May 17, 2008
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 although i never really am much that into pets myself (dog, cat, anything), but i just wonder how come chocolate can be harmful for dogs. i saw an old episode of a tv series wherein a pet dog consumed chocolate without the owner's knowledge, and the dog just sort of got in a "depressed mood" where it just lay down beside the bits of the leftover chocolate and its wrapper like someone going to the guillotine (sorry for the description, it's just how i remembered it  ). after the owner came home, and after seeing the dog in this state, he had to rush the dog to a veterinarian. is it really bad for dogs to consume chocolates or for that matter a substantial amount of sweets? or was it just a made-up-for-tv scenario? and another, do sheepdogs bleat/baa? (just kidding!)
QUOTE(serverph @ Sep 29 2007, 03:42 PM)  i'll jump in to your request for dog questions. although i never really am much that into pets myself (dog, cat, anything), but i just wonder how come chocolate can be harmful for dogs. i saw an old episode of a tv series wherein a pet dog consumed chocolate without the owner's knowledge, and the dog just sort of got in a "depressed mood" where it just lay down beside the bits of the leftover chocolate and its wrapper like someone going to the guillotine (sorry for the description, it's just how i remembered it ). after the owner came home, and after seeing the dog in this state, he had to rush the dog to a veterinarian. is it really bad for dogs to consume chocolates or for that matter a substantial amount of sweets? or was it just a made-up-for-tv scenario? and another, do sheepdogs bleat/baa? (just kidding!)No, it was not made up for television, chocolate is bad for dogs. Though it is bad in varring degrees. Theobromine, (I think that's about how it's spelled) is the culprit that is the actual poison. It is found in higher amounts in the dark, bitter sweet type chocolates. Bakers chocolate is especially bad. Milk chocolate has lesser amounts, and many dogs can eat a bit of it and not be bothered at all. Some dogs are less tolerant though, and may become ill with just a few bites of sweet chocolate, others can eat a whole candy bar and show no ill effects whatsoever. So not knowing for sure on your dog, it would just be best to not tempt fate and keep the chocolate where only you can reach it. As far as having a sweet tooth, most dogs don't care that much for sweets, but you will find the occasional individual that does like candy, but a lot of that has to do with the dogs owner. I've seen a lot of dogs that will eat whatever they see their owner eat, wether they like it or not. And another thing besides chocolate that should remain off the dogs dinner plates are grapes. They can also be toxic to dogs.
Theobromine sounds right, something like a distant cousin to caffeine. i checked wikipedia about it and seems to act as a poison for dogs because of their slow metabolism. it looks deadly enough for dogs even at small quantities (50mg for smaller dogs, 400mg for bigger dogs). there's the tolerance level which you account for each dog, as you seem to note that some can eat a whole candy bar with no ill effects. but of course, chocolate is still something to keep out of a dog's reach, that's for sure if only to keep the dog out of harms way especially if the dogs are loved pets by their owners. thanks for the info.
what's the deal with grapes as toxic for dogs when ingested though? that's a new one for me. theobromine still in the works here?
I had to do a little digging on the grape/raison thing, as I couldnt' remember for sure the toxin involved, and I discovered I didn't know because it has not yet exactly been figured out as to why grapes do poison dogs. (raisons do too) They cause kidney failure, symptoms are vomitting and weakness, among several others. It only takes a few grapes to do a real number on a dog.
Funny because a few years ago before this got started around on the internet about grapes, I had a standard schnauzer pet dog that would eat anything she saw me eat. Except grapes. Those were the only thing she wouldn't touch. I knew that dog was smart! So, to be on the safe side, keep those grapes and raisons safely out of your pets reach. And call your vet immediatly if your dog should sneak a few grapes. QUOTE(sheepdog @ Oct 8 2007, 10:51 PM) I had to do a little digging on the grape/raison thing, as I couldnt' remember for sure the toxin involved, and I discovered I didn't know because it has not yet exactly been figured out as to why grapes do poison dogs. (raisons do too) They cause kidney failure, symptoms are vomitting and weakness, among several others. It only takes a few grapes to do a real number on a dog. Funny because a few years ago before this got started around on the internet about grapes, I had a standard schnauzer pet dog that would eat anything she saw me eat. Except grapes. Those were the only thing she wouldn't touch. I knew that dog was smart! So, to be on the safe side, keep those grapes and raisons safely out of your pets reach. And call your vet immediatly if your dog should sneak a few grapes. I also had not heard of the grape/raison issue with dogs. But I had a wonderful Boston Terrier that enjoyed eating the ones I rejected after they 'seasoned' a few days. My lifestyle had changed (a divorce) and being single I didn't always eat them as fast as was necessary and my dog began to get a regular treat of grapes. I am aware now that no one seems to know why, just that they are harmful. One thing I do know, my pet's kidneys failed and I know it was my own fault that it happened. I urge you to believe what they say ... "Grapes/raisons will cause kidney failure in dogs and it is irreversable".
Dogs are not the only ones with problems with chocolates and grapes, Cats have the same problems!
But cats will surely die if they eat chocolate! 
no, i've given cats chocolate and it hasn't died.
My question is this... My parents want a dog as a pet, but they've never had any experience with owning a dog. So can you please give some suggestions on breeds of dogs that won't be too loud, big or something like that...
well ive given my dogs grapes before they love them and they havent died yet they eat everything ive never given them chocolate though but ive also heard that onions were toxic but mine eat them too.
CODE My question is this... My parents want a dog as a pet, but they've never had any experience with owning a dog. So can you please give some suggestions on breeds of dogs that won't be too loud, big or something like that... There are so many things to take into consideration when gettting a dog, especially when it is a first time down owner. But with over 400 recognized pure breeds of dogs, there are plenty of options. You have allready decided on small and not barky. And since they are first time dog owners, I would highly recomend picking a breed that is agreeable, and not too hard headed. For example, Lhasa Apso's are popular, friendly, reasonably intelligent, not barky, but if not handled firmly, they can become holly terrors if not made to mind. One of those breeds that if you give them an inch they will take a mile. How small are you thinking? Chihuahua's and Yorkshire Terriers are the smallest, but in some cases they are too small, in homes where there are young children they may not be suitable. And while Yorkies are very popular, they are about the hardest of all terriers to house break. Chihuahua's can be ornery little snots too sometimes. They often tend to be one person dogs. We have an adorable little blue and white long haired male Chihuahua, cute as a bug but he is SO funny, he snuggles up to whoever is holding him, and will try to bite anyone who trys to touch him when someone is holding him. Doesn't matter who, if I'm holding him he will snap at my hired girl if she tries to touch him, but if she's holding him he will do the same to me. There are a lot of terriers in the 15-20lb range (which I personally consider to be small) that might be good options. Cairns, West Highland Whites, mini shcnauzers all might work, providing you find one that is not barky, some are. Wire fox terriers are not real barky, but they are dynomite in small packages, love people but are fearless and will go looking for fights with the neighbors Rottie if it happens to wander into the Wire's home turf. What about hair coat? How much grooming do your folks want to put up with? And shedding? (note here, just because a dog has short hair does not mean it doesn't shed.) If you can keep one brushed out, a Shih Tzu may be a good choise. They are pretty mellow and easy going. Poodles come in all sizes and colors, they are very smart, and don't shed, but some are barkers. They also can spoil easily and think they are royality if they are overly catered to. But they might be a good option too. Think about some of the other things you would like to have in your pet and maybe I can give you some more ideas. Latest Entries
Don't think I'd do caffeine on a Chihuahau, they are pretty shakey anyway. I don't know of any studies on the effects of caffeine on dogs.
Age often brings on severity in minor problems that would not bother a young dog. Have you ever determined why exactly she has had breathing problems in the past? Some dogs, Shih Tzu's in particular, often suffer from pinched naries, which is easily corrected by a quick snip to the base of the nose to make the nasal passage larger. One thing you may want to do is make sure she is current on her kennel cough vaccintation. It will help keep her immune system stay in tip top shape to help fight off respitory infections. If it is congestion just in the nasal passages, what I have done is to put a tiny drop of nasal spray on a Q tip and swab just inside the nose. You don't want to actually put drops in the nose on a tiny dog. A dab of Vix on the nose can help some too, but do not do it frequently. You might need to have the vet check and make sure she does not have a growth in her nasal passages. QUOTE(sheepdog @ Sep 29 2007, 12:05 PM) PLEASE I really need to figure out a way to keep up my hosting credits. Since I am brain dead about computers, school, relationships, sports, games, etc, would really like to see more activity in this pet catagory. I got my first dog when I was less than 1 year old. And since I have now passed the 1/2 century mark, I think I may of learned a thing or 2 about dogs. So ask me anything. Really. I probably know it. Help me out here. Okay, I'll ask you a question. I have a female Chihuahua who's about 8yrs. old. She's always been prone to breathing problems, as I know a lot of little dogs are, but they seem to be getting worse with her age. So, my question is, can cafeine help a dogs asthmatic attack the same way it will a human's? I heard that if you feed your dog a little bit of coffee when they are having trouble breathing that it will help open up their airways. It would be awesome if you have heard anything like that, or maybe something else that is supposed to work. I'd hate to wake up one night and watch my dog die because she can't breathe and I can't help her. Basically, any help would be appreciated. QUOTE(JasperIk @ Nov 16 2007, 05:58 AM) I have so many questions so many times...  So my precious ball of fat aka my dog seems to be... pregnant. Now my aunt and my uncle tried to keep my aunt's dog away from her, but it seems recently her stomach has swelled and she has become more "developed" if you get what I am saying? And I could have sworn that when I was petting her I felt something move. Anyway, I don't care a whole lot if she's pregnant, but I just am worried she is too old. She's around 10 and pretty hefty for her size (she is a dachshund btw), she's had two litters before, the first little she only gave birth to two puppies, and the second litter 6 (then 4, two died). Aside from her weight she isn't too bad of a dog, I mean when it's cold she gets a little slower and lazy, but she's not like falling over with arthritis you know? I just want to make sure it's okay for her to be having babies so late. 10 is really pretty old for dog to have pups, it's the equivilent of a 70 year old woman having a baby, but they can and I'm betting yours may well be. Also the fact that she is overweight will cause her problems too. Do you know what kind of a dog she is bred to? Hopefully something small. Conception rates on the older dogs are not good, so she may only have one or 2 pups, but the problem there is that with only one pup in her, the pup will have unlimited room to grow and may get too large for her to have naturally, she may requite a c-section. Those are fairly common in Dachshunds anyway, but hopefully since she has had pups before, she will be able to deliver ok. If you see obvious signs of hard labor without pups comming do not wait too long to get her to the vet. Also, quite often the milk supply in older females is poor, contaminated, or non existant. If she delivers a live pup, you may have to bottle feed it. Not an easy task, newborns need feed every 2 hours around the clock. Good luck, I hope she is ok. Just let me know if you have other questions.
I have so many questions so many times...
So my precious ball of fat aka my dog seems to be... pregnant. Now my aunt and my uncle tried to keep my aunt's dog away from her, but it seems recently her stomach has swelled and she has become more "developed" if you get what I am saying? And I could have sworn that when I was petting her I felt something move. Anyway, I don't care a whole lot if she's pregnant, but I just am worried she is too old. She's around 10 and pretty hefty for her size (she is a dachshund btw), she's had two litters before, the first little she only gave birth to two puppies, and the second litter 6 (then 4, two died). Aside from her weight she isn't too bad of a dog, I mean when it's cold she gets a little slower and lazy, but she's not like falling over with arthritis you know? I just want to make sure it's okay for her to be having babies so late.
Well, you've got me on that one.
I haven't a clue what substance in pineapples would be toxic to dogs. But I guess we'd all better start being more careful about leaving any fruit salad out where our dogs can get to it from the sounds of it. First grapes and now pineapples! As far as artificial sweeteners, I don't thing they are good for anybody, dog or human. Every few years they come out with a new one and when the new one comes out they decide the previous one causes cancer.
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