Introduction
You may wonder to know dogs like timothy hay. Hay has a smell that can be inviting to some dogs. Due to its smell, dogs may rush on hay even after you fed them healthy food.
Other dogs will eat hay to fulfill the deficiency of some nutrients in their diet.
Timothy hay is a great insulator and contains several nutrients and fibers. Dogs also eat hay to make their stomach healthy as they might consider hay as a good source of natural fiber to fight against an upset stomach.
But here the question arises is timothy hay safe for dogs? Yes, timothy hay is safe for dogs but longer use of timothy hay can cause many serious problems. Dogs can consume hay of two kinds, timothy hay and alfalfa hay.
Timothy hay causes many health problems for dogs and in some cases, it is also safe. Here is a brief description of hay for dogs down the page.
Is Timothy Hay Safe for Dogs?
There are a lot of food items that might provoke your dog’s interest but may not be good for their health. Dogs have no sense of what is for eat or what is not. They start chewing everything even toys.
Timothy hay is full of essential nutrients but still not recommended for dogs. Dogs are not allowed to eat timothy hay. It affects the health problem of dogs but how? Scroll down the page and read.
If you find that your dog likes to hay you should try to stop him. It causes several health issues for dogs.
Naturally, dogs’ teeth are not designed to chew timothy hay. Vets have not recommended an adequate amount of hay for dogs. Dogs are not allowed to eat timothy hay on daily basis.
However, many animals consumed timothy hay as a nutrient-healthy food but it does not stand true when it comes to dogs. They may suffer from choking, upset stomach, and gastrointestinal issues.
Let’s see can timothy hay is used for other purposes.
Can I use Timothy Hay for Dog Bedding?
Timothy hay is a heat insulator and the best heater in winter for animals. Many dog owners take the advantage of hay as bedding. Hay can keep your pet warm and comfortable.
If you are using hay for your dog’s bedding, you are giving comfort through an inexpensive environmentally conscious material. But you should avoid using low quality hay for bedding. It can be dusty and full of allergens.
Low quality hay causes breathing difficulties, cough, low appetite, sneezing, wheezing, nosebleeds, and lethargy. While you should be careful with hay as dog bedding, it can be a good choice.
There is nothing wrong with timothy hay as dog bedding. However, it is a good choice for outdoor dogs. A clean and fresh layer of timothy hay provides a warm and comfortable cushion to your dog.
You should take care that your dog does not eat hay bedding. It can cause digestive problems even if it is fresh or high-quality hay. Must change hay bed after every week.
How does Hay Affect Dogs?
Timothy hay does not harm your dog as it is used as bedding. But if your dog ate hay it is an issue and this issue will cause several issues.
There are multiple reasons why timothy should be avoided. Timothy hay can harm your dog’s health by choking, digestion problem, and allergies.
If your dog ate timothy hay it can cause choking or obstruction in their intestinal tract. It can lead to even more health issues.
Eating hay can also make your dog’s stomach upset, which can result in vomiting diarrhea, and some digestion problems. Let’s have look on 5 reasons why timothy hay should be avoided and how it affect your dog’s health?
Timothy Hay is not an Adequate Nutrient for Dogs
Timothy hay is an adequate nutrient food for animals but not for dogs. Animals like cows and rabbits have much more advantages of timothy hay.
However, hay cannot fulfill the deficiency of nutrients and fibers in dogs, they need.
Timothy Hay is not for Chewing
Naturally, dogs’ teeth are not designed for chewing hay. Like other animals, dogs’ teeth are strong, pointed, and long, designed for chewing flash not for soft and thin food like straws.
As compared to omnivores, herbivores can easily chew and eat herbs and hay. Cows, goats, rabbits, horses, etc. can eat and consume timothy hay but dogs do not do so.
Timothy Causes Health Issues
Timothy hay can cause diarrhea, vomiting, nose bleeding, upset stomach, coughing, sneezing, and other allergies. It is good for you to take your dog to the vet if you suspect any issues.
Mold and Other Preservatives
You must try to stop your dog if you find him eating timothy hay. Mold and preservatives in timothy hay are also another to avoid it. Mold, dust and other preservatives may lead to respiratory problems.
Allergic reactions are happened due to dusty and mold timothy hay. Preservatives in timothy hay can cause trigger allergic symptoms in dogs.
Dogs’ Diet
Do not add timothy hay to your dog’s diet. It is not a part of a dog’s nutrient diet. Dogs do not eat hay unlike other animals that eat hay, like goats, cows, and horses.
Which is Better for Dogs Hay or Straws?
Some dog owners use straws for dog bedding while some use hay. Straws and hay both are two different things. Hay provides heat and comfort to an animal’s body but straws do not do so.
People use straws for animal bedding for providing them comfort but they are wrong.
Hay for a dog house is the best option, especially in the winter season. You can put hay on a wooden board for your dog. It can be a better dog house than a dog house made with straws.
However, straws can easily break down under a dog but hay does not. If your dog is trying to eat hay do not use it for bedding. As all of us have come to know that how hay is bad for dogs.
Hay is the best option for dog houses while straws are used for building nests. Many people use straws due to their lower cost.
What to do if your Dog ate Timothy Hay?
Timothy hay is toxic for dogs. Blockage, upset stomach and diarrhea can be caused due to eating timothy hay.
Timothy hay can mainly cause two issues. Your dog may get an intestinal blockage from it or has ingested too much of Ethoxyquin. If your dog ate too much of the Ethoxyquin, call your vet. In approved levels, it is okay. However, in some cases, it can be life-threatening.
If your dog gets a heavy blockage or too much Ethoxyquin, you need to go to the vet. Make sure to take the bag of food before going to your vet. That will help greatly in trying to diagnose your dog.
Final Words
Timothy hay is not suitable food for dogs but suitable for dog house. It has many advantages as bedding for dogs but also disadvantages as a food for dogs.
