| Sadly, there are several household items which we | | | | In addition to seemingly innocent chocolate, there are |
| tend totake for granted that are potentially very | | | | a number ofother common household items that may |
| hazardous to yourdog's health. It is especially | | | | seem safe for our dogs but that canbe downright |
| important to be aware of this because asyou know, | | | | dangerous. |
| dogs are very much scavengers and will often eat | | | | Some mushrooms, for example, can produce |
| whateverthey can sink their fangs into. I would say | | | | abdominal pain, liver anddkidney damage and amenia. |
| that may own dog is morelike a mobile garbage | | | | So be aware of wild mushrooms when you are |
| disposal. It is also very important to be aware | | | | outwalking your dog in wooded areas. Garlic may |
| ofthese itemssince their sense of smell is so well | | | | seem benign but can causevomiting, liver damage, |
| developed that your pooch will beable to find what | | | | anemia and diarrhea so do not give your pet |
| you may think is well hidden. | | | | babyfood since it can contain garlic. |
| One of these dangerous household items, it turns | | | | Anti-freeze can shut down your dog's kidney and |
| out, is simplechocolate. While chocolate has been | | | | they tend to love thetaste. Miscletoe can cause |
| reported recently to be high inhuman-friendly | | | | vomiting, abdominal pain and depression. |
| antioxidants,it appears to be potentially lethal for our | | | | Onions can causeliver damage, anemia and diarrhea. |
| pets, and particularly forour dogs. Cats are mostly | | | | Onion can also sometimesbe found in baby food. |
| unaffected since they do not care for thetaste of | | | | Cats are actually somewhat more sensitive tothis |
| chocolate, but dogs tend tobe crazy about it. Certain | | | | one so keep out of the reach of both. |
| breeds of dogs react indifferently tochocolate. The | | | | Coffee, like cocoa, is especially dangerous, and may |
| root of the problem is that chocolate contains | | | | cause heart rateincrease, diarrhea, seizures, coma, |
| variouschemicals which are called methylxanthine | | | | death. Caffeine just does not havethe same effect in |
| alkaloids(sometypes have more ofthese chemicals | | | | dogs. |
| than others) | | | | When outside be careful around apple and cherry |
| Sadly, relatively miniscule amounts of these chemicals | | | | trees. While the fruitis safe, the leaves and roots are |
| are capable ofcausing such serious problems as | | | | not. |
| constriction of the arteries and anincreased heart | | | | And be very careful about Moth Balls. it's primary |
| rate. Large amounts may cause even more dire | | | | chemical naphthaleneis extremely toxic to dogs and |
| symptoms anda pound of milk chocolate could | | | | can result in tremors and seizures. |
| possibly kill a sixteen pound dog. | | | | Concerning dog food, you should be looking for |
| If you find that your dog has eaten chocolate then | | | | dyesand other chemicals, according to Dr. Jane |
| by all means takenote of the it's type and try to | | | | BHA, for instance, which is one of the main |
| estimate the amount eaten. Then get onthe phone | | | | syntheticantioxidant preservatives used to prevent |
| with a veternarian or an emergency facility. Be sure | | | | fooddiscoloration, has been observed to cause |
| that yourchildren know how important it is to keep | | | | cancer in laboratoryrats at certain doses. Small doses |
| chocolate out of your dog'sreach. | | | | are as yet unclear but since dogfood is eaten every |
| If you are not aware that your dog has consumed | | | | day caution is advised. |
| chocolate, theconsequences could be severe. If | | | | Many conventional dog food brands have large |
| consumption is not found within 4 to 6 hourswithout | | | | quantities of sodium tomake them palatable, and this |
| the right treatment, cardiac failure, seizures, coma | | | | can be quite harmful to a dog. |
| and deathcould result, according to veternarian Dr. | | | | Other ingredients to wary of are dairy, by-products, |
| Jane Bicks. | | | | chemicalpreservatives and artificial colors. |