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Human Food for DogsHuman food for dogs? But is it safe to feed our dogs human food, like table scraps? You may wonder. Read on and find out!
There is no reason why you cannot feed table scraps to your dog. During holiday seasons such as Thanksgiving and Christmas when leftover food is abundant, many dog parents
tend to be more generous than usual when it comes to giving table scraps to dogs. But before you share your pumpkin pie with your dog, read on. Feeding table scraps or other
human foods to dogs indiscriminately is dangerous. Some human foods may cause digestive problems to our dogs, and some can even be life-threatening.
The key is to identify which human food is good for dogs, and which is not. This page looks at some common good and healthy human food for dogs, as well as some not-so-good
and even dangerous human food for dogs. The lists below are understandably not complete - they only show some of the most common foods that we have at home.
The bottom line? Always exercise common sense and caution when considering human food for dogs.
Human Food for Dogs - Good Healthy ChoicesThe following is a list of good and healthy human food for dogs: Chicken/Turkey Meat Cooked chicken and turkey meat can be given to dogs provided that it has no bones and no skin. Cooked chicken and turkey bones splinter and snap easily and can cause organ injuries if swallowed. Skin has more fat and may be more salty. Lean Red Meat Lean red meat (beef, mutton) is a good source of protein for dogs but watch out for salty gravy and seasoning made with onions. Fish Fish provides lean protein and vitamins to our dogs. Cold water fish is a good source of EFAs (Omega-3). Carrots Carrots provide a good source of beta carotene which dogs convert into a non-toxic form of vitamin A. Most dogs also love the texture of carrots. Green Veggies Green veggies such as broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, and peas (all these should be cooked) are great sources of fiber and minerals for our dogs. However, vegetables that have been heavily seasoned or that have a rich sauce should not be given to our dogs. Unsweetened Yogurt Unsweetened yogurt can be given to our dogs as it contains friendly bacteria that help digestion. TopHuamn Food for Dogs - OK if Given in Moderation
The following human foods are not too bad if they are given to our dogs in moderation:
Beans and Soy Products
Given in moderation, beans and soy bean products such as tofu can be a healthy source of protein and vitamins. However, beware of
gas! Many dogs tend to get "gassy" after consuming beans.
Cheese
Dogs cannot digest milk effectively, but can digest cheese better, especially cottage cheese. However, too much cheese can still cause gas,
bloating and stomach pain.
Potatoes
A small bit of peeled, cooked potatoes can be given to your dog occasionally as a treat. However, unpeeld and unripe potatoes contain phytotoxins and
should not be given to dogs.
Cow Liver
Although liver contains a lot of nutrients, feeding too much liver to our dogs is a no-no. In very large quantities, beef liver can be
toxic to dogs because it contains large amounts of vitamin A.
Tomatoes
A bit of ripe tomatoes can be given to your dog, but never give him unripe tomatoes because they contain tomatine and atropine, both of which are toxic to dogs.
Top
Human Food for Dogs - Complete No-NoCommon human foods that should not be given to dogs at all include: Chocolate Chocolate contains caffeine and theobromine, both of which can over-stimulate the central nervous system and cause serious, even life-threatening, health problems to dogs. Grapes and Raisins A mere handful of raisins or grapes can cause a lot of damage to some dogs. In large quantities, raisins or grapes can cause acute kidney failure and even death to dogs. Onions A compound found in onions (and in lesser amount in garlic) called n-propyldisulfide can, in large doses, cause oxidative damage to red blood cells, creating Heinz bodies and triggering the body to reject these cells from the bloodstream. If large doses of this compound are ingested on a regular basis, the process can lead to Heinz-body anemia and even death. To be safe, never feed onions to your dogs. Salty Foods Processed foods, such as sausages, deli meat, and canned soup, contain a lot of salt. Too much salt can cause electrolyte imbalance, kidney disease, and seizures in dogs. Sweet Desserts Although many dogs have a sweet tooth and enjoy desserts like pie, cake, and ice cream, sugary foods should not be given to your dog. These foods have no nutritional benefits to dogs; they can cause diabetes in dogs as well. Rich Sauces and Gravy Rich sauces and gravy usually contain a lot of salt and sugar, as well as cream or fat. All these can cause digestive problems in dogs. Milk Dogs do not have the digestive enzymes to break down the sugars in cow's milk, so drinking milk can cause gas, bloating, diarrhea, and vomiting in dogs. Tea/Coffee Tea and coffee contain caffeine to which dogs are extremely sensitive. You may not be feeding your dog tea or coffee, but if you keep coffee beans or tea bags within easy reach of your dog, he may end up eating enough coffee beans or tea bags to get seriously ill. Therefore, keep them out of your dog's reach. Alcohol All kinds of alchoholic drinks (e.g. beer, wine, cocktail) are extremely hazardous to dogs because dogs are highly susceptible to alcohol's toxic effects. Alcoholic drinks can cause vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy and liver failure in dogs. Xylitol Xylitol is a sweetener that is contained in many sugar-free gums, breath mints, candies and some baked goods. Xylitol is dangerous to dogs because it triggers a sudden release of insulin, causing hypoglycemia. This can result in shock and liver failure. It is therefore extremely important that you keep your sugar-free gums or any other foods containing xylitol out of your dog's reach.Related Topics Natural Diets for Dogs Dog Poisoning Substances TOP of Human Food for Dogs |
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