When it comes to the health of the pet it pays to heed the experts advice. Food poisoning can be prevented if the dog is given foods specifically formulated for dogs. A pet parent will certainly prevent the pet from eating if it is known that the food is poisonous. However, not many dog owners are aware that some common human foods can have toxic effects on the dog.

Dogs are omnivorous thus they would eat just about anything. Dogs, like humans would gain a lot of healthful benefits from eating fruits. Fruits are loaded with vitamins that will enhance the immune system of the dog and also strengthen the intestinal muscles for easier waste elimination. Dogs owners can give the pet any kind of fruits but not grapes and avocados. An unknown substance in grapes and raisins is toxic to dogs as it can cause severe kidney damage. Avocado is very dangerous for dogs as ingestion of the fruit, leaves, bark and pit can result to the death when the toxin causes fluid to accumulate in the dogs chest, heart and abdomen.

The theobromine in chocolates and the caffeine in tea and coffee are naturally occurring stimulants that can have fatal effect on the dog as these substances when ingested in large amounts affects the nervous system and the heart. A dog lover would always be amused by dogs that have learned to do tricks. It would be a big accomplishment if a dog owner can teach the dog to drink beer from the can but ingestion of alcoholic beverages would have ill effects that can result to the death of the pet. The chemical compound in alcoholic beverages called ethanol cannot be tolerated by the dogs system. This substance that is rapidly absorbed by the dogs system will affect the central nervous system and cause respiratory depression. Inducing the pet to vomit will not be helpful as the toxin is readily absorbed by the body thus urgent medical attention is necessary.

Onion is another common human food that is poisonous to dogs. This human food has thiosulfate that destroys the dogs red blood cells. This substance is not destroyed by cooking thus the dog can be poisoned if regularly fed human foods that have onion as an ingredient. Onion consumption can result to the death of the dog.

Foods that are safe for humans may have harmful effects on the dog. Although it is said that humans and dogs have many genetic similarities, the difference in metabolism makes dog intolerable of some human foods.

Want to know more about what foods are poisonous to dogs. Check out Sarah’s Dogs as it has the answers to this and other questions related to dog food and dog first aid.

A dog’s eyesight is not at par with its scenting and hearing abilities. Can you help a dog that has jumped into a window thinking that it is not glassed off? Running through a glassed off wall is one of the accidents where the dog can get seriously cut. Serious cuts can be sustained by a dog hit by a speeding car. Broken glass, jagged tins and sharp metals can cause laceration and serious cuts on the dog’s paws and skin.

A dog is an accident prone animal thus an owner has to have what it takes to provide the pet with emergency care. In situations where the services of a vet is not available or when taking the injured pet to a nearby veterinary facility is not possible, the only way by which a dog owner can save the life of the pet or prevent the pet from suffering too much pain is to administer first aid.

The abrasions and the simple cuts of a dog are often ignored and not treated. This can be due to the fact that these simple injuries are not noticed by the dog owner. First aid must be given to dogs with serious cuts as severe bleeding and blood loss can make a dog go into shock that may result to the death of the pet. Professional medical treatment is necessary for serious cuts as anesthetizing the dog and suturing the wound may be necessary.

How can a dog owner know that the pet has incurred serious wounds? A gaping gash, a deep puncture and badly torn skin that cannot be held together are signs that the dog’s injuries are serious. Fat and muscle that can be seen on the cut skin is an indication that the dog has sustained serious injuries. Generally, serious cuts are heavy bleeders. Bleeding of serious cuts would be very hard to control.

Before any first aid can be done, the extent of the dog’s injury has to be assessed. The cut must be flushed with saline solution. After the wound is cleaned, the bleeding has to be controlled by using sterile gauze or any clean cloth available to apply pressure to the wound.

A cut gushing red blood is a life threatening injury as it signifies arterial bleeding. This kind of bleeding has to be controlled immediately thus flushing the wound to remove dirt and foreign object must not be done. With towels or cloth, apply pressure directly to the cut. Add another towel on top of the blood soaked towel. Applying pressure to cut to control bleeding must not be stopped while the pet is being rushed to the hospital.

At Sarah’s Dogs you can find out more about dog first aid as well as serious cuts.

Dogs make wonderful companions and one pet would not be enough because they are almost addicting. Many dog owners would want to breed the pet with outstanding qualities. Breeding the beloved pet would mean more pets to love and to share with family members. Watching the pregnant pet deliver the puppies would be a wonderful experience.

Domesticated dogs, just like their ancestors in the wild can whelp easily – without needing any assistance from humans. Whelping though is not always normal and difficult labor that would endanger the lives of the dam and the puppies can occur. All the necessities that will make the whelping dog comfortable must be provided by the owner. To be able to give urgent assistance, a dog owner has to be able to promptly recognize the signs that the pet is having difficulties in delivering the puppies. Apart from recognizing the telltale signs, a dog owner also has to have first aid knowledge to be able to help the pet.

The pregnancy of a dog generally lasts from eight to nine weeks. At the end of this period, the whelping box lined with old blankets should be ready. Other equipments that must be readied are scissors or dental floss to cut the puppies’ umbilical cord and towels. One very important tool that will let the dog owner know that the pet is ready to give birth is a thermometer. Twelve to twenty four hours before the dog whelps, the normal body temperature of 101.5 °F will drop 2 to 3 degrees.

The dog usually takes care of the birthing. After the puppy was delivered, the mother dog will take care of the cleaning and the cutting of the of the umbilical cord. However, there are instances when the dog would not know what to do. This situation commonly happen to dogs that gave birth for the first time. It will be the dog owner’s task to tear the sac to prevent the puppy from suffocation. The dog owner has to clean the puppies as well.

A whelping dog with a puppy stuck half in and half out would need urgent help. With a clean towel, grasp the protruding part and pull in a downward motion. Remove a dead puppy stuck in the birth canal immediately. Removal of the dead puppy in the birth canal should be done by a vet but in a pinch the owner can lubricate the hand with K-Y jelly and try to remove the puppy. This aggressive effort of removing the dead pup will be very necessary to save the life of the dam and the unborn puppies.

Find out more about dog first aid and whelping at Sarah’s Dogs.