Every year, numerous articles are published on various platforms for dog owners, veterinarians, and dog enthusiasts about the harm of sweets for our furry friends. Yet, year after year, this still leads to confusion and thousands of questions. Mainly, questions arise about the dosages, like "it's just a tiny piece" and a lack of understanding of what sweets mean for dogs. People wonder why carrots are allowed or why they shouldn't treat their dogs like humans, thinking, "How can they live without these treats?"
Let's finally clear things up. Let's go through it step by step.
Let's finally clear things up. Let's go through it step by step.
Sugar Differs from Sugar
Glucose is essential for your pets!
This is something that diabetics and diet enthusiasts can relate to. By the way, this is the only analogy we make with humans in this blog. Sugar is the primary indicator of whether a product falls into the "sweets" category. However, this isn't always the case! For example, we understand that beets and carrots contain a fair amount of sugar. In 100 grams of raw carrots, there are about 6 grams, which is roughly a teaspoon. In 100 grams of raw beets, there are nearly 7 grams, which is a teaspoon with a little extra bitterness. But in all these cases, sugar is one of the natural components of vegetables and other plant-based foods that provide various beneficial substances and vitamins. So, don't go overboard and turn your pet into a vegan. In our "Bow-Wow" sets, vegetables comprise only 20% of the total diet, which is the generally accepted norm for dogs fed a natural diet. Therefore, don't be bothered by comments from "experts" claiming that vegetables are harmful sweets because they contain some sugar.
What You Should Pay Attention to in Plant-Based Products
Citrus Fruits
This is not about sugar but other substances, such as citric acid, which can cause dangerous allergies, stomach upset, and even nervous system problems.
Avocado
It's better not to risk with this fruit. In most dogs and other animals, the substance found in avocados (persin) can lead to various digestive issues.
Grapes
This includes both fresh and dried grapes, such as raisins. Grape components pose a severe risk to the kidneys, and symptoms may not appear immediately. So, be careful when sharing this fruit with your pet.
A Little Bit - Does It Count?
Friends, let's be clear - it counts! Many people mistakenly believe that harmful products in small quantities are not dangerous. But that's a misconception. Each pet has unique microflora, making it challenging to predict whether a small piece of chocolate will cause problems for your four-legged friend. It doesn't always depend on the dog's age, weight, or size. There have been cases, even with strong, large German Shepherds, where "a little bit is okay" resulted in extended treatment at a veterinary clinic and came close to being fatal.
Don't take risks if a product threatens your pet's health and life. Trust us; your dog won't be happier from that dose, but they could end up unhappier - or worse. These risks are not worth it. Below, we'll explain why chocolate and other prepared desserts are particularly dangerous.
Desserts: The Sneaky Culprits
The most dangerous lies in products containing caffeine, theobromine, roasted sugar, and even plain white sugar in large quantities (some people like to give their dogs sugar cubes, which isn't a good idea, as it turns out).
The main reason is that dogs lack the enzymes necessary to digest and metabolize these components. This strains their liver, kidneys, stomach, and intestines tremendously, leading to problems with other organs. Symptoms sometimes manifest in a dog's eyes and ears, usually resulting from internal organ dysfunction.
More About Dangerous Components
Theobromine and caffeine are the main compounds found in cocoa beans and some types of nuts. As we know, cocoa is an essential ingredient in almost all popular desserts.
A bar of milk chocolate contains 150-220 mg of theobromine and about 40 mg of caffeine, with dark chocolate having even more. For humans, this is nothing; we'd have to consume about 40 kilograms to poison ourselves. Hopefully, no one is that fearless! But for animals, 250-300 mg can be lethal. Less than that can still lead to health problems of varying degrees. So, to reiterate, don't experiment with doses!
A Dog Is Not a Human
"Some people will say," you may think, and it's great if you also raised an eyebrow reading that statement. However, for some reason, many "dog lovers" sometimes forget this. Veterinarians often receive questions about hormones, moods, and psychological processes in dogs. All of these exist, but the reasons and sources of the above-mentioned in dogs are entirely different from ours.
Let's not forget that the causes and sources of all those mentioned above differ. And while a delicious cake or a glass of wine can sometimes calm us down, dogs have different sedatives. Alcohol, for example, only causes stress in their bodies, which doesn't always disappear quickly and without consequences. For instance, timely breakfast and treats that aren't meant for dogs but are still given to them occasionally make your pet happy. By the way, about treats. The ice cream we offer your four-legged friends, with a bacon flavor, is undoubtedly not chocolate. It consists of whole (lactose-free) milk, cane sugar, maple syrup, and other elements beneficial specifically for dogs. This will make them much happier than ice cream, which might make us slightly more comfortable.
The same goes for attention and love for dogs. Imagine this scenario: your dog thinks you're also a dog. Odd, right? It's equally strange to give human qualities to pets. They do need care, but we show it differently. Much depends on the breed, age, and activity of your pet. Follow our blog for advice on caring for and interacting with your best friends. May they be healthy and happy!
This is something that diabetics and diet enthusiasts can relate to. By the way, this is the only analogy we make with humans in this blog. Sugar is the primary indicator of whether a product falls into the "sweets" category. However, this isn't always the case! For example, we understand that beets and carrots contain a fair amount of sugar. In 100 grams of raw carrots, there are about 6 grams, which is roughly a teaspoon. In 100 grams of raw beets, there are nearly 7 grams, which is a teaspoon with a little extra bitterness. But in all these cases, sugar is one of the natural components of vegetables and other plant-based foods that provide various beneficial substances and vitamins. So, don't go overboard and turn your pet into a vegan. In our "Bow-Wow" sets, vegetables comprise only 20% of the total diet, which is the generally accepted norm for dogs fed a natural diet. Therefore, don't be bothered by comments from "experts" claiming that vegetables are harmful sweets because they contain some sugar.
What You Should Pay Attention to in Plant-Based Products
Citrus Fruits
This is not about sugar but other substances, such as citric acid, which can cause dangerous allergies, stomach upset, and even nervous system problems.
Avocado
It's better not to risk with this fruit. In most dogs and other animals, the substance found in avocados (persin) can lead to various digestive issues.
Grapes
This includes both fresh and dried grapes, such as raisins. Grape components pose a severe risk to the kidneys, and symptoms may not appear immediately. So, be careful when sharing this fruit with your pet.
A Little Bit - Does It Count?
Friends, let's be clear - it counts! Many people mistakenly believe that harmful products in small quantities are not dangerous. But that's a misconception. Each pet has unique microflora, making it challenging to predict whether a small piece of chocolate will cause problems for your four-legged friend. It doesn't always depend on the dog's age, weight, or size. There have been cases, even with strong, large German Shepherds, where "a little bit is okay" resulted in extended treatment at a veterinary clinic and came close to being fatal.
Don't take risks if a product threatens your pet's health and life. Trust us; your dog won't be happier from that dose, but they could end up unhappier - or worse. These risks are not worth it. Below, we'll explain why chocolate and other prepared desserts are particularly dangerous.
Desserts: The Sneaky Culprits
The most dangerous lies in products containing caffeine, theobromine, roasted sugar, and even plain white sugar in large quantities (some people like to give their dogs sugar cubes, which isn't a good idea, as it turns out).
The main reason is that dogs lack the enzymes necessary to digest and metabolize these components. This strains their liver, kidneys, stomach, and intestines tremendously, leading to problems with other organs. Symptoms sometimes manifest in a dog's eyes and ears, usually resulting from internal organ dysfunction.
More About Dangerous Components
Theobromine and caffeine are the main compounds found in cocoa beans and some types of nuts. As we know, cocoa is an essential ingredient in almost all popular desserts.
A bar of milk chocolate contains 150-220 mg of theobromine and about 40 mg of caffeine, with dark chocolate having even more. For humans, this is nothing; we'd have to consume about 40 kilograms to poison ourselves. Hopefully, no one is that fearless! But for animals, 250-300 mg can be lethal. Less than that can still lead to health problems of varying degrees. So, to reiterate, don't experiment with doses!
A Dog Is Not a Human
"Some people will say," you may think, and it's great if you also raised an eyebrow reading that statement. However, for some reason, many "dog lovers" sometimes forget this. Veterinarians often receive questions about hormones, moods, and psychological processes in dogs. All of these exist, but the reasons and sources of the above-mentioned in dogs are entirely different from ours.
Let's not forget that the causes and sources of all those mentioned above differ. And while a delicious cake or a glass of wine can sometimes calm us down, dogs have different sedatives. Alcohol, for example, only causes stress in their bodies, which doesn't always disappear quickly and without consequences. For instance, timely breakfast and treats that aren't meant for dogs but are still given to them occasionally make your pet happy. By the way, about treats. The ice cream we offer your four-legged friends, with a bacon flavor, is undoubtedly not chocolate. It consists of whole (lactose-free) milk, cane sugar, maple syrup, and other elements beneficial specifically for dogs. This will make them much happier than ice cream, which might make us slightly more comfortable.
The same goes for attention and love for dogs. Imagine this scenario: your dog thinks you're also a dog. Odd, right? It's equally strange to give human qualities to pets. They do need care, but we show it differently. Much depends on the breed, age, and activity of your pet. Follow our blog for advice on caring for and interacting with your best friends. May they be healthy and happy!