For a senior citizen, the benefits to owning a dog are numerous. Dogs draw seniors out of a home, due to the need for daily walks and physical activities. Dogs also offer companionship. When an aging parent wants to stay at home, pairing home care services and a dog as a companion is always a smart move. There are, however, things seniors and their family caregivers must know about owning a dog. One of the most important topics to cover are foods that a dog must never eat.

 

A number of foods ingested regularly by humans are simply not safe for dogs. For seniors who decide to own a dog, these five foods should be memorized as foods that are dangerous to their pet.

 

Cinnamon

While cinnamon may smell appealing, it’s an item elder care providers should keep out of a dog’s reach. Cinnamon can reduce the blood sugar levels in a dog. In turn, this can affect the dog’s liver. It can also drop the heart rate and cause diarrhea, which can lead to dehydration.

 

Grapes and Raisins

Feeding a dog fruits and vegetables may seem healthy, but home care providers should be aware that dogs cannot eat grapes and raisins. Substances within grapes can cause kidney failure in dogs, even after they’ve been dried and changed to raisins.

 

Nuts

While peanuts, which are technically legumes, are fine for dogs, many nuts are dangerous. Anyone involved in elderly care each day should make sure nuts like macadamias, pecans, and walnuts are never given to the dog in the home. Once ingested, it can take as much as a day for a dog to show signs of the toxic effects of macadamia nuts. Those symbols include a dangerously high body temperature, lethargy/weakness, shaking/tremors, and vomiting.

 

Uncooked Egg Whites

Raw egg whites contain avidin. It’s the avidin that makes uncooked egg whites dangerous to dogs. Avidin blocks a dog’s body from absorbing biotin, a form of vitamin B, and that can affect cell and skin health in a dog.

 

Xylitol

Touted for its benefits in helping battle some bacteria in humans, xylitol can be deadly to a dog. The sweetener is found in many household products, including baked items, candies, and gum. When a dog ingests xylitol, it triggers a rush of insulin that can damage the liver or drastically drop blood sugar levels. Senior care providers should check labels and make sure that any items containing xylitol are well out of a dog’s reach.

 

If you or an aging family member are considering hiring senior care in Sandy Springs, GA, please contact the caring staff at Caring Companions of Atlanta 470-514-5954.

We provide quality non-medical services to our clients in their homes or in a facility if that’s where they live. Our staff is available for care plans for extensive care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or as little as 4 hours per visit. Reach out to us, and one of our outstanding administrative staff will meet with potential clients to assist them and their families in designing an effective, personal plan of care.

 

Sources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3351901/

https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control/people-foods-avoid-feeding-your-pets

http://www.akc.org/content/health/articles/human-foods-dogs-can-and-cant-eat/