3 Dogs and 2 Cats

Yes, your dog can eat apples.  The apple seeds however are a different story.  The seeds have a form of Cyanide in them which is harmful to any pet.   A seed or two won’t hurt your dog so don’t worry, but a large amount of them could really make them sick (including Golden Retrievers).  Let’s say your dog swallows the seeds without actually biting into them, this can’t harm them.  The outer shell of the seed is where the Cyanide is so they would actually have to bite the seed.

Apples are a good source of vitamin C but they also have sugar in them.  Dogs really shouldn’t be eating sugar as it is but a few apple bites every now and then isn’t going to harm them.  Just like in humans, too much sugar will lead to weight gain.

Mange is a skin condition that causes irritation on the skin followed by itching and pain.  The mange can become much worse if not treated right away.  The cause of mange is mites that burrow down into the skin.  This condition can also be passed onto other dogs or even in some cases, other cats.

As soon as you see any symptoms of mange, you should take your pet to the vet immediately.  A few symptoms that are associated with mange are red bumps in the infected area and spots of missing hair and constant itching in that area.  Just remember that during all of this your dog is experiencing pain and discomfort so don’t just wait to see if it will heal up and go away.

When it comes to keeping your pet healthy there are many things to take into consideration such as making your home pet-proof.  As we all know, our animals can and will find something to get into when you aren’t around. So first and most important, anything that can physically harm them needs to be put away far out of their reach.  Things that are harmful to our pets are the same for children like certain foods, prescriptions/medicines and electrical cords that they could possibly chew right through. 

Dogs and cats just like humans need to get regular check-ups.  It’s important to ask your veterinarian questions while you are there to make sure you aren’t missing anything.  Even if you have pets that are strictly indoor doesn’t mean they can’t get fleas.  This is something you can prevent by giving them the necessary dosage of Frontline Plus. This can prevent your dog or cat from getting heart worm which can be deadly.

What you feed your animals makes a huge impact on their health so do your research or consult with your vet to make sure they are getting a balanced nutritional diet.  There are a few human foods they absolutely must stay clear of such as: grapes, chocolate, onion, garlic and whatever is in your garbage.

Make sure your pets have a steady exercise routine to keep them active and healthy.  Take your dog on daily walks and you can play with your cat around the house with toys.  This will keep them happy and in good shape.

Spaying or neutering your pet can keep them more healthy and prolong their life too.  The easiest way to take care of getting your pet fixed is to go to your regular vet or contact an animal shelter as many of them have programs that perform a spay or neuter for a low cost.