Wednesday, February 6, 2019

Why Sugary Human Treats Are Harmful To Pets

Would you give a child a puff of a cigarette if he asked? What about giving a toddler alcohol because she grabbed your glass? Of course not! So why would you give your pet ice cream, cookies, coffee drinks, corn on the cob etc.? We all want to spoil our pets and it's very hard to resist those begging eyes. But human treats are not good for them even if in tiny amounts.  We have all heard that table scraps can make a dog sick, but do you realize HOW SICK?  One example: most yorkies have sensitive digestion and some may only weigh 3 to 4 pounds. A teaspoon of ice cream could cause pancreatitis and hospitalization.  What seems small to you is a lot for them. 

As much as we want to humanize our pets, their digestive tracts and immune systems are very different than ours. Sugar weakens their immune system making them more susceptible to allergies, skin problems, ear infections, UTIs, diabetes and cancer. You can still lavish love on your pets by having lots of healthy pet goodies available such as protein-based freeze dried treats.  Freeze dried treats such as Instinct or Stella and Chewys salmon, rabbit or lamb are great options to give your pet.  To learn more about the best diet to feed your cat or dog, please visit our library of pet nutrition articles.