Labrador Retriever Dogs Blog

There was an interesting post at the labrador retriever chatboard last week about items that are poisonous to dogs. What I didn't know was that a product in sugar free gum is very dangerous to dogs. It's called Xylitol and from what I read only a few grams of this substance can kill a 65 lb dog. I have no idea how much is in a pack of gum but I have read a few stories on the net about dog owners whos pets have become very ill from eating a pack.

There was an email story floating around about it but you never know if it's true or not. Snopes however confirms that this product is dangerous to dogs.

It is a sugar alcohol used in candy and chewing gum. It is also found in some pharmaceuticals and oral health products such as chewable vitamins and throat lozenges. It can also be used in home baking. While Xylitol is safe for humans, it can be harmful to dogs. The compound doesn't affect glucose levels in people, but when ingested by dogs it can cause a dangerous surge of insulin. At high doses, Xylitol is believed toxic to the canine liver.

Just three grams of Xylitol can kill a 65-pound dog. Because the amount of sweetener used in sugar-free chewing gums varies by manufacturer and product, the number of sticks of gum that would prove fatal to a pooch of that size can't be stated with precision. As a general rule of thumb, between eight and ten pieces of gum might be deadly to a 65-pound canine, but a smaller dog could easily die after ingesting far less (perhaps as few as two sticks of gum).

Source

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Some of you may not be aware but dog breeds like labrador retriever puppies can develop what is called canine acne. Canine acne usually breaks out on their chin, lips, and muzzle. It can also be associated with scabs and blackheads on their lips, chin and muzzle. While not usually harmful it can become infected which leads to many other problems.

There are several treatments for canine acne which are similiar to human treatments for acne. A trip to the vet would be your best bet and get the proper diagnosis as sometimes it could be mistaken for food allergies. A few people on the chat forums have remarked that they changed their labrador retrievers bowls from plastic to steel. Their dogs were allergic to the plastic. At any rate, if you dogs snout looks to be infected then get to a vet. 

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

If you remember from a few blog posts ago I mentioned that Cooper was sleeping on the bathroom floor more often. This got me thinking the other day when I dropped one of our acne treatments on the floor. You have to make sure that all of those areas that your labrador retriever puppy has access to is free of harmful items that they may get into. Be mindful of closing doors, keeping cupboards closed and store your items out of their reach. You would be suprised how much damage something as simple as dental floss can do.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Summer is on in full effect and I have been trying to look for ways to get my self in better shape and maybe lose a few pounds along the way. I have been reading a lot on the internet about different ways to shed extra weight. I have been reading workout plans, weight lifting plans and even a Leptovox review. There is so much information out there it's hard to know where to begin.

For now I am going to start enjoying longer walks with my labrador retriever. He can't wait until we get home from work every day to go for his daily walk. It probably wouldn't hurt the both of us to extend our walk a little. As you know, I tired labrador retriever is a good labrador retriever.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

It’s probably not too surprising that many of us take our dogs health for granted. We probably don’t mean to do it. It just kind of happens by accident. We expose them to things or feed them food with ingredients that we wouldn’t eat or expose ourselves to. We rush out and take our vitamins, eat healthy food do things like giving ourselves a liver cleanse. We then turn around and feed our dog food with questionable ingredients or even expose them to second hand smoke. It’s just a matter of becoming more aware of what we are exposing out pets to. After all, we want them to live a long and health life. So think about it next time you are shopping for pet food or taking your dog in public or even buying them a toy. Read the label and think about exactly what you are giving them.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

I have written a number of articles on keeping your dogs and pets in shape but sometimes we need to look at ourselves and keep ourselves in shape. Getting the proper exercise equipment is the first step into getting ourselves into shape so we can better enjoy our dogs or pets. Owning a labrador retriever can be a lot of work both mentally and physically. They are very demanding animals that require a lot of exercise. Keeping ourselves in shape will help us be better dog owners and give our pets the love and exercise they need and  help them live a full more healthy life. There are even stories of labrador retriever owners using their exercise equipement such as treadmills to give their dogs a good workout.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

Summer is here and your dog or pet is going to be a lot more active then they were over the winter. You are going to have trips to the beach, hiking and trail travelling and even just visits to friends and family outings. One thing you should keep in mind is your dog or pets safety. Why not pack a first aid kit for your furry friend, especially if you are going off of the beaten path.

The first thing you should is do is pick up a first aid book so you understand exactly what you are going to do with your first aid kit. Having a kit and not understanding what do to with the contents is like not having one at all. A great read is the The Orvis Field Guide to First Aid for Sporting Dogs  This is a great guide to everything you need to know about first aid and your sporting dog or pet.

As far as first aid kits go, you have a couple of choices. You can purchase a commercial pet first aid kit or you can build one yourself. If building one yourself here is a list of items that you should include:

Have fun and a great safe summer and enjoy the nice weather with your dog or pet.

Bookmark It

Hide Sites

A reader wrote in yesterday with a question about the health risks involved in exposing their labrador retriever to second hand smoke.  Exposure to second hand smoke is as deadly a health risk to our pets as it is to ourselves or our children.

Studies show that second hand smoke doubles lymphoma risk in cats and increases the risk of cancer in dogs. The type of cancer most found is respiratory cancer. Studies have also shown that dogs with longer nose systems that a labrador retriever or german shepherd are more apt to develop problems over a pug for example.

Not only do your pets inhale the dangerous smoke they ingest the particles with their tounge when they groom themselves because the particles are trapped in their fur.

The bottom line, don't expose your pets to second hand smoke.

Further Reading: Lung Association Quebec, Smoke Free Society

Bookmark It

Hide Sites