Most pets are given encouragement whenever they do something good. It is an incentive for the pet for a repeat performance. There are a cornucopia of treats available in various sizes, shapes, and consistencies. And yet, there are some which are dangerous dog treats for several reasons.
Here are a few examples which should be supervised whenever being given to the dogs. They are greenies or dental treats, bones and rawhide, cookies, and soft and chewy treats. They appear to be quite innocent of the charge but danger can follow eating any of them nonetheless.
In the case of greenies, these are common dental tidbits which help to keep the dog’s mouth clean. In giving the dogs the greenies, one should be careful and watchful that the dogs don’t eat them too quickly as this could cause choking. Be aware of any irregularities like vomiting, bloody stool or a difficult time in breathing. Once this should happen, one should seek medical help.
There are bones specially made for dogs. Just chewing on these bones can sometimes be detrimental to the dogs if they bite into the bones too quickly. The bones may snap and get stuck in their gums, causing bleeding or maybe break into too small pieces and get stuck in their throats, causing choking.The rawhide is a very common snack for the dogs. It does keep them occupied because the hide is so hard, it takes the dogs a long time to chew on it. But there are times when the danger of even a small piece being swallowed by the dog, may cause harm or even death.
Innocent dog cookies can also pose a threat. The size and ingredients can sometimes play a role. Sometimes too small cookies can cause the pets to choke because they might eat them too quickly and if the cookies were not softened enough. Just like humans, certain foods may cause an allergic reaction to dogs. One should be aware of the food labels and be cautious when giving treats for the first time.
The chewy type of snacks like beef jerky or bully sticks, could also pose a problem for the pet’s health. Because they are so pliable, if not chewed on enough, and swallowed too fast, the pet might choke on the pieces. Needless to say, one must be mindful of the size of the treat.
For the most part, with adequate supervision, dog treats can be safe for pets. One must also take care in putting the snacks out of the pets reach. The last thing one wants to happen, is for the pet to over-indulge in the treats if they should find them and become sick because of it.
Having looked at some of the possibilities of giving snacks to pets, it easy to see how care must be given to them as if they were young children. Just like young children, pets need loving care and the watchful eye of their guardian. As they get more able to take care of themselves, one might be a little more comfortable in doing things differently but still carefully.
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