When buying dog products for our furry best friends, we tend to go overboard on the extravagant and scrimp on the necessary, not really understanding the difference between the two. While our top priority is to ensure our pets live a happy and healthy life, we should also ensure they live safely as well.
Among the many dog products that can put our pets’ lives at risk is dog food. These days, there are many varieties of dog food available in the market, all claiming to be the best. From dry food, to wet food, to organic food, to all-natural, it can be a challenge to find the best dog food that will truly be the best for our beloved pet and not one that will make them ill.
There are many ways by which we can keep our dogs safe and healthy and most of the time, they start with something basic like never allowing strangers to feed your dog, especially dog food products with refined sugar and flour, as well as foods high in fat content as ingestion of fat tends to bone splintering and can send a dog to the emergency room. Chocolate can also be lethal to pets because it contains theobromine, which causes heart palpitations, overstimulation of the central nervous system and constriction of the arteries.
To prevent these from happening, it is best to know which foods you shouldn’t feed your pet aside from fatty foods and chocolate. This isn’t to say that feeding them the top brands of commercial dog food will solve the problem as you still need to do research on them since there are some dog food brands that have been recalled by the FDA due to salmonella contamination. Salmonella, when ingested by pets can cause them to be lethargic and develop bloody diarrhea, fever and vomiting. Some will lose their appetites and experience abdominal pain so when any of these symptoms happen to your pet, you need to call a veterinarian immediately.
It is also best to refrain from giving your dog supplements especially ones that are not prescribed or approved by a qualified veterinarian. Most dog-owners give their dogs supplements to ensure they get the nutrients they need but when a dog is already eating a balanced diet, there is no need to give him supplements except perhaps, probiotics which helps relieve and prevent gastrointestinal problems and is what vets consider the safest long-term.
Studies have shown that too much vitamins and minerals can cause more health problems in dogs than not. Too much Vitamin A for instance, can cause damage to their blood vessels as well as dehydration and joint pains. Too much Vitamin D on the other hand can lead to muscular atrophy and cause your pet to stop eating. Too much calcium can also cause skeletal problems particularly in large-breed dogs. If you want to add to your dog’s nutrient intake, you just need to add more fruits and vegetables to his diet.
Keeping our pets safe and healthy is the number one thing about being a responsible pet owner. With the internet being the best and biggest source of information, there is almost no excuse not to find out about dog products online and find the ones that are best for the well-being of our pets. Go online now and explore every possibility and come up with ways to make sure Fido lives a long, happy and healthy life both of you can enjoy.