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Dogs and Grass Eating
Question
Do dogs eat grass because they need
to vomit, or do they vomit simply because they eat grass?
Answer
The cause and effect relationship in
animals of eating grass and then vomiting is often questioned. No one
has ever proven that dogs are intelligent enough to use grass as a
medicinal herb, so those in the medical profession generally believe
that dogs eat grass simply because they like the taste of it and that
the vomiting just follows.
Therefore, it's unlikely that a dog will eat grass or other plants in
the hopes that they will settle its stomach. Be aware, however, that
some plants, or grass that has been treated with fertilizer or
herbicide, can cause stomach upset or other problems, some of which may
be severe. See Prevent Poisonings for a list of toxic plants.
The Companion Animal Behavior Program at the University of California at
Davis School of Veterinary Medicine is currently conducting a study of
grass and plant eating behavior in dogs (and cats). Many theories as to
why dogs eat plants have been proposed. However, this is the first
scientific study to investigate this common behavior.
Raw hide chews
Question Are raw hide chews safe?
Answer
Rawhide chews are pretty harmless. The
problems come when they swallow them whole. They either choke on them,
or the rawhide balls up in the stomach and causes gastritis or blockage.
We've seen it all. Moderation is the key. One every once in a while is
OK, but they shouldn't be included as a regular toy or part of the diet.
In addition it's usually best to supervise or at least be nearby when
your pet is chewing on any toy.
Will salmon poison my dog?
Answer
Well-cleaned, thoroughly cooked,
deboned fish of any kind probably wouldn't hurt your dog. Salmon isn't
poisonous in and of itself. You're most likely thinking of a serious,
potentially fatal disease called "salmon poisoning," which is actually
caused by a tiny, parasitic organism carried by a fluke (a small, flat
worm) that fish can pick up. Cooking fish kills the organism, so "salmon
poisoning" can only be passed along by raw or undercooked fish.
Still, even cooked fish can be dangerous to your pup, particularly
because it contains a lot of small bones, which are hard for even the
most careful cook to remove. These sharp little bones can choke your dog
or even damage his esophagus or the rest of his digestive tract. So it's
probably best that you not get your dog into the habit of eating fish.
He'll be best off sticking with a high-quality commercial dog food. |
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Is it okay to give my dog milk?
Answer
This is a very good question! Few dog
owners know that most dogs tend to be lactose intolerant. This means
that they lack the enzyme beta lactamase, which allows the digestive
system to break down the kind of sugar contained in milk.
Dogs that lack this enzyme end up with a lot of undigested sugar in
their intestinal tract, which creates a wonderful breeding environment
for bacteria. When a lot of bacteria grows in the intestinal tract it
can irritate the stomach and intestine and cause vomiting and diarrhea.
These are the same problems that occur in lactose-intolerant people.
That being said, while many dogs are lactose intolerant, some are not.
Some dogs love the taste of milk and other dairy products and won't have
any stomach or intestinal problems when they get some as a treat.
The bottom line is, it may be okay to give your dog a small amount of
milk if it doesn't cause her any vomiting, diarrhea, or other
discomfort. Check with your veterinarian first to be sure it won't cause
your pooch any health problems or interfere with his diet.
How much water should I give my puppy at one time?
Answer
The answer to this one is easy - as
much as she wants! You don't have to limit dogs' intake of water, the
way you sometimes do with food. You also shouldn't worry about only
setting out water during scheduled mealtimes. In fact, it's important to
your puppy's health that you have fresh, clean water out for her all the
time. Dogs of any age need lots of water to help run body processes like
circulation, digestion, eliminating waste from the body, and more.
The one case where you might worry about too much water is if your pooch
suddenly starts to drink much more than usual, or if she seems
constantly thirsty. This could be a sign of a serious health problem, so
let your veterinarian know if your pet's drinking habits seem unusual or
have changed.
Will eating cat food hurt my dog?
Answer
Eating cat food probably won't hurt
your dog, though it's best that he doesn't eat it all the time. Cats and
dogs require different diets. Cats are pure carnivores, meaning they
typically eat nothing but meat, while dogs are omnivorous, meaning that
they eat some plant materials along with their meat.
Cat diets are made primarily of meat and meat products, so in the long
run they can be too rich for dogs and can cause digestive problems. They
are also denser in calories than dog diets, so they can lead to obesity
in dogs. Because of the additional fat and calories, cat food often
tastes better to dogs than dog food does, so you may have to keep an eye
on your dog to make sure he doesn't indulge in the kitty kibbles.
By the way, while cat food is generally okay for dogs, dog diets lack
essential nutrients that cats need to stay healthy, so cats can't live
on dog food. Overall, it's safest to feed your pets the kind of food
formulated to be healthiest for their specific species. (Ferrets may be
the exception. They are the only pets other than cats that are entirely
carnivorous, which is why ferrets can live on cat food.)
Should my dog eat carrots?
Question My dog loves carrots. Is there any reason why I shouldn't give
carrots to them?
Answer
Carrots are fine, but you need to keep
them to less than 10 percent of the total diet. If you give your dogs
too many, you could unbalance the diet. Be sure to give them in small
pieces or that they are chewed thoroughly to prevent blockages as well.
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