Are Sweets Dangerous For Your Dog?
There are many foods that are unsuitable for feeding dogs. Still , some people make the mistake of believing that dogs can digest the same foods as humans. However, this assumption is wrong. For this reason, today we would like to talk about how sweets can be dangerous for your dog.
As with any other food, excessive consumption of sweets is harmful to health. This applies to people, but also to dogs. In today’s article we’re going to tell you about the effects different sweets can have on your pet’s health. We’ll also tell you which products are safe.
Sweets in dog nutrition
In their composition, sweets contain sugar, also known as carbohydrates. Although we tend to have negative thoughts about sugar, the body still needs a certain amount of carbohydrates to function properly.
However, it is important to distinguish between refined sugars and carbohydrates. The sugars that you can safely incorporate into your dog’s diet should be carbohydrates. But they shouldn’t be more than 5% of the recommended daily amount.
Carbohydrates are an important and necessary part of the diet because they provide energy. At the same time, they influence gastrointestinal function. Most important, however, is a balanced diet.
Which carbohydrates can you safely include in your dog’s diet?
If you’re wondering which foods have the most carbohydrates in, then cereals and pasta are sure to come to mind first. However, there are different types of carbohydrates:
- Digestible. The best known are glucose, fructose, lactose and galactose.
- Indigestible. Their job is to promote intestinal transit and reduce calorie intake. Fiber is particularly worth mentioning here.
These different carbohydrates are found in foods like milk and dairy products. Other options include legumes, vegetables, fruits and root crops, and grains (rice, corn, barley, and oats).
Are sweets dangerous for your dog?
There are many popular assumptions and statements about health, most of which are passed on in the form of advice. Today we want to uncover some of the most common prejudices about this issue.
Candy blinds dogs
Although this belief is widespread, let us make it clear that this statement is not entirely true. However , excessive sugar consumption can of course contribute to the development of various diseases.
One of the most well-known diseases in this context is diabetes, which can lead to a number of complications. These include cataracts and, in the worst case, blindness.
Hence , it could be said that consuming excessive amounts of candy can cause your dog to go blind. To prevent this from happening, you should therefore pay attention to how much candy your dog is eating. It should be a maximum of 5% of the recommended amount of carbohydrates.
So if your dog somehow manages to eat a piece of cake, pie, or pastry, then you don’t have to worry. However, you should make sure that you avoid such situations and only feed your dog the treats and snacks that are suitable for him.
Another effect that can result from eating too much candy is gaining weight excessively. If your dog is overweight, you should pay close attention to what he is eating. You should also make sure that he gets enough exercise.
An excess of candy and energy
The main function of carbohydrates is to provide energy to the body. This allows your dog to stay active during the day. However , poor and improper administration of these nutrients can lead to a number of typical problems:
- Excessive weight gain and obesity
- Cardiovascular problems
- Wear on joints and bones
- A significant decrease in the immune system
What sweets can you give your dog?
At this point, you may be wondering what foods or candies to feed your dog. First of all, you should avoid giving him cheap dog food, as this can lead to health problems over time.
This is because these feeds are high in sugar. So if you feed your dog with dog food like this for a long time, it can lead to diabetes and other health problems. Therefore, experts recommend, for example, the BARF diet or the enrichment of the feed with foods rich in hydrates.
If you don’t have enough time to prepare this type of diet for your dog, there are other options as well. There are many good quality dog foods that can be purchased that contain sufficient amounts of the nutrients your dog needs.
There are even special candies for dogs. These are adapted to the nutritional needs of your animal and are ideal, for example, as a reward for good behavior.
Everything in moderation
As you can see, it is generally not dangerous for your dog to eat candy, as long as you make sure that he does so in moderation. In addition, you should make sure that you incorporate sugar into your dog’s diet to a healthy extent.
This way, your dog has enough energy to burn off during play and sports activities such as running and jumping during the day. This will ensure that your dog stays healthy and at the same time reduce the risk of various diet-related diseases.
