Toxic Foods for Dogs.

I thought I better put a post out here about toxic foods.  A surprising amount of people do not actually know what is poisonous to their pets. 

Caffeine/Chocolate:

 Many owners do not realise this can potentially lead to death.  Coco powder and cooking chocolate being the most lethal followed by semi-sweet chocolate.  A dog that has ingested a large quantity of chocolate will exhibit symptoms that include staggering, laboured breathing, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, tremors, fever, heart rate increase, arrhythmia, seizures, coma or death however these may not occur until several hours after the consumption.

Onions/Garlic:

Onions are more of a danger as they contain more thiosulphate however garlic contains it as well but more of it would need to be consumed.  Any form of onion can cause poisoning including leftover takeaways or baby food.  Symptoms may occur a few days after consumption and include Hemolytic Anemia, laboured breathing, liver damage, vomiting, diarrhoea, discoloured urine.

Mushrooms:

Can be fatal if a certain type is eaten.  Symptoms include Abdominal pain, drooling, liver damage, kidney damage, vomiting diarrhoea, convulsions, coma, death.

Grapes/Raisins:

A HANDFUL of raisins or grapes is enough to cause serious damage. Symptoms include vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain, and lethargy.


Nuts:
Especially Macadamia nuts.  Their high phosphorus content is said to possibly lead to bladder stones. Dogs develop a tremor of the skeletal muscles, and weakness or paralysis of the hindquarters. Affected dogs are often unable to rise and are distressed, usually panting. Some affected dogs have swollen limbs and show pain when the limbs are manipulated.

Cat Food:

Is too high in protein and fats for dogs.  Also do not feed fish with bones as they can cause obstruction or laceration of the digestive system.

Fat Trimmings:

Can cause pancreatitis.

Milk/Dairy Products:

Some dogs do not have enough of the enzyme lactase that beaks down the lactose in milk.  This can result in diarrhoea.

Raw Eggs:

Contain an enzyme called avidin, which decreases the absorption of biotin (a B vitamin). This can lead to skin and hair coat problems. Raw eggs may also contain Salmonella.

Raw Fish:

Can result in a thiamine (a B vitamin) deficiency leading to loss of appetite, seizures, and in severe cases, death. More common if raw fish is fed regularly.

So please.  Stick to normal dog food.  Human food is not good for your pet whether it is toxic or not.  If your pet portrays any of the signs above take them to a vet. The smaller the dog is the less it has to consume to be affected.

If you ever see your dog eating any type of bulb or flower please take them to the vets as these can be very very toxic along with ferlilisers.  ALWAYS make sure fertilisers are pet friendly before applying them to your garden.

Why I want to be a vet.

I am currently in year 10 at school (first year of GCSE's) and many of my friends still don't know what they want to do when they grow up.  I have on the other hand known what I have wanted to do for a while now.  Become a vet.  Why? Well, I love to learn, the more unusual the better.  Working in a 9 till 5 job doing the same thing day in day out would drive me mad!  I want to do a job that involves new things.  Not knowing what will walk through the doors could be a case of something really simple like a dog with a tick, or something more unusual.  I would like to know that I am helping in some way, either an animal suffering or giving advice to people on how to stop their pet from suffering. I also really want a job with animals as I find it amazing how they communicate with each other and trying to communicate with us and I would love to learn more and help out when they are suffering.

  Yes, I am a long way off uni yet but I know there is a long battle ahead if I am going to become a vet.  I recently went on a course at Nottingham University on becoming a vet or a doctor.  That course made me want to be a vet even more.  I have been doing the odd bit of work experience so far but now I will be doing a lot more and I shall blog anything that I find interesting or that I learn along the way.