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Posts Tagged ‘Dogs’

Dogs are one of the animals that eat anything thus you should not be surprised if your Fido has decided to help you with the task of weeding the garden. One of the bizarre behaviors of dog is eating grass. Dogs have a reputation for being indiscriminate eaters and eating grass would be much better than eating spoiled food and eating its own or other dog’s poop. Many pet parents, especially those that ensures that the pet received top quality food will be mystified at the dog’s taste for grass. Does the glistening dew on the grass appeals to the curious nature of the pet and entice dogs to eat grass?

Dogs have descended from wolves and it is believed that wolves have survived in the wild with grass as a part of their diet. Although these dogs in the wild are known to be carnivorous, plants and grasses have supplemented the diet especially when food is scarce. The inclination to eat grass was associated with the dogs survival in the wild that necessitates eating herbivores. These plant eating preys are totally consumed by dogs so that the grasses, leaves and berries ingested by the prey are also eaten by the dog. Due to scarcity of food in the wild , dogs ultimately developed the habit of eating grass to supplement the meager diet.

We know that modern day dogs are highly valued pets that are provided with enough food thus the habit of eating grass is rather puzzling. Modern day dogs have no need to supplement their diet with grass as they are regularly provided with food. And yet, the dog would still be seen eating grass every now and then. In spite of the fact that dogs have the reputation of eating anything, the habit of eating grass was explained by dog experts.

One of the considerations made is the nutrient deficiency of commercially prepared dog foods. Dogs are intelligent animals but their ability to know what is wrong with their diet is uncanny. Dogs are believed to eat grass to fill up the nutrient deficiency in their diet. Dogs are not only voracious eaters; they are indiscriminate eaters as well.

Dogs do not have steel stomachs and when they eat anything that disagrees with their system, our furry friends will have upset stomachs. Fortunately, nature has provided dogs with a natural cleanser – grass. A dog only has to eat grass to purge the toxic substances that were ingested. Grass blades are not unlike fingers stuck to the throat to induce vomiting. Ingested grass is an effective bowel cleanser that removes parasites from the intestine.

Being predators, dogs uses their strong teeth that can deliver about 450 lbs per square inch pressure when they attack. When the strong jaws of the dog have locked on its victim, the needle sharp teeth can literally tear the flesh away. A dog’s teeth and jaws are very powerful so that if the teeth has latched on a limb and cause serious injuries, the victim’s mobility can be impaired for life. Serious injuries caused by dog bites can be the cause of the victims death. Wounds are not the only concerns of dog bite victims because when the teeth puncture the flesh infection and disease-causing bacteria are injected on the puncture wounds as well. Rabies is a life threatening disease that results from dog bites.

Because of humans’ constant interaction with dogs, dog bites cannot be totally prevented. Dog bites that are most common in children are often caused by the family’s own dog. So, how do you treat a dog bite?

Dog bite victims have to have first aid to prevent infection but it would be necessary to remove the victim away from the dog first. Dog bites can create two types of wounds – deep puncture wounds and lacerations. Puncture wounds are prone to infection because when the teeth sink into the flesh, bacteria is injected. Lacerations are created when dog’s teeth tears away the skin.

Profuse bleeding is not common in puncture wounds thus further bleeding must be allowed for a few minutes so that that bacteria injected by the dog’s teeth will be removed from the wound. Lacerations commonly bleed profusely. By applying direct pressure on the wound, bleeding can be stopped. Both types of dog bites must be thoroughly cleaned to prevent infection.

Stitching of the lacerations would have to be done in medical facilities but just the same, the wound has to be cleaned properly as the several hours that the patient has to wait for medical treatment would give the bacteria the chance to become established in the wound. Washing the wound with antibacterial soap for about five minutes will lessen the risk of infection. Generously apply antibiotic ointment on the bite wound and then cover with sterile gauze. A dog bite victim will be in pain. Ice compress applied on the bite wound would reduce the swelling and also lessen the pain.

Rabies would always be a concern with dog bites especially if the immunization status of the dog is unknown. f the dog bite is caused by a stray dog it is imperative for the victim to be immunized against the rabies virus .