19 October 2020
06/01/21 Today is National shortbread day!
We are having a cheat day and enjoying some homemade shortbread.
Refined sugar is not suitable for dogs, they need some sugar in their diet but it does need to be the right form and too much of anything can cause issues.
Sugar free human treats often contain the artificial sweetener Xylitol or Chocolate – both of are unsafe for your dog.
Chocolate contains theobromine which can be lethal to dogs.
Xylitol is a natural sugar which is often found in peanut butter, sugar free gum and other sweet treats. Xylitol is extremely toxic to dogs with the smallest amount likely to cause low blood sugar, liver failure, seizures or even death in dogs. We recommend checking labels of all sweet products and keep any containing Xylitol well out of reach of your dog.
Another downside to eating too much sugar for both humans and dogs is cavities! It is advised that you brush your dog’s teeth often, not only can brushing their teeth prevent tooth loss but it can also prevent the build-up of tartar and gingivitis (inflammation of the gums) these infections can spread through your dog’s system to other parts of the body.
Weight gain is another coming issue, your dog’s body is unable to break down the sugars correctly which means your dog will inevitably put-on weight which can cause stress on their joints and lead to many other medical problems such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and difficulty breathing from the extra weight they are carrying. Obesity is unfortunately a very common in dogs but is very easy to stop by feeding them the correct amounts of the correct foods, take a look at our feeding guide on our website http://www.naturaldogfoodcompany.com/?product=adult-variety-pack
So, when you are enjoying a high sugar treat for yourself remember not to share it with your dog and use natural treats such as carrots, banana and berries as part of a balanced diet.
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