Blog Layout
Acorns and Your Dog
Laura McCallion • Oct 13, 2020

Why a small acorn can become your dog's worst nightmare...and yours too.

Fall is making her spectacularly beautiful entrance as the trees put on a glorious display of color and as the temperature starts to fall, so do the acorns. Acorns are one of the many signals of the passage from summer to autumn in New England, as are the squirrels foraging for them. When it comes to your dogs, foraging for acorns is not a great idea, in fact, acorns pose several big health concerns if ingested by a dog. 


Acorns contain large amounts of gallotannins, which are compounds that belong to the class of Tannins. Tannins are quite common in many plants, stored in various parts of the plant, leaves, stems, seeds, buds and roots. Tannins can have a beneficial effect in small amounts as antioxidants for humans and can be found in many foods, beverages and even medicines.  In acorns the tannin levels are so high that it can cause toxic effects if ingested. If certain species of animals eat enough acorns to equal just 6% of their body weight, there will be severe toxic consequences to pay. The resulting conditions caused by tannin toxicity can be severe stomach upset, kidney damage, ulcers and even seizures.


Although the tannins do give the acorn a very bitter taste, despite the bitterness, some dogs will still consume them. In larger dogs the effects can be mild stomach upset but in smaller breeds the effects can be much more serious, such as hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, which basically is vomiting and diarrhea that contains blood. Though those conditions may not be fatal; the associated rapid dehydration caused by them can lead to much more life-threatening conditions like shock. 


A secondary effect of a dog who has ingested acorns and has developed hemorrhagic gastroenteritis is called Bacterial Translocation which involves the good, naturally occurring bacteria from the gut and intestines to travel through the intestinal wall to other parts of the body which is often times fatal.

 

Another potential toxin that can come from a fallen acorn is not actually part of the acorn itself, but a result of an acorn that may have developed mold on its outer shell that releases what are called Tremorgenic Mycotoxins, which can cause severe, sometimes fatal seizures.


If we have not given you enough reasons to keep your pups away from eating acorns yet, here’s one more. Acorns are also dangerous for large and small dogs alike due to the acorn as a whole or even part of the acorn, either of which could get stuck in the intestinal track and cause an obstruction or blockage which could require surgery and could also become severe enough to be fatal.


If you have acorns in an area of your yard where your dog(s) have access, please be sure to rake them up and get rid of them. When walking your dog, keep an eye out, if walking through wooded areas, to be sure they don’t start snacking on wayward acorns and if you hike with your dog off leash in a wooded area, be sure to always have eyes on them at all times. 


For the safety of your pets!   

 

10 Reasons Why You Should Take Care of Your Pet's Teeth

10 Reasons Why You Should Take Care of Your Pet's Teeth

By Rylee McCallion • 02 Dec, 2020
This blog post helps outline 10 important reasons why pet dental care is so very important for the health and long life of your pet.

Muzzle Misconceptions: Why they are useful

By Rylee McCallion • 16 Nov, 2020
Let's talk muzzles.  A muzzle is a device placed around a dog's snout to prevent biting or otherwise opening their mouth. Muzzles are actually a safety tool when used properly and can be quite helpful. There are situations when you should use a muzzle and there are definitely situations when you should not use one. Unfortunately society has placed a negative stereotype on a dog wearing a muzzle and it's unfair that a dog seen wearing one is deemed aggressive or dangerous because often times that is very far from the truth. Having worked in the dog world since I was 17, I've seen many situations where dogs who were nervous, or needed some space from other dogs found confidence after muzzle training and it benefited them greatly. From my personal point of view, when I see a dog wearing a muzzle, I appreciate the responsibility the owner has taken and feel reassured that they are keeping their own dog safe and caring for the safety of others. There are specific times you should NOT use a muzzle. Never use a muzzle to curb or attempt to fix a behavioral problem or use it as a punishment. Muzzles are not supposed to be used to stop your dog from barking, chewing, excessively licking, or play biting. Training is needed to fix these problems and there are many ways to address behavioral issues other than muzzling. It has been said that muzzles are cruel, but honestly they are only cruel when used improperly or for the wrong reasons. A poor fitting muzzle that is so tight the dog cannot pant is cruel. A muzzle should fit so that it is secure but still comfortable for your dog. If your dog hasn't been conditioned to wear one and it's something they aren't used to, it can be scary and upsetting to your dog if you just force a muzzle onto their face without preparing them. There are definitely times the use of a muzzle can be appropriate, if a dog is nervous or anxious around certain people or in certain situations a muzzle might be needed for everyone's safety. Muzzles allow a dog to succeed and feel more confident. If a dog needs some space because, just like people, dogs need space from others, or if they are reactive, a muzzle is the best tool to ensure everyone's safety. If a dog is recovering from an injury or if they were injured and first aid is needed muzzling is very appropriate. An injured animal that is scared and in pain may not react as you expect. Even if the dog is always extremely even tempered, they could still snap or bite when scared and in pain. In our pet first aid & CPR classes we talk about conditioning your dog to wear a muzzle so that if an emergency situation happens, applying a muzzle is not an additional cause of fear or stress. To be successful, muzzle conditioning must occur ahead of time and can be incorporated into a dog's daily/weekly routine. You need to teach your dog ahead of time that a muzzle is okay and you need to make it a positive experience for them. Many dogs can learn to love wearing a muzzle, we humans just have to teach them in the right way.

Why Pet First Aid & CPR is Important, Especially Now.

By Rylee McCallion • 20 Oct, 2020
If this pandemic has taught us anything it’s that you never know what’s going to happen and how fast everything can all change. It has made us all take a step back to really think about what’s important and what’s not.

Top 3 Halloween Pet Safety Tips

By Laura McCallion • 24 Sep, 2020
Although fun for humans, Halloween isn’t all fun and games for all animals including your four footed family.
Share by: