Heartworms
Believe it or not, dogs can get foot-long worms in their hearts.
Heartworm disease is a serious disease that results in heart failure, organ damages, and death in pets. The worms enter the body through the bite of a mosquito. As the infection spreads in the animal, infective larvae from the mosquito begin to mature into adult heartworms within the heart. From here, they can spread to blood vessels and lungs. This process happens over the span of 6 to 7 months, and fully grown worms can live for 5 to 7 years in dogs! What’s even scarier is that heartworms will mate and produce offspring. At one time, a dog may have as many as 300 worms living inside them.
Always watch out for warning symptoms of heartworms. A persistent, dry cough is a common sign seen in dogs with heartworm disease.
Remember, all dogs should be tested annually for heartworm infection.
Giving your dog human foods
Most people give their dogs human food, thinking they are being caring. But many human foods are toxic to dogs.
Xylitol, for example, is an artificial sweetener found in many sugar-free products. It is extremely poisonous to dogs, and can be found in many products such as candies, chewing gums, baked goods, protein bars, toothpaste, and some peanut butters.
Even small amounts of Xylitol can cause low blood sugar levels, seizures, liver failure, or even death in dogs.
Onion and garlic are also toxic to dogs. Humans may love the flavors of garlic and onion to spice up their food, but sharing foods that contain these ingredients with your pet can cause serious health problems. In severe cases, it could even kill your dog.
And if you share your food with your dog, make sure it doesn’t contain harmful ingredients such as chocolate, raisins or nuts. Grapes and avocados are also a big no-no for your canine. Many dogs sadly have died of kidney failure after eating just a few raisins and grapes. Keep in mind that most times the food we eat are too fatty, too spicy or too salty for our canines. A medium dog weighing 33 pounds only needs 200 milligrams of sodium per day.
And remember that over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen can be extremely dangerous to your pet.
Giving Bones to Your Dog
Many vets believe it just isn’t worth the risk of serious injuries to give your dog a bone.
If you’d like to give your pup a bone to chew, it’s important to follow certain rules so your dog can enjoy their bone safely.
And remember not to give bones to a dog who has had restorative dental work.
Poor diet
If your dog is not eating proper food, it can be life threatening.
There are many poor-quality dog foods in the pet stores that your animal should stay away from.
And keep in mind that there is no one feeding schedule for dogs. How much and how often your dog should eat depends on various factors such as the dog’s age, activity levels, type of food and health.
For the first few months of a puppy’s life, they will need small meals of food throughout the day. This makes it easier for them to digest and help keep energy levels consistent.
Starting around four months, puppies can begin eating about three times a day, and after that, puppies will quickly graduate to twice-a-day feedings.
Most vets recommend feeding an adult dog at least twice per day. However, more important than feeding frequency is meal portion size.
Studies have shown that overweight dogs live 2 and a half years less than dogs with a healthy body weight.
Lack of Exercise
Every dog needs regular exercise to help maintain good mental and physical health. Dogs who don’t exercise are at a higher risk for stiff limbs and joints. They are also more likely to develop health issues. A dog who exercises will have a prolonged lifespan!
But keep in mind that short-nosed breeds like pugs and bulldogs have respiratory issues and are not capable of running long distances.
And for older dogs, they are better off resting or going on shorter excursions more often.
You don’t take care of your pet’s teeth
Like humans, dogs need regular dental care. Their teeth are home to hundreds of bacteria and need to be brushed just like yours do.
Common Household items
Insecticides such as bug sprays and ant baits can be as dangerous for your pet as they are to the insects.
Likewise, balls and other playtime pieces that are too small for your dog’s size can be a choking hazard. Toys with small parts that are unsafe for young children are also obviously hazardous for dogs.
00:00 Intro
00:14 Heartworms
01:50 Know hazardous human foods
2:40 Ice-creams, nuts, chocolate
3:00 Salt and spices
3:22 Raw meat
3:37 Yanking on leash and choke collar
4:13 Choking collar
4:35 Common household items
5:22 Feeding frequency
6:23 Lack of exercise
6:47 Too much exercise
7:05 No vet visits
7:32 Chewing on bones
8:31 Alone in car
9:06 Cleaning products
9:32 Air freshener
9:38 Not brushing teeth