4 things that are a danger to your dog...
1. Most people realize that chocolate is poisonous for dogs, due to the theobromine in it. But did you realize grapes and raisins can be as dangerous, and can cause kidney malfunction? An additional food danger to watch out for is sharp bones that can get lodged in the throat. For example, chicken bones can easily splinter, that is why it is a good idea to never give your dog chicken bones. Chicken itself is OK, as long as you are extremely careful to remove all the bones. Even if the bones do not splinter, sometimes they can get lodged in the intestine, causing serious problems.
2. Hypoglycemia in puppies is not uncommon, especially in toy breeds. It is important to monitor food intake very carefully, and make sure they are eating every few hours. Puppies burn a lot of energy playing, and it is of utmost importance they have a high quality easily digestible food. Hypoglycemia in puppies begins with them becoming listless and can eventually leads to seizures. It is a good idea to have honey or karo syrup around the house, if they seem to have hypoglycemia due to overplaying or not enough food, place some karo syrup on their gums inside the mouth. Watch carefully, and if the puppy still seems unusually listless, you may want to get them to the veterinarian.
3. Hot weather can be a danger to dogs, causing problems like heat exhaustion to burns. Do not exercise your dog in hot weather, as this can cause heat exhaustion. Some signs of this include panting, disorientation, and vomiting. Immediately get your dog into the air conditioned house, give him water, wrap him in a cool damp towel, and wipe his feet pads with rubbing alcohol. If he is not much better within 10 minutes, get him to the veterinarian. It is better not to force your dog to stay outside when temperatures exceed 85 degrees. If you must, make sure they have shade and an endless supply of water that cannot be knocked over. You might want to look into a mist attachment for your hose to keep your dog cooler as well. Do not forget about the hot pavement when walking your dog either, if you cannot stand on the pavement in bare feet, either can your dog!
4. For poisoning you can call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center hotline at 888-426-4435. There are so many toxic substances that could be dangerous to your dog, it is best to get professional help. If you feel that your dog may not be in serious trouble, take the time to call poison control, if he shows signs of distress get him into emergency right away. It is always best to ask, just to make sure. For example, if your dog gets into rat poison, he will seem ok at the time. But rat poison causes internal bleeding and would cause your dog to bleed to death over the course of several days. Take the time to dog proof your home ASAP, and make certain there are not any toxic substances your dog can get into.
