Should I Let My Dog Eat Table Scraps

It may be tempting to let your pet eat table scraps on a regular basis. A part of this is that they are going to be staring at you during the meal and that means you may be thinking about giving them a treat. The issue with that though, is that a lot of the foods that we eat on a regular basis may be very bad for your pet. That is because just one portion of food that is full of fat or that is full of sugar can hurt or injure your pet. Here is what could happen when you give your pet table scraps.

 

What Can Happen if I Let My Pet Eat Scraps?

If you are letting your pets eat scraps, there are many things that can go wrong.

 

Pancreatitis.

You could cause a bad condition in your pets that is caused by them eating fatty foods. That is called pancreatitis. This happens when the pancreas releases enzymes into the digestive tract and when there is a food that is being ingested to break down all the food and to promote digestion.

The condition of Pancreatitis happens when the enzymes are released early and that means it happens before the food reaches the digestive tract. This can cause there to be a terrible problem when the pancreas will then start ingesting itself and cause all kinds of inflammation.

The enzymes will then be an issue in the abdomen for your pet and that means that there can be damage to all the structures as well as to the others. That can include the bile ducts, the gall bladder, and the intestines. The foods that are full of fat are not the only things that can cause Pancreatitis though. There are many things to watch out for. The signs of the severity though can be increased and here is what needs to be watched out for.

1. Severe Pain in the Abdomen
2. Vomiting
3. Diarrhea

In some cases, there can be death associated with pancreatitis.

The severity of the situation determines the kind of treatment that may need to happen, but it can also require the hospitalization of your pet.

 

Gastrointestinal Upset

Many pets have systems that are not able to deal with new foods. Particularly if you have had a pet that has had issues in the past with digesting their foods properly. You need to make sure that you are not introducing anything new into their diet. That means especially not food for people. When you are adding in new foods you are taking on the risk of disrupting the balance of the linings of the stomach and that means that you can cause the inflammation of the GI tract. This can lead your pet to suffer from issues like:

1. Stomach Aches
2. Problems with vomiting
3. Diarrhea
4. Inappetence
5. Lethargy

If you see any of these signs in your pet, you need to take them to the vet right away. That will allow you to ensure that you are helping your pet to recover safely and quickly.

 

 

Exposure to Toxins

Although it may be well-intentioned for your pet, you may also see that there may be other issues with allowing your pet to have any kind of table scraps. That could be that you are letting them take in foods that are toxic to your pet. Things like raisins, grapes, chocolate, and xylitol can all be fatal to your pet.

These also may be introduced to your pet in a way that seems harmless enough like in bread, brownies, and many other food combinations like these.

Many of these toxins have many different and serious ramifications that come from many ongoing issues. Some examples of these issues may be low blood sugar, and this can lead to death.

 

Other Issues with Foreign Bodies in the Food

There are also many other foreign bodies that can make their way into the GI tract. Those can cause other issues such as pets choking on toys, bones, peach pits, corn cobs, and many other issues. This can also happen with blankets, socks, hair ties, and carpet. These issues can be fatal when they are not treated properly.

What Are the Symptoms of GI Obstruction?

1. Vomiting
2. Diarrhea
3. Inappetence
4. Lethargy

If you think that your pet may have eaten a foreign body, you need to call your vet right away. That will allow you to get to the bottom of it and in some cases, you may be able to induce vomiting as well and ensure that you can fix the issue.

When you get to the vet there are some issues that may be very hard to figure out what has caused them. It may be necessary to give your pet an ultrasound or some other kind of internal look to make sure that you are able to see all that is going on.

Your pet will be able to advise the best outcome to ensure that you are on top of getting rid of the obstruction. However, there are many kinds of surgery that may be necessary to make sure that your pet is handled with care. You may need to have removal of the object or fluid therapy.

 

What About Bone Splinters

Other issues that you may not have even thought about are bone splinters. These are very dangerous to pets. These problems may come from bones like steak or port and may also be a part of other kinds of scraps.

There are many splintered pieces as well that can be caught from the mouth and down into the throat. These can be a part of the walls of the stomach if they are not handled in a careful manner.

The large chunks of bone can also be a part of the small bowel which is a huge problem. These can also cause pain and distress to the dog because there are many other items that are not able to pass through the narrow passage. This means there may be a need then at that point for surgical removal.

 

Talk to Your Vet About New Foods

If you are thinking about allowing your pet to try your leftovers, you need to ensure that you are not going to give your pet something that is going to be dangerous for them. That means that you need to ensure that you are doing all you can to keep your pet safe.