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| Myself (back), Skyler (middle), and Candycane (front) enjoying our homemade healthy treats made for us by Pam herself! |
As promised we will be talking about some healthy human food for our dogs. Honestly, all dog and human foods are based off the same ingredients. There are just a few things that are more beneficial or dangerous to our dogs or to us.
These are baseline findings and just as we are bio individual in what is right for each and every one of us, the same hold true for our animal companions. So get to know your companion and make your own call on these items mentioned the next few days. NOTE: I am in no way telling you it's okay to go give your dog a chocolate bar or a bunch of raisins.....I am just saying each dog is bio individual and may or may not be able to handle certain foods for him or herself. And really getting to know your dog and what is on the good and bad lists is essential.....once again the ASPCA has a somewhat complete list of these foods (honestly, can anything truly be complete with all the new information found each and everyday!)
Today we shall talk about: CHOCOLATE
Yes, that sweet wonderful food that has it's good and bad points for us, can be toxic for our dogs!
Through my research I found a toxicity meter for chocolate and dogs......let me share the link with you now: www.petmd.com/dog/chocolate-toxicity
You can put in your dogs weight and the chocolate type and amount consumed and you can see the toxicity of what was consumed. This can determine if your dog needs to be rushed to the ER, or if you can monitor your closely at home (a vet should always be consulted). Let's face it, dogs will get into things if something is their reach and it's tempting enough. Wouldn't you go for that piece of chocolate sitting on the counter if you were left alone and bored?!?!?!?
What makes chocolate so toxic is the theobromine and caffeine, which dogs are sensitive to (humans are also sensitive to this but not as much as our dogs!) These substances are called methylxanthines. The darker the chocolate, or more bitter it is- the greater the damage.
The theobromine is broken down a lot easier by humans than in dogs.
If your dog does get a hold of chocolate, check to see the kind of chocolate and watch your dog for vomiting, diarrhea, high body temperature, increased reflex responses, rapid breathing, high heart rate, low blood pressure, seizures, and other advanced signs like coma, cardiac failure, and weakness.
There is an alternative to chocolate for your dogs though if you want to share a treat with him or her. That being CAROB!
I use it when making treats for my dogs and I to share!
Carob doesn't contain theobromide or caffeine. And has a similar taste to Chocolate, a little different but it passes really well for it!
So when making treats for your dogs like Pam does for us and you want to add something dark and Chocolately go for the CAROB instead.
Check back tomorrow to see what we have in store for you.....Until then healthy living with informed choices!
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