How many times have we heard the phrase "My dog is the best vacuum cleaner that can exist"? As soon as something falls on the floor, whether you're cooking or eating, here comes the running dog to pick it up.
Of course this is not a big problem if you are at home, as we will be able to control the dog and generally only minor things fall on the ground. But what happens if the dog behaves like this outside, on the street?
Why does my dog eat everything in front of him?
It is clear that this attitude is not linked to hunger, since we are sure that your dog is well fed. The reason these animals tend to eat anything may be due to poorly organized meal times, or the influence of their ancestors.
In fact, dogs descend from wolves, and these usually catch their prey and then devour them relentlessly, since they cannot be sure how long it will take before they can catch another.
Animals act on instinct, and just like wolves, even dogs don't think: they just act, and if they see food, they instinctively rush on it. They make no difference between indoor or outdoor spaces, they eat everything they find.
The risks when the dog eats on the street
We live in a society where very few people are used to discerning their garbage and getting rid of it properly; moreover, although many say that it has passed, the crisis has caused a reduction in many public services, so it is not strange to find piles of garbage on the street, outside the special containers.
This phenomenon represents a serious danger for dogs, as these could ingest anything.
On the street, your dog could run into any object, from candy thrown by children, to pieces of sandwiches or anything else that could have fallen to anyone. If the animal were to approach the garbage, it would run the risk of ingesting harmful substances, in a state of putrefaction or containing batteries.
The dog would thus run the risk of becoming poisoned, at best ...
Tips to prevent the dog from ingesting anything on the street
As we saw earlier, wolves used to devour their prey voraciously because they cannot know when they will eat again. Don't let your dog feel the same way.
Feed him at set times
To ensure that a dog does not eat everything it sees, set meal times and make sure you respect them. A great idea is to set one of the meals just before or shortly after the daily walk. In this way, the animal will know that it will be able to eat once it has returned home, or it will be enough to get out before it can no longer be fed.
Do not leave it free in areas where there may be some garbage
There are many reasons why it is not advised to leave a loose dog, but if you notice garbage containers nearby, you will have an extra reason to keep it at your side with a leash. If your dog tends to put anything in his mouth, do not allow him to approach the garbage, to avoid ingesting a food in poor condition.
A poisoned dog may present the following symptoms: diarrhea, vomiting, gastroenteritis, dehydration; he could even go as far as death if he suffered from liver failure caused by bacteria such as salmonella.
If your dog is the victim of intoxication caused by the substances eaten on the street, take it to the vet, who will be able to show you the most appropriate treatment. Sometimes it will be necessary to use antibiotics or a gastric lavage, in other cases a period of fasting will be enough and drink a lot of water.
Particular attention must be paid if your dog is still a puppy, or if he is over eleven years old. Very small or very old dogs have a reduced immune defense, and will be exposed to greater risk of intoxication.
The consequences could be fatal. So follow our advice, so that your dog stops ingesting anything, and instead learn when and where to eat.