Every dog owner has noticed at least once that their pet asks for something sweet.
But how will the dog's body react to this? Opinions differ greatly on whether dogs can have sweets.
Arguments against
Veterinarians believe that because dogs are carnivores by nature, their main diet should consist of proteins and fats.
Carbohydrates, in turn, are obtained from vegetables and grains. But dogs get their energy supply not from carbohydrates, but directly from fats.
This energy reserve allows the dog to be very active for a long time.
Also, the digestive system of a dog and a human is very different.
The components that enter the body from sweet food are digested by the dog much longer and with great difficulty. And this in turn can lead to various diseases of the digestive system.
If you feed your pet sweets, it gets very used to it and starts asking for more and more. It may even refuse regular food.
Sweets dangerous for dogs
In general, any product containing sugar is contraindicated for dogs. But the following products are the most dangerous:
- Ice cream contains a lot of sugar.
- Chocolate - Theobromine, which is found in chocolate, is very toxic to dogs and can cause severe poisoning.
- Plum clogs the intestines.
- Pastries - because of them, fermentation processes occur in the digestive system. This is very painful for the dog.
- Citrus fruits are highly allergenic products.
- Grapes have a very bad effect on your pet's kidneys.
Not only carbohydrates are bad for your pet, various additives and sugar substitutes are also harmful to your dog.
Arguments for
No matter how many people insist that dogs shouldn't have sweets, many experts dispute this theory.
They conducted various studies and found that the dog's body has changed greatly during its time with humans. It now contains a gene that allows it to digest carbohydrates.
These studies prove that sweets won't hurt your pet. But that doesn't mean you should feed your dog candy every day.
There is a norm that is acceptable, but if it is not followed, it can lead to bad consequences.
The main thing is to watch your dog's condition when he eats sweets. After all, your dog may develop illnesses, and then sweets should be greatly limited.
Or an allergy may develop. It is strictly forbidden to give those products that are known to be toxic, such as chocolate.
There are experts who claim that sweets are generally good for dogs. If a dog is sick and fats are contraindicated, sweets will give a portion of carbohydrates, which will help restore energy.
Sweets that are good for dogs
When your pet asks for a lot of sweets, there are a number of products that will not harm and may even be useful. Special chocolate has even been created for dogs.
It is made without sugar and cocoa, and the added stevia extract has a good effect on the liver.
Fruits can also give your pet a large supply of carbohydrates and vitamins. The main thing is that they are not citrus fruits. If your pet is not allergic, a little honey is allowed.
You can find a large number of different sweets for dogs in pet stores. Just don't give them too much. About 10% of the total amount of food per day is acceptable.
What to do if your dog asks for sweets
When a pet persistently asks for sweets, you have to refuse it. But not every owner can handle this.
It is recommended to prepare in advance the product that she can eat.
Veterinarians recommend tracking the reason why the dog asks for sweets. If it is not just begging, then it may simply lack useful elements. Then you should review its diet and create the right diet.
Previously, we talked about what you need to know to get a husky .
