhubarb
leaves,
salt,
tea,
tomato
(leaves,
stems,
other
green
parts),
walnuts.
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