Dog health

ParasitesSeveral types of parasites are commonly associated with dogs: Intestinal worms cause varying degrees of discomfort. Heartworm is a dog parasitoid. It is hard to eliminate and can be fatal; prevention, however, is easily achieved using medication. Fleas and ticks are common parasites for which there are many effective preventive measures.Various mites cause skin problems such as mange Dangerous foods Some foods commonly enjoyed by humans are dangerous to dogs: Dogs like the flavour of chocolate, but chocolate in sufficient doses is lethally toxic to dogs (and horses and possibly cats). Chocolate contains the obromine, a chemical stimulant that, together with caffeine and theophylline, belongs to the group of methylxanthine alkaloids. Dogs are unable to metabolize theobromine effectively. If they eat chocolate, the the obromine can remain in their bloodstreams for up to 20 hours, and these animals may experience racing heartbeats, hallucinations, severe diarrhea, epileptic seizures, heart attacks, internal bleeding, and eventually death. A chocolate bar can be sufficient to make a small dog extremely ill or even kill it. In case of accidental intake of chocolate by a dog, contact a veterinarian or animal poison control immediat ely; it is commonly recommended to induce vomiting within two hours of ingestion.

Note: Carob treats are often available as dog treats; these are unrelated to chocolate and are safe.Grapes and raisins can cause acute renal failure in dogs. The exact mechanism is not known. As little as one raisin can be fatal to a ten pound dog and other dogs have eaten as much as a pound of grapes or raisins without ill effects. The dog usually vomits a few hours after consumption and begins showing signs of renal failure three to five days later. Onions and to a significantly lesser extent garlic contain thiosulfate which causes hemolytic anemia in dogs (and cats). Thiosulfate levels are not affected by cooking or processing. Small puppies have died of hemolytic anemia after being fed baby food containing onion powder. Occasional exposure to small amounts is usually not a problem, but continuous exposure to even small amounts can be a serious threat. Macadamia nuts can cause stiffness, tremors, hyperthermia, and abdominal pain. The exact mechanism is not known. Most dogs recover with supportive care when the source of exposure is removed. Common unsafe consumption Some dogs have a fondness for feline feces, and will raid a cat litter box for "treats". This can be unsafe for the dog's health. Feeding table scraps to a dog is sometimes not recommended. Dogs get ample correct nutrition from prepared dogfood. Otherwise, just as in humans, their diet must consist of the appropriate mix of vegetables, carbohydrates, and proteins, with the appropriate mix to provide all of the minerals and vitamins that they need. A human diet is not ideal for a dog; in addition, table scraps often consist of fatty scraps rather than meat, which is no better for dogs than it is for humans. Lastly, many people overfeed their dogs by giving them all the table scraps that the dogs will eat—which is usually all the table scraps they are fed, which is often too much food. Common household chemicals Some common household chemicals are particularly dangerous to dogs: Antifreeze, due to its sweet taste, poses an extreme danger of poisoning to a dog that either drinks from a spill or licks it off its fur. It can cause seizures and death. Dogs should not be allowed access to any place in which an antifreeze leak or spill has happened until the spill is completely cleaned out. Some brands of antifreeze are marketed as being less harmful or less attractive to animals. Treats Many dogs consider anything given them directly by hand to be a treat, even the food they are accustomed to at meal time. Special dog treats are not necessary for such animals. Care should also be taken to avoid dropping small but inedible objects (such as marbles, coins, rings, etc.) around such dogs.