Flea and tick season begins as early as March in many parts of the country. It’s important to be preventative when it comes to these pesky parasites. However, if you live in a largely wooded area and your dog spends a lot of time outdoors, …
The classic Kong toy has been wildly popular amongst pet parents for years, and for good reason! The classic Kong is durable, great for tough chewers, and will keep your dog busy for hours. You can stuff Kong’s with many different treats to keep them …
Does your dog sit by your feet, giving you puppy dog eyes every time you try to enjoy a meal? Most dogs love to beg, and it’s tempting to give in. One bite of your food won’t hurt them right? Wrong. While there are plenty of foods that are safe to share with your pooch, there is a long list of human foods that dogs can’t eat. Before sharing your dinner with Fido, read this list of human foods that aren’t safe to share with your dog.
This ones a popular one that most dog owners already know. Grapes (and their dried up counterpart, raisins) contain toxins that are harmful to our furry friends. Dogs may experience kidney failure as a result of eating grapes. This could lead to thousands of dollars in vet bills or even worse, death.
Some nuts, such as cashews and almonds, are okay for your dog to eat in moderation. However, macadamia nuts are on the list of human foods that aren’t safe to share with your dog.
Macadamia nuts contain toxins that can cause vomiting, muscle weakness, and tremors in dogs. They also have a high fat content, which could lead to pancreatitis.
You should never feed your dog onions whether they are cooked, raw, or compressed in an onion powder. Onions contain N-propyl disulfide, which can cause anemia in dogs.
Anemic dogs experience lethargy, weakness, and fainting. In severe causes, anemia can require blood transfusions.
While you may enjoy a piece of avocado toast for breakfast, your furry friend won’t feel the same. Avocados are on the list of human foods that aren’t safe to share with your dog due to a toxin in them called persin. Persin may lead to fluid accumulation in your dogs lungs and chest.
Every part of the avocado is toxic to your pup so make sure they don’t get the skin, fruit, or pit.
Your dog doesn’t need caffeine to wake up in the morning so there’s no need to share your morning cup of joe. The caffeine content in coffee and tea can lead to hyperactivity, vomiting, elevated heart rate, and seizures.
The smallest amount of caffeine can cause problems with your dog, so keep it out of your pups reach.
Xylitol is a sugar substitute that is often found in gum, candy, and toothpaste. It can lead to a rapid drop in blood sugar levels making it harmful to dogs.
Note: Some brands of peanut butter contain xylitol, so always check the ingredients before giving it to your dog.
Lemons and limes contain psoralen which can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea.
Everyone knows that dogs can’t eat chocolate. This is because of a chemical in it called theobromine. Larger dogs will likely be able to consume milk chocolate in small amounts. However, you should keep all chocolate away from your pup.
Carob powder is a great chocolate substitute for dog treats, such as this hot chocolate.
Humans can hardly consume alcohol, therefore it should be a no-brainer to not give it to your dog. Dogs react to alcohol very similarly to humans. However, because dogs are a lot smaller than humans, they are more susceptible to issues such as liver failure.
Our dogs love us more than we can understand. However, there are some things that humans do that their dogs cannot stand. Want to make sure Fido stays your best friend? Then avoid doing these 10 things that your dog hates. 1. Yelling At Them …
Picking the perfect name is one of the most fun parts of bringing home a new furry friend. However, naming your new pet can be incredibly difficult as well. The world is full of dogs named Bella, Max, Luna, and Scout. If you want your …
Let me get this straight, I 100% support adopting dogs but I support buying them too. “Adopt, don’t shop” has quickly stopped being used to bring light to the overpopulation of stray and shelter dogs, and has become a way to attack those who prefer a purebred dog. The campaign has become problematic and is blaming the wrong people for the homeless dog pandemic. This is why I disagree with the phrase “adopt, don’t shop”.
Dogs that end up as strays or in shelters are not the result of people buying from ethical breeders. The problem lies with puppy mills, backyard breeders, and accidental litters. When you say “adopt, don’t shop” you are undermining responsible dog breeders who put all the necessary work and love into producing healthy puppies.
People spend hundreds and thousands of dollars on purebred dogs. These aren’t the people who are getting bored of their dogs and dropping them off at shelters. This isn’t to say that people who choose to buy their dogs never get rid of them. Life happens, things come up, and sometimes the only option you have is to re-home your dog. However, responsible dog breeders have their customers sign contracts saying that if you must get rid of your dog for ANY reason, you will bring it back to the breeder. A responsible breeder takes the necessary precautions to keep their dogs out of shelters.
I Do Not Support Buying From Pet Stores and Puppy Mills
There is a major difference between buying a pup from an ethical breeder and buying from a pet store. Pet stores get their dogs from puppy mills and this IS problematic. These dogs were bred solely for money. The person who bred them does not care about these dogs or what happens to them.
When I say that buying a dog is okay, I am not referring to those who purchase a dog at their local Petland.
Every dog breed is different and fits a very specific lifestyle. Because of this, it is okay for people to prefer a certain breed. If you want a dog that will fit your active life then you should seek out a responsible Australian Shepherd breeder. If you want a dog that will live comfortably in your small apartment, it’s okay to purchase an ethically bred Bichon Frise.
Not everyone wants a dog to have solely as a pet. People use dogs for competitions, agility training, and service work. Only certain dog breeds are capable of completing such tasks. If you’re looking for a dog that you can use for work, you aren’t likely to find that pup in a shelter.
The life of a homeless, stray, or shelter dog is a sad one. They go through so much trauma during their lives that they often end up having a very unpredictable personality. Many shelter dogs are known to be reactive or aggressive. It takes a special person to be able to rehabilitate a rescue dog that spent years living on the streets.
So many dogs are returned to the shelter over and over because they “aren’t the right fit”. When we convince people that buying a dog is wrong, they end up getting a dog that they cannot handle. This is largely why I disagree with the phrase “adopt, don’t shop”.
It’s Okay To Want A Puppy
The only way to guarantee that your dog is raised with the manners that you want it to have is to raise it as a puppy. Finding a puppy in a shelter is rare. If you do, they’ve likely already dealt with a lot of trauma that has begun to shape their personality.
It’s okay to want to raise a dog from the very beginning of their life so that they will be the best fit for you and your lifestyle.
I chose to buy my Siberian Husky from a responsible breeder, but this does not mean that I don’t support adopting dogs. You can buy one dog and adopt another later on. You can support shelters and rescues through donation or volunteering. Just because you choose to buy your dog does not mean you’re neglecting all the homeless dogs that need homes.
In conclusion, we need to stop shaming people who buy a dog over adopting. All dogs need homes, and as long as you’re being responsible you are not wrong for the way you to obtain yours. The phrase “adopt, don’t shop” is problematic. You can adopt OR shop, as long as you do so responsibly.
Spring is right around the corner and along with warm weather and longer days, spring also brings insects and parasites that can cause harm to your furry friend. Flea and tick season can come as early as March in some states. These harmful pests can …