Can dogs be given sweets and why do they love them?

Not only people, but also dogs love to eat sweet foods. How difficult it is for us to resist the tidbit, we eat it, and at the same time we treat our favorite pet with delicacy. It is impossible not to share when a pair of attentive eyes are watching your every move in the hope of getting a piece of sugar, candy or chocolates. And we share. However, a moment comes when a good owner of a dog thinks about whether it is possible to give sweets to his pet. and in what quantities this delicacy will not harm the animal.

Sweet foods belong to the so-called fast carbohydrates, which, getting into our body, provide it with energy, giving strength and for a short time dulling the feeling of hunger. Like a human, a dog needs glucose for normal brain function and the maintenance of the whole body system. But, unlike a human, a dog needs far less sugar. The enzymatic system of the animal is arranged differently than in humans, the dog's pancreas does not produce a large number of digestive enzymes necessary for the processing and assimilation of sugar. Thus, excess glucose, entering the dog's body, causes a violation of digestion, accompanied by fermentation in its intestines. Often, if your pet is excessively consumed, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation, general weakness, and lethargy due to bowel pain occur.

The detrimental effect of sugar affects the work of the pancreas and liver. These bodies simply do not handle the processing of large amounts of glucose. In addition, sugar leads to the fact that the animal's eyes begin to suppurate, this process is accompanied by a strong tearing and redness of the dog's eyeballs.

Sugar is bad for the dog’s mouth. Often she develops caries or pulpitis, the treatment of which can only be performed under general anesthesia, which is not a useful activity for an animal. Pets, for a long time eating sugar, often suffer from extreme degrees of obesity, which is associated with hormonal and metabolic disturbances. Dogs, like people, can suffer from diabetes, the symptoms of which flow in an animal as well as in humans. This condition is dangerous to the life of your pet, and it all began with a harmless little piece of sugar.

Under the action of sugar, the dog's body suffers from a weakened immune system. An animal is prone to catarrhal diseases, and if it has even minor wounds on its paws or body, their healing occurs extremely slowly and poorly, turning into extensive ulcers. For the treatment of such purulent processes, the dog will need antibiotics that will increase the burden on the liver, and it is already difficult to cope with its functions. In some cases, under the influence of glucose in the dog's body, an allergic reaction may begin, while the animal often loses hair and has focal baldness. Allergies can be accompanied by skin diseases, which cause a lot of trouble and inconvenience to both the owner and the dog - the animal constantly experiences itching and burning of the skin, it is restless, does not sleep well and suffers a decrease in appetite.Sometimes, tired of this state, the dog becomes aggressive.

Sugar for any organism is a kind of doping, so getting used to it comes pretty quickly. Small puppies who eat mother's milk do not know what sugar is. Growing up, they can not eat it at all, but once tried, the dog remembers the taste of this substance. As a rule, people are familiar with sweet delicacies. Some dog breeders, by encouraging their pet to execute commands during the training process, give them small pieces of sugar. Gradually, the dog gets used to the treat and waits for its re-receipt.

Sometimes dog breeders mistakenly think that sugar can be replaced with sugar substitutes and given to a dog who loves sweet treats. But such products harm the dog's body no less than ordinary sugar. Therefore, sweeteners are not a panacea for safe consumption of sweets. When the dog was not accustomed to sugar, the animal’s sudden craving for sweets may be due to a lack of mineral components or vitamins in its body. Sweet tooth can also be explained by the fact that your pet does not have enough carbohydrates in the diet. Consultation of a veterinary will help you to choose a complex of vitamin preparations and make a complete diet.

Besides, interest in sweets in a dog may occur quite spontaneously - the animal is often in close contact with its owner, if you eat something in the presence of a dog, then, of course, it is of interest to your four-legged friend. Many people have a desire to share their meal with a pet, forgetting that such food is not intended for dogs.

There is a list of sweet foods that should not be given to a dog, as their use causes irreparable damage to the health of the animal. It is worth paying attention to the list of prohibited products for your dog.

• Products made from cocoa beans, which include chocolate. Cocoa beans contain a substance called theobromine; it is not absorbed in the dog's body due to the lack of the necessary enzymes. To bring an animal to death, it is enough to introduce 300–350 mcg of theobromine into its body, which is contained in 1 bitter chocolate bar. All kinds of creams and chocolate pastes are dangerous for the health and life of the dog - they can also have a high concentration of theobromine.
• Sugar substitutes, which include xylitol. After the substance gets into the dog's body, it forms a sharp, spasmodic rise in the level of glucose in the blood, which entails a huge amount of insulin production. Such a jump sharply hits the animal's health, causing symptoms of body poisoning and failure of the liver and pancreas. In such a situation, the pet will need urgent veterinary care. Xylitol or xylitol (as it is also called) is contained in chewing gum, some types of chewing candies, and also in toothpaste.
• Grapes This product is dangerous for animals both fresh and dried. The fact is that berries contain a large amount of glucose in their composition, and getting into the stomach and intestines of a dog, the fruits of grapes cause strong fermentation processes.
• Citrus fruit. Dogs may ignore them, but there are some individuals who take them for food with pleasure.The danger from citrus is that they are the strongest allergens.
• Fruits and berries that contain large fruit bones. Such products should not be given to the animal as a whole, as there is a risk that your pet may develop intestinal obstruction, which is formed due to the blockage of the intestinal lumen with fruit pits. Sometimes, to save a dog, veterinarians have to do surgery under general anesthesia.
• Watermelons and melons. These sweet foods are poorly absorbed in the dog's body, as they are rich in sugars and fiber. Veterinarians believe that watermelon and melon have a negative effect on the kidneys of an animal, causing a risk of developing urolithiasis and inflammatory processes.
• Plum, peach or apricot. Even if you remove the large fruit bones from these fruits, it is not recommended to give them to the dog. These products have a laxative effect on the intestines, the development of diarrhea is not long to wait.

If you have seen your pet eat prohibited foods without your knowledge, try to take them away from your dog and immediately get an appointment with a veterinarian. At the same time, try at least approximately to determine the amount of the harmful product eaten by the dog.

Do not assume that in the diet of your four-legged pet should not be products containing glucose. This substance is necessary for the animal to complete the work of his body. But the dosage of the applied substance must comply with the physiological norm. There are foods that are beneficial to the dog's body.

• Ripe and fresh bananas. This fruit is rich in carbohydrates, and also contains in its composition magnesium, selenium and potassium. In a small amount of bananas will be useful for the dog's body, increasing stamina and improving the processes of digestion.
• An Apple. Sweet varieties of apples are rich in fructose, which is well absorbed by the dog's body. In addition, these fruits contain a large amount of vitamins and minerals, in particular - apples are rich in iron, which improves the composition of the blood.
• Roots. These include sweet varieties of carrots, turnips, turnips. These vegetables improve the intestinal function of a dog and saturate its body with valuable microelements.
• Pumpkin, zucchini. Sweets in these vegetables are few, but they are used as an additive to the main food. In small quantities, vegetables improve the work of the digestive system and prevent the occurrence of constipation, especially if your pet eats dry foods.
• Natural bee honey. This product can occasionally be given to your four-legged friend as a treat. A day a medium sized dog can eat 1 teaspoon of this product. Honey is the most valuable source of vitamins and minerals.
• Raspberries. The taste of these berries is very sweet, but they will not bring harm with moderate use; on the contrary, they will only benefit the animal’s body, as they contain a whole complex of essential vitamins and minerals.

In addition to products that have a sweet taste, dogs can be given meat products or sugar stones as a treat. Sometimes it is useful for dogs to introduce pig ears or tails into the diet, as well as give large cartilage.

See if you can give the dogs sweets, see the next video.