Why It Is Bad To Give Your Dog Table Scraps / People Food
It is very easy to give in to the temptation of feeding your dog off your plate when you’re sitting down for dinner. However, it would be best if you considered that human food can be harmful to your pet before you feed your dog table scraps. Below we will highlight the different reasons why it’s not always a good idea to give your dog table food.
1. Human food can even be toxic to a dog
Quite a lot of human food contains ingredients that are toxic to dogs. For example, items such as almonds, raisins, garlic, chocolate, grapes, nuts, and onions are all toxic to dogs. Additionally, processed foods can contain sweeteners, which are artificial i.e. xylitol, and these can also be very dangerous if a dog consumes them.
2. It will provide your dog with poor nutrition
Ultimately, human food is created with human nutrition in mind and not with your dog’s nutritional needs. Vitamins that we require can affect your dog’s stomach as well as his digestive tract. Excess salt can cause an electrolyte imbalance, and treats, such as cookies and cakes, can cause an increase in fat.
3. It can affect your dog’s digestive system
It goes without saying, our digestive systems differ from a dog’s, and a lot of the food that we eat is far too fatty and rich for a dog to be able to digest and usually contains too much salt. If a dog eats table scraps, they may end up with diarrhea and vomiting and even more severe pancreatitis conditions.
4. It increases negative behavior traits
If your dog is used to eating table scraps, it will create an issue related to begging. Although you may not mind your dog eating from your plate, if you ever have anybody over for dinner, they may not want your pooch sniffing around their plate. Another issue is that if you feed your dog table scraps, they may think it’s ok to take food themselves when they are sitting at the table. The worst-case scenario is that your dog may decide to refuse their own pet food as they prefer your food.
5. Human food can cause weight issues in a dog
Quite often, dogs who eat table scraps usually eat their normal dog food too, so although it might seem like the odd table scrap will not affect your dog’s weight, it will, and it doesn’t take a lot to affect your dog’s weight. For example, if your dog weighs around twenty pounds and you feed it just one ounce of cheese, in terms of the calories, it’s the equivalent of eating over one burger. Therefore, if you often feed your dog your food, your dog will end up putting on weight, which will cause your dog many other health issues such as heart disease and diabetes. If you insist on feeding your dog the odd table scrap, make sure it’s less than 10% of their total calorie intake.
How to give treats to your dog in a healthy way
The best option is to avoid giving your dog human food and instead provide them with nutritious, healthy dog treats. That said, it is crucial to remember to take these into account when it comes to their daily calorie intake. It is also important to remember that not all human food is off grounds for your dog. There are some foods which you are able to feed your dog, as long as you do it in moderation. Below we will again highlight some of the aspects that you need to take into account before feeding your dog human food.
– Make sure you’re well informed
First and foremost, you need to be aware of which foods are toxic to your dog to ensure that you never feed your dog them, or let your dog near them.
– Avoid foods that are pre-prepared or processed
It is quite easy to prepare a meal with ingredients that are toxic to your dog without you even realizing it. For this reason, only give your dog human foods that contain no more than one ingredient, such as fruit or vegetables.
– Avoid feeding your dog from your table
Try to avoid doing this and instead give them something that is healthy in the way that you would give them a dog treat, for example, for being obedient, so it’s like a reward. You need to try and do not to give them a treat if they are begging. Another good idea would be to add any human food to your dog to their dog bowl. This way, your dog learns that all food that they receive will be in their usual dog bowl.
– Take calories into account
Another factor to consider is the calories that you feed your dog. If you’re unsure of how many calories your dog needs to eat, it is worth speaking to your vet.
Healthy human foods you can feed your dog
● Carrots – Your dog can eat these both cooked or raw. Carrots are a good choice as they are a good source of minerals, fiber, and vitamins, and they are also low in calories.
● Salmon – Boneless cooked salmon, is safe for your dog to eat. Make sure you avoid raw salmon, as this contains a parasite that can be fatal to dogs.
● Eggs – A nutritious option for your dog is cooked eggs. Eggs will provide your dog with lots of protein, as well as as many vitamins and minerals.
● Blueberries – A safe fruit for dogs to eat, and they are also low in calories.
● Bread – Occasionally, you could feed your dog whole grain or plain white bread.
● Chicken – Chicken that has been cooked is safe for most dogs to eat.
● Pork – Pork that has been cooked and does not contain any sauces, seasonings, and spices is safe for your dog to eat.
● Rice – Your dog can eat both white and brown rice.
● Mushrooms – Mushrooms that have been bought from a supermarket ie, Portobello mushrooms are safe for dogs to eat.