Pet Dogs and Puppies
Dogs are carnivorous mammals presumed to be wolf descendants. Since prehistoric
times, dogs were domesticated as guardians and companions; they were valued for their intelligence,
docility and ability to bond. The Bible references them as flock guardians and home watchers. Then,
semi-wild canines wandered about devouring dead bodies and street remains. Specific characteristics
bred for specific functions created pure, mixed and partially domesticated varieties: sporting,
companionship, guarding, tracking or herding.
The dog (Canis lupus familiaris) is a domesticated subspecies of the wolf, a mammal of the Canidae
family of the order Carnivora. The term encompasses both feral and pet varieties and is also sometimes
used to describe wild canids of other subspecies or species. The domestic dog has been (and continues
to be) one of the most widely-kept working and companion animals in human history, as well as being a
food source in some cultures. There are estimated to be 400 million dogs in the world.
The dog has developed into hundreds of varied breeds. Height measured to the withers ranges from a
few inches in the Chihuahua to a few feet in the Great Dane; color varies from white through grays
(usually called blue) to black, and browns from light (tan) to dark ("red" or "chocolate") in a wide variation
of patterns; and, coats can be very short to many centimeters long, from coarse hair to something akin to
wool, straight or curly, or smooth.
Dangerous Substances
Human food. Some foods commonly enjoyed by humans are dangerous to dogs, including chocolate (Theobromine poisoning), onions, grapes and raisins, some types of gum, certain sweeteners and Macadamia nuts. The only known dangerous substance in chocolate is cocoa, so the danger of white chocolate is uncertain. The acute danger from grapes and raisins was discovered around 2000, and has slowly been publicized since then. The cause is not known. Small quantities will induce acute renal failure. Sultanas and currants may also be dangerous. Cooked bones are dangerous for dogs, because the heat of cooking changes their chemical and physical properties so that they cannot be chewed properly. As a result they may splinter into jagged shards that resist digestion. Alcoholic beverages pose comparable hazards to dogs as they do to humans, but due to low body weight and lack of alcohol tolerance they are toxic in much smaller portions.
Plants. Plants such as caladium, dieffenbachia and philodendron will cause throat irritations that will burn the throat going down as well as coming up. Hops are particularly dangerous and even small quantities can lead to malignant hyperthermia. Amaryllis, daffodil, english ivy, iris, and tulip (especially the bulbs) cause gastric irritation and sometimes central nervous system excitement followed by coma, and, in severe cases, even death. Ingesting foxglove, lily of the valley, larkspur and oleander can be life threatening because the cardiovascular system is affected. Yew is very dangerous because it affects the nervous system. Immediate veterinary treatment is required for dogs that ingest these.
Household poisons. Many household cleaners such as ammonia, bleach, disinfectants, drain cleaner, soaps, detergents, and other cleaners, mothballs and matches are dangerous to dogs, as are cosmetics such as deodorants, hair coloring, nail polish and remover, home permanent lotion, and suntan lotion. Dogs find some poisons attractive, such as antifreeze (automotive coolant), slug and snail bait, insect bait, and rodent poisons. Antifreeze is insidious to dogs, either puddled or even partly cleaned residue, because of its sweet taste. A dog may pick up antifreeze on its fur and then lick it off.
Animal feces. Dogs occasionally eat their own feces, or the feces of other dogs and other species if available, such as cats, deer, cows, or horses. This is known as coprophagia. Some dogs develop preferences for one type over another. There is no definitive reason known, although boredom, hunger, and nutritional needs have been suggested. Eating cat feces is common, possibly because of the high protein content of cat food. Dogs eating cat feces from a litter box may lead to Toxoplasmosis. Dogs seem to have different preferences in relation to eating feces. Some are attracted to the stools of deer, cows, or horses.
Other risks. Human medications may be toxic to dogs, for example paracetamol/acetaminophen (Tylenol). Zinc toxicity, mostly in the form of the ingestion of US cents minted after 1982, is commonly fatal in dogs where it causes a severe hemolytic anemia. Some wet dog and cat food was recalled by Menu Foods in 2007 because it contained a dangerous substance.
(source: wikipedia.org)
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Online Information
 Caring For Your Older Dog
Dogs mature at different rates. As a rule, large-breed dogs mature earlier than small dogs. But if your
dog is age seven or older, he's probably approaching, or in, his senior years. This may mean a change
in lifestyle for him and for you.
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