At first glance, sharing human food with your pet as treats might seem appealing; however, some human foods could pose potential gastrointestinal or even toxic threats to them. For instance, artificial sweeteners like xylitol may lead to life-threatening drops in blood pressure, liver failure and seizures in dogs.
However, many common healthy people foods are safe for dogs when eaten in moderation.
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Lean Meats
Dogs have very different digestive systems than people and should only consume foods that won’t harm them, like lean meats (without bones or skin), vegetables, fruit and watermelons without risk to their bodies. Lean meats (without bones or skin), vegetables, fruit and watermelons as well as some healthy snacks is best way for dogs to enjoy human food without endangering themselves or compromising their bodies.
Lean turkey, chicken, certain cuts of beef and lamb provide valuable sources of vitamins, minerals and nutrients that are less likely to trigger pancreatitis in dogs – an inflammation of the pancreas which can be life-threatening.
Cooked green beans provide your pup with fiber, vitamin C, potassium and biotin – essential ingredients in their health! Asparagus can also provide vital vitamins such as folic acid as well as other important nutrients; plus it makes an excellent teething treat; my dogs love chewing on its stalks!
Vegetables
Vegetables provide essential vitamins and minerals, such as fiber, potassium, calcium, phosphorous and vitamin A. Vegetables can be divided into groups in the food pyramid as dark green vegetables; red and orange vegetables; starchy vegetables (such as potatoes).
Carrots and sweet potatoes are popular choices when it comes to providing teething puppies with nutritious nourishment, such as beta-carotene, fiber, vitamin A, Vitamin K, biotin and potassium. You can easily incorporate these nutritious snacks into their daily diet either as snacks or occasional treats.
Keep in mind, however, that “people foods” should only make up a small part of your pet’s overall diet and should only ever be fed in moderation to prevent nutritional deficiencies or even toxicity in overeating cases. Therefore it’s vital that they receive high-quality commercial kibble that meets AAFCO nutritional standards as it offers all essential proteins, fats and carbohydrates necessary for their wellbeing.
Fish
People and dogs alike are omnivores; both require foods from both plants and animals in order to obtain enough vitamins, minerals, and trace nutrients for good health. Human foods safe for dogs include fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, grains, cooked fish (rich in Omega-3 fatty acids); unsalted peanut butter free of xylitol and salt; greek yogurt (high in protein and calcium); eggs (easily digestible riboflavin); pumpkin (rich in beta carotene/vitamin A).
Consuming too many people foods can result in weight gain, digestive upset and nutritional deficiencies for dogs. Furthermore, onions and garlic can be toxic for canines; so it is essential that food labels contain no potentially toxic ingredients (like onion powder, excess salt, xylitol and chocolate); raw or undercooked eggs should be avoided; milk consumption should be limited since many dogs are lactose intolerant; tomatoes must never be given to your pup!
Blueberries
Blueberries are packed with powerful antioxidants such as quercetin, kaempferol, myricetin and chlorogenic acid that have been studied and proven to reduce oxidative damage associated with chronic diseases. Furthermore, blueberries contain vitamins such as Vitamin C, manganese and folate that support overall wellness.
blueberries offer another great benefit in terms of preventing urinary tract infections (UTIs). According to research published in 2022 in Frontiers in Plant Science, anthocyanins extracted from blueberries may help inhibit bacteria that leads to UTI.
As with any diet change, always consult your veterinarian first to make sure there will be no adverse drug reactions. Human foods can be safe for dogs to eat but should only be offered on occasion and prepared well; to minimize risks avoid fatty, salty and processed fat-laden products as well as products containing added sugars and processed fats; additionally cooking fresh whole food ingredients is ideal to maximize nutritional value and digestibility – this is particularly relevant with raw meat or eggs that contain bacteria that could potentially cause sickness in canines.
