Toxic
Substances
Every
dog owner and especially one with puppies needs to be aware of items
that can cause harm; some toxic substances are not at all intuitive
because a dog’s metabolism is different in many respects from a human’s.
Three examples of food items safe for humans but dangerous for dogs
to consume are chocolate, onions, and turkey skin. If your dog eats
one of these, chances are you won’t notice any effects; however, that
may be because dogs don’t tend to show illness readily for their own
social reasons: dogs tend to hide their illness. Some effects may
be cumulative; that is, over time toxins can build up in a dog’s tissues
from repeated exposure (to theobromine in chocolate, for example, which
will never be metabolized in a dog’s system). If your dog is small
the results of chocolate poisoning may be dramatic: vomiting, diarrhea,
panting, tremors, seizures, and coma. Just four ounces of baker’s chocolate
can kill a large dog. Be especially careful at Christmas time about
putting wrapped boxes under the tree if they may contain chocolates.
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Puppies
are much more likely to get into trouble because they explore more than adults
and they spend more time chewing. The area a puppy plays in should not contain
cocoa bark mulch, for example, or pressure-treated lumber, fertilizer, anti-freeze,
daffodil or tulip bulbs, tomato vines, or pesticides. Puppy-proof your home
as you would for a baby. Dental floss is a serious hazard for any animal.
When it comes to ornamental plants it’s safest to assume they are toxic to
some extent; plants have built in defences against being eaten, and puppies’
immune systems are immature. Household cleaners, stale food, and medicines,
especially Tylenol, should be kept out of reach. Don’t assume you can predict
what your adult dog will develop a whim for either: better safe than sorry!
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Wildlife
in your area may contaminate your property. It’s never a good idea to have
a bird bath or feeder near the areas accessible to your dog. Birds and rabbits
carry coccidia, a parasite that will cause bloody diarrhea in your dog; in
an adult it should clear after a few days but a puppy will need a stool culture
and flagyl.
| Copper
toxicosis is of special concern to Doberman lovers. Many brands of kibble
contain added copper, and some Dobes cannot metabolize it. Also be aware
that sulfa drugs are extremely harmful to
Doberman Pinschers; your vet should be aware of this, but always ensure that any prescription
for your Dobe does not contain sulfa. |
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