Pet Digest

Why Dogs Should Never Consume Alcohol Updated for 2025 It may seem like harmless fun to let your dog have a sip of beer or wine during a celebration, but even small amounts of alcohol can have serious — even fatal — effects on your dog. Unlike humans, dogs process alcohol inefficiently, making them extremely sensitive to its toxic effects. Understanding the science and dangers behind alcohol consumption in dogs is critical to ensuring your pet's health and safety. Why Alcohol is Toxic to Dogs Alcohol (ethanol) affects the nervous system, liver, kidneys, and brain. Dogs lack the metabolic enzymes to safely break down ethanol, even in small amounts. This can lead to ethanol poisoning within just 30 to 60 minutes of ingestion. Their smaller size means it takes far less alcohol to cause damage compared to a human. Common Sources of Alcohol Exposure Many dog owners don’t realize how many household items contain alcohol. These include: Beer, wine, ...

⚠️ The Sweet That Can Kill: Why Xylitol Is Extremely Dangerous for Dogs 🐶🚫 Xylitol might be safe (and even healthy) for humans—but for dogs, it’s deadly. This common sugar substitute is found in everything from chewing gum to peanut butter, and it takes only a small amount to cause serious harm—or even death—in your pup. If you're a dog parent, this is one ingredient you need to recognize and avoid at all costs. --- 🍬 What Is Xylitol? Xylitol is a sugar alcohol used as a low-calorie sweetener in many sugar-free and "diet" products. It’s commonly found in: Sugar-free gum and mints Baked goods Peanut butter Toothpaste and mouthwash Sugar-free candy Chewable vitamins Some medications While it doesn’t harm humans, dogs’ bodies react to xylitol very differently—and not in a good way. --- ☠️ Why Is Xylitol So Dangerous to Dogs? In dogs, xylitol triggers a massive release of insulin, which causes blood sugar to plummet dangerously—a condition called hypoglycemia. It can happe...

Why Some Pet Owners Avoid Corn and Fillers in Dog Food When shopping for dog food, you may notice ingredients like corn, wheat, soy, and by-product meals listed near the top. These are often referred to as “fillers,” and many pet parents choose to avoid them. But why? What Are Fillers? In the pet food world, "fillers" generally refer to ingredients that add bulk or calories but may have limited nutritional value for dogs. Common examples include: Corn or cornmeal Wheat or wheat gluten Soy Animal by-product meals (like “poultry by-product meal”) Why Do Some People Avoid Them? There are a few reasons pet parents prefer to steer clear of these ingredients: Digestibility: Some dogs may have trouble digesting corn or wheat, especially in large amounts. Dogs produce very little of the enzyme amylase in their saliva compared to humans. Amylase helps break down starchy carbohydrates like corn into simple sugars. Because dogs don’t begin digestion...