Dog owners never imagine hurting their dogs consciously. They always ensure their furry friends’ well-being and happiness. However, sometimes, we may hurt our furry friend without realizing. Always remember, a dog is like a human baby, they can’t speak, so as a dog parent, it is our responsibility to understand their feelings. Something I always keep in mind is that, A puppy leaves his/her parents to light up our life. Therefore, we should light up his/her life as well. It is our responsibility. In this article, we are going to know some harmful things that you do to your dog without realizing.
Rawhides aim to be enduring chews that break down slowly over time. Rawhides may harm your dog’s well-being. Some dogs can survive and live healthy lives having it, and some can’t. You have to take a calculative risk to check whether rawhides suit your dog.
Rawhides are bleached with harmful chemicals that can cause blockages or become a choking hazard. Rawhides are usually glued into the bone shape.
You should not give rawhides to your dogs if
They break into big pieces. Because that can become a hazard.
They have delicate digestion.
Harmful Things 2: Feeding Every Human Food to Your Dog
This is the common sense that some owners need to remember. Human foods are made for humans, not for dogs. Likewise, Dog foods are made for dogs, not humans.
I am strongly against feeding every human food to my dog. There can be some health issues, such as Vomiting and Diarrhoea.
However, there are some fruits and veggies that you can still feed your dog. These are
Blueberry
Cucumber
Carrots
Sweet Potatoes
Apples
Mango
Watermelon
Green Beans
Boiled Chicken
Harmful Things 3: Giving Human Medication to your Dog
Human Medications are extremely vulnerable to dogs. Humans’ and Dogs’ metabolic systems are different. That makes them highly sensitive to certain medications.
Even small doses of human medications can damage the kidney and liver and cause circulatory problems in dogs.
Therefore, it’s important to keep all the medications away from your dog’s reach. If your dog accidentally ingests human medicines, contact your veterinarian immediately for guidance and treatment.
Harmful Things 4: Home Cleaning Products
We all have cleaning products to make our homes neat and clean. But, they are the source of danger for dogs.
Cleaning Products contain strong chemicals like Acids, Alcohols, Bleach, Detergents, Sanitizers and others.
Dogs are curious about everything. They always want to chew, lick or bite new things. Keeping away cleaning products from your dog is necessary if you haven’t trained your dog properly. Even trained dogs sometimes lick these cleaning products.
You should immediately contact your veterinarian for treatment if your dog licks a home cleaning product to reduce the chance of damage.
Harmful Things 5: Loud Noises and Music’s
Humans can easily hear loud noises and music. We often go to concerts and parties where we listen to music loudly and make other noises like Fireworks.
These things are normal to us, but not for dogs. They may get get fearful, anxious, overwhelmed, and confused.
These loud sounds can also damage their hearing system, and it can affect their mental health in the long term.
Harmful Things 6: Neglecting Grooming Requirements of Your Dog
There is a simple analogy to understand this point. Suppose you last had a haircut or cleaned yourself a long time ago. Won’t it be irritating and unhealthy? The same goes for dogs.
You have to ensure your dog’s grooming requirements depend on the breed. If you neglect grooming, it can cause itching, skin issues and a stressful mind.
It is also unhygienic for humans to live with a dog they have not groomed.
Harmful Things 7: Skipping Dental Care of your Dog
Dogs have teeth like we humans have. We brush our teeth to make them clean and avoid dental problems. It is the same case for dogs. They also need to brush and other stuff we do to our teeth.
Humans can talk about their dental problems, but dogs can’t. And dogs often suffer from dental problems for not getting attention from their owner.
We have to maintain regular brushing for our furry friends. Remember to use dog’s paste and brush.
Harmful Things 8: Forceful Training
Some dog breeds are willful and show stubborn behaviour. Every breed has its own exercise requirements. Golden Mountain Doodles and Chihuahuas get bothered if we train them for too long. In contrast, Border Collies can be trained for a long period of time.
Some dog breeds show stubborn behaviours towards some training commands. In that case, we usually force them to complete the command. But it is not the right way. They may get frustrated and bothered, which can have mental effects. The thing we can do is give more time and provide positive reinforcement training.
Thus, you have to understand how much training your dog can take at the moment and need to find the best way to train them. Never hurt your dog’s feelings by forcing them. This is the most common mistake that people make with their dogs.
Harmful Things 9: Leaving Alone Home a Dog
Dogs are social animals and always want to be with their owner and family.
For some reason, we need to leave the dog alone in the house. It is very painful for dogs to understand. They never enjoy being alone at all.
It has an effect on their mental and psychological balance. They are very innocent, and some dogs tend to think they were abandoned after being alone for a long time and suffer from separation anxiety.
Also, they can harm themself while playing with toys or might get sick and require instant treatments. We never know what’s gonna happen in the future. So, Leaving your loving furry friend alone in the home is not ideal.
Harmful Things 10: Leaving a Dog Alone in the Car
Never leave your furry friend alone in the car. There is a serious issue here.
You may be surprised; the Temperature in the car can increase to twenty degrees in ten minutes. Which can lead to an overheating issue in dogs.
Harmful Things 11: Neglecting Potential Health Issues
Every breed comes with its own specific health issues. Owners should be aware of these potential health issues to reduce the damage.
Owners should always get in touch with veterinarians and know the symptoms of the diseases to avoid the risk of health issues.
That step will make your dog’s life more joyful and playful. Your concerns can save them.
Harmful Things 12: Giving Physical Punishment to Your Dog
As I mentioned earlier, dogs are so innocent. They don’t understand things quickly, but some dog breeds are smart and intelligent.
Dogs will only get disciplined if we teach and train them. But still, they can make mistakes accidentally and make us bothered and angry. However, We can fix them by giving them more time, love and training, But beating them is not the solution.
Physical punishments are not the way of teaching or training. It will scare your dog and can affect his mental health. In the long run, your dog may get mentally sick and can be frightened by every creature. This will make training more difficult and potentially exacerbate the behavioural issues. It can also damage the trust and weaken the bond with your dog.
If you can’t train them properly, consult with a trainer. They will help you out. Training matters the most in these cases.
Harmful Things 13: Visiting Dog Parks
Dog parks are only partially safe to visit. Often, we see owners yelling at their dogs, some aggressive dogs fighting, and many other unpredictable situations.
There are a couple of risks while visiting dog parks.
Dog parks are not hygienic, meaning strangers’ dogs can carry viruses and Your beloved dog easily can get infected.
There are always some aggressive and mean dogs. Make sure you and your dog are safe.
Harmful Things 14: Yelling at Your Dog
Dogs can understand their owner’s behaviour. They only want their owner on their side. That will be enough for them.
However, they make mistakes. They do some unwanted things that shouldn’t be done. And we should correct them in the proper way, like doing obedience training.
Yelling at the dog will not fix anything at all. It will just make the situation worse. Sometimes, when you yell at your dog, he will get confused, and the problem won’t be sorted out. In most cases, dogs become anxious, stressed, and fearful, potentially leading to behavioral issues such as aggression.
Harmful Things 15: Not Enough Exercise
Exercise is the main key to leading a healthy and happy life for dogs. Each breed is different from the others.
Some breeds required much exercise, and some required very little. However, you have to fulfill the criteria for daily exercise needs based on your dog’s age, energy level, and health conditions.
If you fail to ensure enough exercise, your dog may become frustrated and bothered. Then, your dog can form aggressive and mean behaviour or become idle and unsocial. Also, health issues are definitely gonna be there.
Thus, ensure enough exercise for your furry friend.
Harmful Things 16: Not Enough Mental Stimulation
Dogs require much mental stimulation. With mental stimulation, their brain functions more nicely.
If you fail to give your dog mental stimulation, it will harm your dog’s brain and creativity.
You can give mental stimulation through puzzles, ball games and advanced training. These are some easy but essential things that you need to ensure your dog’s better life.
Harmful Things 17: Leaving Harmful Things Around
Dogs are unaware of any potential damage. They don’t know which things are good for them and which aren’t.
As I mentioned, they love to chew and lick everything and anything. Leaving harmful things around will cause potential damage to your dog.
Also, things like knives, iron or anything your dog can play with should be away from him. Otherwise, it will cause huge damage.
Harmful Things 18: Strong Smells
We love strong smells and often use those perfumes. Because our sense of smell is not as intense as that of dogs.
According to Purina, Dogs’ sense of smell is 10,000 to 100,000 times more intense than humans. That’s why they have better smelly ability.
Dogs may get more anxious and stressed. Sometimes, it will increase their excitement. Leading towards some unusual behavioral likehyperactivity, aggression or defensive behavior.
So, we shouldn’t use products with strong smells around our dogs.
Harmful Things 19: Messing up food timing
Humans use clocks to determine time, while dogs have their own internal clocks. They know what things to do after. They follow the rules.
If you fail to be punctual in giving them food, Dogs will feel less secure and anxious. This can lead to a aggressive and mean behaviour.
Sometimes, dogs start barking at their owner for food, and sometimes, they wait for hunger.
It is essential to maintain food timing for a relaxed and secured feeling dog.
Harmful Things 20: Feeding too Much
Dogs are food lovers. They can eat up your entire house if you don’t give them the restrictions.
Dogs can’t understand that feeding too much is harmful, but you can. If they eat too much, their weight will increase day by day, and they will not be able to run and walk like normal dogs in the long run. Also, some health problems, such as Diabetes and heart problems, can be seen.
Always maintaining a healthy diet is important for your dog.
Harmful Things 21: Not Providing Enough Water
Water is more important than food for every living being. The same thing goes for dogs. It’s important to know how much water your dog requires, and you should maintain that.
Without providing enough water to your dog can fail their organs and potentially lead to death.
Sometimes, dogs may not drink water or can stop drinking. In this situation you have to consult a veterinarian as quickly as possible.
Harmful Things 22: Using Wrong Leash And Collar
Selecting an appropriate leash and collar for your dog is crucial. It would be best if you focused especially on the collar.
Don’t use such collars that lead to discomfort for your dog. By using these collars, your dog will be in discomfort and can have some injuries.
When the dog pulls the leash, the tension is exerted on the collar around his neck. This can create pressure on the dog’s throat, which leads to discomfort and potential breathing problems.
Harmful Things 23: Skipping The Vet
Regular veterinary care is essential for maintaining your dog’s health and detecting potential diseases.
Skipping regular check-ups and vaccinations can put your dog at risk of serious health issues that can be prevented by early detection.
Harmful Things 24: Skipping flea and tick control and worming treatment
Fleas, ticks and worms can cause serious problems to your dog, including skin irritation, anemia, and even more serious diseases.
So, get advice from a veterinarian to prevent potential harm to your dog.
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