In response to a question posted in the Labrador Retriever Group one of the replies included an article written by Mary Jo DiLonardo on May 31, 2017, that was first posted on treehugger.com.
The article was posted under the title: 8 Liquids That Dogs Should Avoid, by Mary Jo DiLonardo and provides eight examples of common household liquids that potentially could be harmful for your Labrador to drink.
Please click here to read the full article
Excerpt:
8 Liquids That Dogs Should Avoid
[ms_section background_color=”#eded7b” background_image=”” background_repeat=”repeat” background_position=”top left” background_parallax=”no” border_size=”0″ border_color=”” border_style=”none” padding_top=”10″ padding_bottom=”10″ padding_left=”10″ padding_right=”10″ contents_in_container=”no” top_separator=”” bottom_separator=”” full_height=”no” class=”” id=””]Your dog looks at his water bowl then looks at you. Is it your imagination or is he bored with the same old H20?
Before you start hunting around the kitchen looking for something more interesting to spice up his beverage repertoire, here’s a look at some common household drinks and liquids and what the experts say about how safe they are for dogs.
Milk: You always see images of kittens lapping up milk, so why not puppies? But dogs (just like cats) can be lactose intolerant, says the American Kennel Club, which means their bodies have a tough time digesting lactose, the sugar in milk. The unpleasant results can include diarrhea, vomiting, gassiness and loose stools. If you try a little bit of milk and your dog doesn’t have any negative symptoms, it’s OK to give a couple of tablespoons occasionally as a treat. But watch your dog’s reaction and make sure you don’t give too much too often. Milk is high in fat and natural sugars, points out the AKC. If your dog has too much fat or sugar in his diet, it can lead to serious issues like obesity and pancreatitis.
Alcohol: Some people think it’s funny to give their dog beer, wine or other alcoholic beverages, but there’s nothing humorous about it. Alcohol is toxic to dogs. It can cause “vomiting, diarrhea, decreased coordination, central nervous system depression, difficulty breathing, tremors, abnormal blood acidity, coma and even death,” warns the Animal Poison Control Center of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (APCA). Bottom line, keep it away from your dog.
Coffee: That morning cup of joe you depend on can be dangerous for your furry BFF. Dogs are more sensitive to caffeine that people are, according to the Pet Poison Helpline. Getting a sip or two out of your cup likely won’t do much harm, but any more than that (or eating coffee grounds) can be life-threatening. According to the ASPCA, the worrisome substances are methylxanthines, which are found in coffee, tea and chocolate. In coffee, the most abundant methylxanthine is caffeine, and while the substance is good for humans, it’s not good for dogs. That’s why too much caffeine can lead to vomiting and diarrhea, hyperactivity, a racing heart, panting, excessive thirst and urination, tremors, seizures and possibly even death.
Tea: Like coffee, tea can contain caffeine that can be harmful to your pet in anything more than very small doses. It’s best to keep your tea away from your pup.
Soda: Again, it’s the caffeine in soda that can be dangerous to pets. If your dog happens to lick up a few spilled drops of your cola off the floor, it’s likely no reason to panic. But definitely don’t fill up his bowl with your favorite soda, thinking he needs a treat.
Fruit and vegetable juice: There are many fruits and vegetables that are good for your dog, and some that aren’t. For example, always steer clear of avocados, grapes and raisins. Juice often has added sugar, so if you want to give your pup something fruity, why not give him actual pieces of apples, strawberries or carrots instead of the liquid version?
Sports drinks: After you and your dog take a grueling run or go on a hike, there’s no reason to offer your workout buddy a swig of your Gatorade. Dogs need lots of water, especially when they’re exerting themselves, but they don’t need the extra sodium, electrolytes or vitamins that come with sports drinks, according to “Applied Veterinary Clinical Nutrition.” However, if a dog has vomiting and diarrhea, sometimes veterinarians will suggest offering small amounts of sports drinks to prevent dehydration. Before giving the drink to your pet, give your vet a quick call to get her thoughts and ask how much to offer. When your pet feels better, go back to offering him lots of clean, fresh water.
Coconut milk and water: Some people swear by topical coconut oil to help with skin issues like itchiness and hot spots. But when it comes to actually drinking coconut milk or coconut water, the experts are divided. The AKC says both are safe for dogs; just make sure to keep your pet away from the coconut shell, which is rough and can become lodged in his throat. The ASPCA, however, says the liquids are OK only in small amounts. Give your pet too much coconut flesh or milk and you may end up dealing with loose stools, diarrhea or stomach upset. And they recommend avoiding coconut water because it’s high in potassium, which can cause health issues. You may want to ask your vet to weigh in on this one.
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The article continues by adding the following household liquids to the list of dangerous fluids:
[ms_list icon=”-” icon_color=”” icon_boxed=”no” background_color=”” boxed_shape=”” item_border=”no” item_size=”12″ class=”” id=””]
[ms_list_item]Antifreeze;[/ms_list_item]
[ms_list_item]Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol;[/ms_list_item]
[ms_list_item]Bleach, and[/ms_list_item]
[ms_list_item]Household cleaners.[/ms_list_item]
[/ms_list]
You can read the full article here
The original article was written by Mary Jo DiLonardo and first published on treehugger.com
