Your dog is part of your family and you want to give him to special treats. You know they love it and it also makes you happy to make them happy. But is it wise to feed them your leftovers?
You bet there is. Table scraps should never be your dog's main diet, but may be given as small treats once in a while, and they should never be given at the table. Some human food is toxic to dogs, like chocolate and many foods are too rich for a dog's digestive system and may cause diarrhea or vomiting. So be wary of table scraps and don't let them overdue it.
Never feed your dog human food because you have deemed him a "fussy" eater. It is you who made him this way and of course he's going to gobble it up and love you for it. But in the end you will both pay for it with ill health. Remember who is the boss in this relationship and do what is right for your dog.
There are some table scraps that you can feed your dog in moderation, as a special treat or mixed in with their kibble. These could include things like, lean piece of steak with the fat cut off, slice of roast beef or chicken and turkey. Plain rice and pasta are also good for them.
Have a limit to the amount of table scraps you feed them. Doing this on a continuous basis will not only make them overweight it can also cause serious gastrointestinal problems such as pancreatitis. Dogs actually have a more sensitive stomach than humans, so it doesn't take much to give them diarrhea or upset tummies.
Now, there are many people who will claim that table scraps are deadly to your pet and should not be given as snacks. These people are only partially correct. While commercial snacks are formulated for the needs of your pet, there is no harm in allowing your dog some table scraps as long as it is not harmful to the dog and is not in excess. There are human foods that are harmful and deadly to your dog, but most human food is perfectly acceptable for dogs. The trick is research.
Do some research. Even though pasta is good for them, they are quite lactose intolerant, so macaroni and cheese will most likely give them the trots. Definitely no cooked bones of any sort as they become soft and can splinter, causing obstructions in his digestive tract and can also cut the roof of his mouth.
Leftover stew is OK, as long as you first discard the onions, and if your family loves sushi, Fido will have to pass Raw fish can create a thiamine deficiency in dogs. As a result the dog will suffer from seizures and possibly death.
Carrots and berries make good healthy snacks and dogs actually like them, but grapes can cause severe kidney damage. I like to use carrots when training because there is usually a lot of rewards given for jobs well done, and I don't want them getting fat while learning to jump through hoops!
Fido, or Buster, or Sport knows all the moves when if comes to finagling you out of those scraps. So don't let mealtime degenerate into a battle of wills. Know what are acceptable table scraps, and feed them in acceptable amounts, but never decide to save money and avoid wasting food by making then the main ingredients in your pet's diet! If you want to feed them non-commercial food such as a raw diet, learn how to do it properly first.
Remember who the boss is and don't give in to their begging. You do them no favors by making them sick, overweight or worse. Be strong!
You bet there is. Table scraps should never be your dog's main diet, but may be given as small treats once in a while, and they should never be given at the table. Some human food is toxic to dogs, like chocolate and many foods are too rich for a dog's digestive system and may cause diarrhea or vomiting. So be wary of table scraps and don't let them overdue it.
Never feed your dog human food because you have deemed him a "fussy" eater. It is you who made him this way and of course he's going to gobble it up and love you for it. But in the end you will both pay for it with ill health. Remember who is the boss in this relationship and do what is right for your dog.
There are some table scraps that you can feed your dog in moderation, as a special treat or mixed in with their kibble. These could include things like, lean piece of steak with the fat cut off, slice of roast beef or chicken and turkey. Plain rice and pasta are also good for them.
Have a limit to the amount of table scraps you feed them. Doing this on a continuous basis will not only make them overweight it can also cause serious gastrointestinal problems such as pancreatitis. Dogs actually have a more sensitive stomach than humans, so it doesn't take much to give them diarrhea or upset tummies.
Now, there are many people who will claim that table scraps are deadly to your pet and should not be given as snacks. These people are only partially correct. While commercial snacks are formulated for the needs of your pet, there is no harm in allowing your dog some table scraps as long as it is not harmful to the dog and is not in excess. There are human foods that are harmful and deadly to your dog, but most human food is perfectly acceptable for dogs. The trick is research.
Do some research. Even though pasta is good for them, they are quite lactose intolerant, so macaroni and cheese will most likely give them the trots. Definitely no cooked bones of any sort as they become soft and can splinter, causing obstructions in his digestive tract and can also cut the roof of his mouth.
Leftover stew is OK, as long as you first discard the onions, and if your family loves sushi, Fido will have to pass Raw fish can create a thiamine deficiency in dogs. As a result the dog will suffer from seizures and possibly death.
Carrots and berries make good healthy snacks and dogs actually like them, but grapes can cause severe kidney damage. I like to use carrots when training because there is usually a lot of rewards given for jobs well done, and I don't want them getting fat while learning to jump through hoops!
Fido, or Buster, or Sport knows all the moves when if comes to finagling you out of those scraps. So don't let mealtime degenerate into a battle of wills. Know what are acceptable table scraps, and feed them in acceptable amounts, but never decide to save money and avoid wasting food by making then the main ingredients in your pet's diet! If you want to feed them non-commercial food such as a raw diet, learn how to do it properly first.
Remember who the boss is and don't give in to their begging. You do them no favors by making them sick, overweight or worse. Be strong!
About the Author:
Alex is a freelance graphic artist & marketing pro with a passion for writing and pets. She has a long and personal history with pets and has studied what works and what doesn't when training them. If you enjoyed this article, check out a few of her others, likeBenefits Of Crate Training Your Puppy or A New Baby Coming? Time To Get Your Dog Ready!.
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