When you are thinking of adopting a pug, it is crucial that you learn all about proper pet care. Knowing what you can and cannot feed your furry friend is really important. If you think sketching up a healthy diet plan for your doggie will be an easy task for you, you could not be more wrong! There are several food items that are healthy for humans, but are harmful or dangerous for dogs. A simple mistake on your part can result in serious suffering for your dog. If you want the little guy to be healthy and fit, make sure you keep him away from the following food items:
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#1 Chocolates:
Chocolate ranks high in the list of the most harmful foods for dogs. Sure, humans love nothing more than to indulge in these sweet, savoury items. But you should never have chocolates lying around in the house. Dogs are curious creatures. If they find it, they will eat it! If you are wondering what makes chocolates so dangerous for dogs, you should know that it contains theobromine and caffeine, both of which fall under the category of methylxanthines. Dark chocolates contain more methylxanthines, which is a toxic substance for dogs.
If your dog eats chocolates, it may cause vomiting, abdominal pain, dehydration, severe agitation, elevated body temperature, irregular heart rhythm, seizures, muscle tremors and death.
#2 Milk:
Newly born pups get milk from their mother, which is healthy for them. The same cannot be said about milk that we humans consume. Also, your dog can be lactose intolerant, in which case, consumption of milk may result in diarrhoea, vomiting and other gastrointestinal problems. Milk contains sugar, and a dog’s body does not produce the enzyme that is required to digest it. Although milk is not immediately life threatening for dogs, it contributes to severe bacterial exposure that eventually leads to diseases.
#3 Cheese:
Does your dog beg you to give him a slice of your pizza or a bite of your grilled cheese sandwich? It can be hard to resist the puppy dog eyes, but you have to stay strong and refrain from giving your dog anything that contains cheese. Dogs cannot digest the sugar and fatty components that are present in cheese. Dairy products such as cheese can cause serious digestive issues in dogs. Symptoms may include diarrhoea, gas, vomiting and stomach ache.
#4 Onion:
Sure, onion does not count as food, and your dog will probably not want to chew on an onion. But the vegetable is added to a lot of food preparations. Eating food items that contains lots of onions can be harmful for your dog. Onions are responsible for damaging the red blood cells in dogs. Daily consumption of onion can make your dog weaker and less energetic. In severe cases, your dog may even need a blood transfusion.
#5 Macadamia Nuts:
It was recently discovered that the consumption of Macadamia nuts can be extremely harmful for dogs. The chemical components found in these nuts are known for cause toxic reactions in canine creatures such as dogs. Symptoms of such toxic reaction may include inability walk, weakness, vomiting, depression, staggering gait, hypothermia and tremors.
#6 Garlic:
If thought garlic is only bad for vampires, this will come as a surprise for you! Onion and garlic fall under the same family of vegetables. So, they are both harmful. The more garlic is consumed, the more serious the consequences will be. The effects of garlic consumption may not be very clear. You may find your dog to be tired and reluctant to move as a result of the toxic reaction. You may also notice a change in the colour of urine, which may turn dark red or orange.
#7 Bacon:
A popular breakfast food, bacon is loved by humans. You may have fed your dog some from your plate. However, you should know that foods such as bacon are rich in fat, and daily consumption of bacon can lead to pancreatitis in dogs. Pancreatitis is a serious ailment that will make your dog’s pancreas inflamed, and eventually it will stop functioning properly. If you don’t want your furry friend to experience severe problems with nutritional absorption and digestion, make sure you prevent him from eating bacon.
It is important to note that not all dog breeds react the same way to these food items. While for some breeds, symptoms start appear after a large consumption, other breeds may show the same symptoms after having a small amount of the same food. So, you need to be careful about what and how much you are feeding your dog because it will affect the lifespan of your dog.
Pugs are very adorable family dogs when they are on tip-top shape. We give you guidance on how to maintain your pug health condition, eating habits and exercise routine. You need to know this stuff as a responsible pug owner.