Providing your dog with proper nutrition is one of the most important tasks for its owner. Feeding should be selected in accordance with many factors: breed, age, health status. But even the best owner often pampers his pet with treats from his own table, for example, chips. This article is about whether you can give chips to dogs and how they affect the animal’s body.
Composition of chips
Chip manufacturers have been trying for many years to convince everyone that these are just potatoes prepared in a special way, but most consumers still realize that this is not so.
Firstly , almost all chips are not made from natural potatoes, but from flour and various starches. This fact alone should be a prohibition for owners of a huge number of dog breeds, because many of them are not allowed to eat flour products.
Secondly , the product is fried in oil that is very high in calories but does not have any beneficial properties. As every experienced dog breeder knows, fat is also prohibited for dogs. It is because of this that the diet of animals is strictly limited to lean types of meat.
Thirdly , this appetizer is always generously flavored with salt, spices, flavorings and flavor enhancers. For dogs, they become very attractive because they have a bright aroma, but it is difficult even for the human body to cope with so many additives, and for a dog, many spices even act as poison.
Even if you manage to find a snack whose manufacturers actually use potatoes as a base, and the flavor enhancers present in the composition are reduced to salt, all the beneficial substances will be destroyed during frying, while carcinogens and fat will be preserved and enter the pet’s body.
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Is it worth buying your dog various treats or is a properly balanced diet as recommended by doctors sufficient? Leave your opinion in the comments.
- Are chips harmful?
- How does a dog's body react to chips?
- Special chips for dogs: tasty and healthy know-how!
Do you like chips? If so, chances are you've had to defend them from your dog more than once! The tempting rustle of the bag, appetizing aroma, crispy structure and bright taste - how can you resist? The pets use all their charm just to get the coveted slice of potato. But before you give your dog a treat, think twice. According to experts, chips should not be eaten not only by pets, but also by people. Read more about this in our article.
Are chips harmful?
What are chips? Advertising on television screens assures: 100% potatoes! But when studying the composition, it becomes clear that these are also food additives, taste enhancers, a mixture of starches, and hydrogenated fat. And the potatoes themselves are hemodified. Add to this thorough frying, which destroys beneficial substances, and the answer to the question of whether dogs can have chips is obvious.
Chips are in no way compatible with a healthy diet. But is it really necessary to abandon them?
A person is accustomed to a variety of foods. If you treat yourself to chips occasionally and otherwise stick to a proper diet, there won’t be much harm to your health. But with pets the situation is different. Dogs are carnivores, and the basis of their diet should be meat. They also need plant food, but only properly prepared and in the right proportions. With a natural type of feeding, veterinary experts recommend giving the dog a small amount of raw or boiled potatoes. But fried and seasoned potatoes are contraindicated. Why?
How does a dog's body react to chips?
A dog's pancreas is not designed to digest fried and seasoned foods. Once in the stomach, flour and starch (the basis of chips) turn into mush and stick to its walls, making digestion difficult. Therefore, even a small amount of chips can cause serious upset, vomiting, diarrhea, flatulence and lead to severe abdominal pain. Also, don’t forget that chips contain fat and calories, and this is a direct path to excess weight and bad cholesterol. Flavor enhancers and other industrial additives, in turn, cause food allergies, dermatitis and deterioration in wool quality.
Unfortunately, many owners do not follow the feeding rules and periodically “pamper” their pets with food from the table, including chips. They believe that they are giving a treat to their pet, but in fact they are causing great harm to its health. You can and should pamper dogs, but you need to use special and exceptionally high-quality treats for this. These are various sticks, bones, sausages, snacks and granules that are sold in pet stores.
And now great news for chip fans: recently special chips for dogs, natural and healthy, have appeared in pet stores! They did not expect? It happens!
Special chips for dogs: tasty and healthy know-how!
Unlike human chips, dog chips are not made from potatoes, but from meat and its derivatives (for example, chicken and beef). A quality product contains vitamins and minerals - and no flavor enhancers, preservatives or artificial colors!
The main thing is not to confuse treats with main food. Special chips are suitable for dogs of all ages and breeds, but they are by no means a complete meal. But treating your pet while watching a favorite movie or show (for example, the Football Championship) and “crunching” with him is just the thing. Do you agree?
Tell me, does your dog like chips? Have you already treated her to a new product?
Ensuring effective control of gastric secretion is one of the main conditions for successful treatment of so-called “acid-dependent” diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract. In clinical and outpatient practice currently for
Ensuring effective control of gastric secretion is one of the main conditions for successful treatment of so-called “acid-dependent” diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract. In clinical and outpatient practice, currently, second-generation (ranitidine) and third-generation (famotidine) H2-receptor blockers of histamine are most often used to inhibit hydrochloric acid by parietal cells of the gastric mucosa, somewhat less frequently - proton pump inhibitors (omeprazole, rabeprazole), and for neutralization of hydrochloric acid already released into the stomach cavity - antacid drugs. Antacids are sometimes used in the treatment of patients suffering from so-called “acid-dependent” diseases, in combination with H2-blockers of histamine receptors; sometimes as on-demand therapy in combination with proton pump inhibitors. One or two chewed antacid tablets do not have a significant effect [10] on the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of famotidine used at a dose of 20 mg.
There are certain differences between these medications; we list the main ones: different mechanisms of action; speed of onset of therapeutic effect; duration of action; varying degrees of effectiveness of their therapeutic action depending on the time of taking the drug and eating; cost of medications [1]. The above factors are not always taken into account by doctors when treating patients.
In recent years, the literature has increasingly discussed the issues of pharmacoeconomic effectiveness of the use of various medications used according to one or another regimen in the treatment of “acid-dependent” diseases [2, 7]. The cost of examination and treatment of patients is especially important to consider in cases where patients, due to the characteristics of the disease, require long-term treatment [4, 6], for example, with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This is a very common disease, and the examination and treatment of such patients requires significant costs.
As is known, most patients with GERD do not have endoscopic signs of reflux esophagitis. However, as GERD progresses, pathological changes in the esophageal mucosa appear. The symptoms of this disease have the same impact on quality of life as the symptoms of other diseases, including coronary heart disease [5]. It has been observed [8] that GERD has a negative impact on quality of life, especially on pain scores, mental health and social function. Patients suffering from GERD are at high risk of developing Barrett's esophagus, and then adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. Therefore, at the very first clinical symptoms of GERD, especially when endoscopic signs of esophagitis occur, it is necessary to pay sufficient attention to timely examination and treatment of such patients.
Currently, patients with GERD are treated, in particular, with the drug famotidine (gastrosidine) in usual therapeutic dosages (20 mg or 40 mg per day). This drug has a number of advantages: ease of use (1-2 times a day), high efficiency in the treatment of “acid-dependent” diseases, including compared to antacid drugs [9], as well as greater safety compared to cimetidine. However, observations have shown [1] that in some cases, to increase the effectiveness of therapy, it is advisable to increase the daily dose of gastrosidine, which, according to some observations [1], reduces the likelihood of side effects compared to the use of histamine first H2 receptor blockers (cimetidine) in higher doses ) and second (ranitidine) generations. The advantage of famotidine [11] over cimetidine and ranitidine is its longer inhibitory effect on the secretion of hydrochloric acid by parietal cells of the gastric mucosa.
There are other advantages of histamine H2 receptor blockers (ranitidine or famotidine) over proton pump inhibitors; in particular, prescribing these drugs at night allows them to be used effectively in the treatment of patients due to the absence of the need to observe a certain “temporary” connection between the intake of these drugs and food. Prescribing some proton pump inhibitors at night does not allow them to be used to their full potential: the effectiveness of proton pump inhibitors is reduced, even if these drugs are taken by patients in the evening and an hour before meals. However, 24-hour pH monitoring carried out in patients treated with omez (20 mg) or famotidine (40 mg) indicates [3] that the duration of action of these drugs (10.5 hours and 9.4 hours, respectively) does not overlap the period of night secretion, and in the morning, a significant proportion of patients again experience “acidification” of the stomach. In this regard, it is necessary to take these drugs in the morning.
Of particular scientific and practical interest is the study of the effectiveness and safety of the use of famotidine and omeza (omeprazole) in higher dosages in the treatment of patients suffering from “acid-dependent” diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract.
We studied the results of clinical, laboratory and endoscopic examination and treatment of 30 patients (10 men and 20 women) suffering from GERD in the stage of reflux esophagitis. The age of patients is from 18 to 65 years. Upon admission to the TsNIIG, 30 patients showed the main clinical symptoms of GERD (heartburn, chest pain and/or epigastric pain, belching), 25 patients had clinical symptoms mainly associated with impaired motility of the upper gastrointestinal tract (feeling of rapid saturation, fullness and distension of the stomach, heaviness in the epigastric region), usually occurring during or after meals. The combination of certain clinical symptoms, the frequency and time of their occurrence, as well as the intensity and duration of different patients were different. No significant deviations in blood parameters (general and biochemical tests), urine and feces tests were noted before the start of therapy.
During esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGDS), 21 patients were diagnosed with reflux esophagitis (in the absence of erosions), including 4 patients with cicatricial ulcerative deformation of the duodenal bulb and one patient with a slit-like ulcer of the duodenal bulb (5 patients suffered from duodenal ulcer intestines, combined with reflux esophagitis). In addition, one patient had a peptic ulcer of the esophagus against the background of reflux esophagitis, and 8 patients had erosive reflux esophagitis. In all patients, according to endoscopy, cardiac insufficiency was detected (in combination with or without axial hiatal hernia).
In the treatment of such patients, gastrosidine (famotidine) was used at a dosage of 40-80 mg per day for 4 weeks (the first 2-2.5 weeks of treatment were carried out in the TsNIIG hospital, in the next 2 weeks patients took gastrosidine in an outpatient setting). Gastrosidin therapy was always started and continued in the absence of significant side effects; patients were prescribed 40 mg 2 times a day for 4 weeks; only when diarrhea and urticaria appeared, the dosage of gastrosidine was reduced to 40 mg per day.
The study was carried out taking into account the criteria for inclusion and exclusion of patients from the study according to the rules of clinical practice.
During endoscopy, NR was determined using a rapid urease test (one fragment of the antrum of the stomach within 2-3 cm proximal to the pylorus) and histological examination of biopsy material (two fragments of the antrum within 2-3 cm proximal to the pylorus and one fragment of the body of the stomach within 4-5 cm proximal to the angle of the stomach). When examining patients, if necessary, ultrasound of the abdominal organs and X-ray examination of the gastrointestinal tract were performed. The data obtained, including identified side effects, were recorded in the medical history.
During the study period, patients did not additionally take proton pump inhibitors, histamine H2 receptor blockers, or other so-called “anti-ulcerogenic” drugs, including antacids and agents containing bismuth. 25 out of 30 patients (84%) due to the presence of clinical symptoms, most often associated with impaired motility of the upper digestive tract, additionally received prokinetics: domperidone (Motilium) for 4 weeks or metoclopramide (Cerucal) for 3-4 weeks.
Treatment of patients with GERD in the stage of reflux esophagitis always began with the administration of gastrosidin 40 mg 2 times a day (it was assumed that in the event of significant side effects, the dose of gastrosidin would be reduced to 40 mg per day). After 4 weeks from the start of treatment (taking into account the condition of the patients), in the presence of clinical signs of GERD and (or) endoscopic signs of esophagitis, therapy was continued for another 4 weeks. After 4-8 weeks, based on the results of clinical, laboratory and endoscopic examination, it was planned to summarize the results of treatment of patients with GERD.
When treating patients with gastrosidine (famotidine), the following factors were taken into account: the effectiveness of gastrosidin in suppressing both basal and nocturnal and food- and pentagastrin-stimulated hydrochloric acid secretion, no changes in the concentration of prolactin in the blood serum and antiandrogenic effects, no effect of the drug on the metabolism of other drugs in the liver funds.
Based on the results of an analysis of the examination and treatment of patients with GERD in the stage of reflux esophagitis, in most cases the therapy was found to be effective. During treatment in patients with GERD with reflux esophagitis (in the absence of erosions and peptic ulcers of the esophagus), the main clinical symptoms disappeared within 4-12 days; in patients with erosive reflux esophagitis, chest pain gradually decreased and disappeared on the 4-5th day from the start of taking gastrosidin; in a patient with a peptic ulcer of the esophagus against the background of reflux esophagitis - on the 8th day.
Two out of 30 patients (6.6%) refused to take gastrosidin 2-3 days after the start of treatment, in their words, due to increased pain in the epigastric region and the appearance of dull pain in the left hypochondrium, although objectively their condition was quite satisfactory . These patients were excluded from the study.
According to endoscopy, after 4 weeks of treatment, endoscopic signs of reflux esophagitis disappeared in 17 out of 28 patients (60.7%), and positive dynamics were noted in 11 patients - a decrease in the severity of esophagitis. Therefore, these patients were subsequently treated with gastrosidin in an outpatient setting for another 4 weeks, 40 mg 2 times a day (7 patients) and 40 mg 1 time a day (4 patients in whom the dosage of gastrosidin had previously been reduced).
The question remains very controversial: should we consider reflux esophagitis, often observed with peptic ulcer disease (most often with duodenal ulcer disease), as a complication of this disease, or should we consider it an independent disease concomitant with peptic ulcer disease? Our long-term observational experience shows that, despite some connection between GERD and peptic ulcer (their relatively frequent combination and even the appearance or exacerbation of reflux esophagitis as a result of anti-Helicobacter therapy), still peptic ulcer and GERD (including in the reflux stage -esophagitis) should be considered independent diseases. We have repeatedly observed patients with frequent exacerbations of GERD in the stage of reflux esophagitis (if they had cicatricial and ulcerative deformation of the duodenal bulb). The last exacerbation of peptic ulcer (with the formation of an ulcer in the duodenal bulb) in these patients was observed 6-7 or more years ago (much less often than relapses of GERD in the stage of reflux esophagitis), however, with the next exacerbation of peptic ulcer with the formation of an ulcer in the duodenal bulb Reflux esophagitis was always detected during endoscopic examination of the intestines. We are confident that with the availability of modern medications, it is much easier to treat uncomplicated peptic ulcer disease than GERD: the period of therapy for exacerbation of duodenal ulcer disease takes significantly less time compared to therapy for GERD; and during the period of remission of these diseases, patients with duodenal ulcer feel more comfortable, while patients with GERD are forced to refuse to take significantly more foods and drinks to improve their quality of life.
Upon examination (after 8 weeks of treatment), three of 11 patients still had complaints associated with impaired motility of the upper gastrointestinal tract. Three patients, although feeling well, refused to undergo a control endoscopy after 8 weeks. According to endoscopy, in 7 out of 8 patients there was a disappearance of endoscopic signs of esophagitis (including healing of a peptic ulcer of the esophagus in one patient).
Determination of NR was carried out in all 30 patients: in 11 cases, NR contamination of the gastric mucosa was revealed (according to the rapid urease test and histological examination of targeted gastrobiopsy materials). Anti-Helicobacter therapy was not administered to patients with GERD in the stage of reflux esophagitis during treatment.
When assessing the safety of the treatment, no significant deviations in laboratory parameters of blood, urine and feces were noted. In 4 patients (13.3%), who previously had “normal” (regular) stools, on the 3rd day of treatment with gastrosidin (at a dose of 40 mg 2 times a day), in their words, “loose” stools were noted (mushy, without pathological impurities), and therefore the dose of gastrosidin was reduced to 40 mg per day. 10-12 days after reducing the dose, the stool returned to normal without any additional therapy. It is interesting to note that in another 4 patients who previously suffered from constipation, during treatment, stool returned to normal on the 7th day. In 3 out of 30 patients (10%), on the 3-4th day of taking gastrosidin, rashes appeared on the skin of the torso and limbs (urticaria). After reducing the dosage of gastrosidin to 40 mg per day and additional treatment with diazolin (0.1 g 3 times a day), the skin rashes disappeared.
Studies have shown the feasibility and effectiveness of therapy for GERD in the stage of reflux esophagitis with gastrosidine 40 mg 2 times a day, especially in the treatment of patients with severe pain and heartburn. Such treatment can be successfully carried out in inpatient and outpatient settings. Studying the long-term results of the treatment will make it possible to determine the duration of the period of remission of this disease and the advisability of treatment with gastrosidin as “maintenance” therapy or “on-demand” therapy.
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Dogs' taste preferences are very specific - they can happily eat not only spoiled food, but also household chemicals, tablets and even building materials (for example, cement). Therefore, you need to watch your pet very carefully, especially on the street, and categorically forbid him to pick up food from the ground - unfortunately, there are people who purposefully scatter poisoned food in order to kill as many dogs as possible.
But what to do if the dog is poisoned? What exactly can cause poisoning, what symptoms can you guess about it, and what exactly should be done first to save your pet’s life? Let's look at each of these questions in as much detail as possible.
How does a dog's body react to chips?
Even the most popular and expensive potato snacks, such as Estrella or Pringles, have a certain effect on the animal's body. The first reaction is shown by the animal’s pancreas, which is not physically adapted to process fried food flavored with salt and spices. It produces insufficient amounts of substances that allow the stomach to digest such food. As a result, the starch or flour base of the chips is reduced to the state of a sticky pulp, which is not able to leave the stomach because it sticks to the walls of the organs, as a result of which flatulence and intestinal obstruction appear.
Such symptoms will become noticeable even with a single consumption of a harmful snack.
If feeding your pets chips periodically, then other body systems begin to suffer, including the cardiovascular system. Large amounts of fats and carcinogens clog blood vessels, impairing blood circulation. As a result, the dog gets a number of concomitant diseases of the heart and blood vessels. In addition, a large number of chemicals will negatively affect the condition of the animal’s skin and coat.
Main symptoms of poisoning
If a dog is poisoned, the symptoms are quite characteristic. The most obvious signs of intoxication are the following:
Severe vomiting, intestinal upset. Saliva may flow from the animal's mouth. If the dog is vomiting, this is good, because the poison begins to be eliminated from the body. But prolonged vomiting and diarrhea lead to dehydration, which can also cause death.
Note! Unexpected vomiting and diarrhea with bloody discharge usually begins with poisoning from rat or mouse poison, as well as their derivatives. At the same time, the mucous membranes of the animal’s mouth and eyes lighten.
Difficulty breathing, shortness of breath, breathing too quickly, the animal begins to cough. The appearance of convulsions, paws are taken away, the dog cannot get up, fainting. Or vice versa - the animal experiences inexplicable excitement, even aggression, its pulse quickens (this is much less common). Increase or decrease in body temperature.
Note! When arsenic poisoning occurs, a garlicky smell comes from the animal's mouth.
Chips for dogs
Giving human snacks to dogs is strictly forbidden, but if you still want to treat your animal with a treat, you can buy him special treats for dogs. The modern market offers a huge number of harmless crunchy treats containing vitamins. The most popular among them:
- Dezzie chicken treats - their cost reaches 220 rubles per package, but as a result the animal receives high-quality protein without foreign impurities.
- Delipet delicacy belongs to the premium segment of goods, since it is made exclusively from chicken breast. The average cost is 230 rubles.
- WellDone chips are made almost entirely of beef, cost approximately 160 rubles per package and come in several flavors.
- Brit treats are made from duck or chicken, the average price is 150 rubles.
You can find other dog treats as well. The most important thing is to make sure that they are safe for your pet from the point of view of veterinarians.
List of useful and permitted products
The list of what you can feed dogs is much shorter. But that's okay - pets don't need a lot of variety. Proper feeding will ensure the animals have a long and healthy life.
Dogs can and should be given:
- Lean meat - beef, veal, rabbit, turkey, chicken.
The basis of the “dog menu”, the main source of proteins, fats, and energy.- By-products – liver, heart, kidneys.
Contains most beneficial vitamins and elements.- Sea fish.
Source of protein, calcium, phosphorus, fatty acids.- Porridges made from rice, buckwheat, and oatmeal for puppies.
They normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract and saturate the body with vitamins.- Dairy products.
They contain calcium, vitamins D, B, E, A. Kefir, yogurt and cottage cheese are necessary for the full functioning of the intestines.- Boiled chicken or quail eggs.
During heat treatment, the avidin enzyme is destroyed, but minerals, vitamins and oxidants are preserved.- Moslaki, large solid bones covered with cartilaginous tissue.
“Train” the jaws and clean the teeth.- Lettuce, parsley, dill.
Enriched with vitamins A, C, K.- Strawberries and blueberries.
Additional sources of vitamins and antioxidants improve intestinal function.- Carrots and pumpkin.
Improves vision, condition of hair and skin, and stomach function.- Cored apples and pears.
They contain many useful elements and stimulate peristalsis.- Bananas.
Rich in fiber, potassium, vitamins B, C.
Briefly about the main thing
- Human snacks almost always contain large amounts of substances prohibited for animals, and those that are made without their use are harmful due to the way the product is prepared.
- First of all, the pancreas and gastrointestinal tract are affected, problems with which can cause diseases of the heart, blood vessels, liver and other organs.
- If you still want to treat your dog with something tasty, it is better to opt for special treats for animals that will not cause harm.
