Dogs are greedy eaters, and they could consume dangerous items even if they get watched with extensive care. It is in their blood to sniff and taste anything, and everything and they often try to swallow whatever fits their throat.
Dogs do not consume hazardous substances on purpose or intentionally. They cannot control their curiosity when they are puppies, and most adult dogs always look for more calories and will try to swallow anything and everything that seems chewable to them.
Thorny plants and foxtails
Gardens and outdoors seem like the best place for dogs to exercise and get some fresh air. Many dogs develop the habit of eating grass and tend to chew on indoor and outdoor plants extensively. Thorny plants, foxtails, and plants infested with insects like caterpillars might cause immense harm to the dogs.
As mentioned on Ourfitpets.com, try to keep the dogs on a leash while going for a walk or hike outdoors, and do not let them go out of eyesight if the leash off. Dog eating wood and paint in the fence or doors and trying to eat soil and plastic in the pots is also typical as they spot small insects inside them.
Washing detergent
Dogs love washing detergent and somehow find it no matter where it is in the house. There are numerous cases of dogs jumping on the washer to pull out the detergent from the top shelf or foraging it from the shopping bag as soon as the owner returns from the supermarket.
Washing detergents can cause various digestion-related issues and lead to diseases like pancreatitis in the long run if they keep consuming it regularly. Try to avoid the brand the dog loves most and go for odorless, natural brands, as a strong smell is a trigger for dogs. Try to use pet-friendly washing detergent, which might not harm the dog much.
Digging the garbage
While the stinky, wet garbage makes the human skin crawl with disgust, dogs find it extremely interesting. The smell of leftover food, hide and seek of small animals like rats in the garbage, and the scent of some everyday items it senses in the house make dogs an irresistible urge to dig them up.
Be very careful to avoid this as there might be sharp objects like broken glass inside the garbage. Red ants or small insects in the trash might enter the dog’s nose or ears, and tiny fleas in the dustbin might stick to their paws and later transfer into their coat. Most vets stress on cleaning the dog’s paws thoroughly after it returns home from outdoor play.
Antifreeze
Most garages have antifreeze, and dogs love to drink it because it is delicious for the dog taste buds. The government had warned the antifreeze manufacturers to add certain bitterness causing agents to antifreeze to prevent the dogs from drinking it frequently. Vets say drinking antifreeze causes kidney failure in the long run.
But, consuming antifreeze often or even once a year will cause severe wounds in the intestine leading to many other significant complications. Avoid your dog getting its paws on antifreeze with great care to save on major medical expenses.
Pest control products
Puppies tend to explore everything zealously, keeping the dog owner on high-alert even when they are in the home backyard. Pest control products have a unique smell that keeps the insects away and attracts the puppies though they cannot be detected easily by the human nose.
Pest control products contain mild poison and are extremely dangerous for young puppies as their inner organs are fragile and delicate. It is crucial to keep all the pest control items and the gardening tools in a locked shed to protect them from puppies.
