A dog is the favorite pet of most people out there, and all of you must feed your human food to your dog sometimes am I right? It becomes very hard to resist those hungry eyes looking up at you while you are having your meal. But you must be aware of the fact that these human foods contain lots of ingredients and additives that are not good for the health of our little puppies. If your dog is consuming human foods (prohibited for dogs) for a long time, it can lead to major diseases like obesity.
Nowadays, you will find a lot of dog owners that are feeding their dogs homemade dog food. No doubt, homemade dog food is a good option to utilize for your pets for a lot of reasons. But if you want to go for human food instead of that regular dog food, you must be aware of what foods are good for your dog’s health and what is not. This article will guide you in detail about all the human food dogs can or can’t eat. So, make sure you stick to this article till the end to find out all the human foods you can feed your dog. Let’s get started.
What nutrition do dogs need?
Before we talk about food, let’s discuss what nutrition our dogs need. So basically, dogs fall in the carnivore category, which means the basic and most important element of their diet is meat. But to clear the misconception here, let me tell you that dogs are not obligate carnivores, meaning that the dogs do not only eat meat. Dogs can survive on prey meat, and also some fitful vegetables sound interesting, right? They can also occasionally eat fruits, so when you are making a decision regarding your dog’s diet, you should consider all these food items, and your diet plan should involve these food items.
What human foods can your dogs consume?
1. PROTEINS
Proteins are essential building blocks of their body, just like humans. Therefore, while feeding meats to your dogs, you should make sure that meat is cooked and the bones are removed to save your dog from choking. You should also keep in mind that, like humans, dogs can also be lactose intolerant, and they would not be able to handle dairy products very well.
Below is the list of food items that you can feed your dog to fulfill their protein needs:
- Chicken
- Pork
- Turkey
- Cheeses (Go for hard cheeses and cottage cheese in moderate amounts)
- Fish (sardines and salmon are especially good for dogs)
- Eggs (cooked)
- Lean beef
- Yogurt (make sure to give it in moderate amount)
2. GRAINS
Some people always ask this question: Can dogs eat bread? Well, most dogs need to have fermentable fibers in their diet, but it should be kept in mind that high fiber foods are not good for young and growing dogs having sound energy requirements.
- Rice
- Bread (must be given in small amounts, plain bread is ok)
- Corn
- Quinoa
- Oatmeal
3. VEGETABLES & FRUITS
Fruits basically have a high level of sugars, and they should be given to dogs in a moderate amount. Below is the list of fruits and vegetables your dogs can consume.
- Blueberries
- Apples
- Bananas
- Watermelon (Seedless)
- Carrots
- Pumpkin
- Sweet potatoes
- Broccoli
- Green peas
- Tomatoes (must be given in limited amounts)
- Green beans
4. OTHER FOODS
Check out other human foods that are safe for your dog and can be utilized in moderation as a treat.
- Coconut
- Honey
- Popcorn
- Peanut butter (the one that does not contain added sugar or ingredients like Xylitol)
What human foods can dogs not eat?
We have shared the detailed list of items from human foods that dogs can consume now; we are going to share a list of human food items that are unhealthy for your dogs and might be toxic, resulting in some serious health damage to your pet. Make sure you don’t feed your dogs these items for their healthy life.
- Grapes and raisins
- Lemons & limes
- Onions
- Foods & chewing gum containing Xylitol
- Chocolate
- Avocados
- Macadamia nuts
- Yeast dough
- Garlic
- Coffee & tea (it is highly prohibited for dogs to consume caffeine)
- Foods with high sodium (e.g., bacon)
- Cinnamon (not toxic but can irritate the inside of the dog’s mouth)
Final Words
You must consider a well-balanced diet for your dog according to its age, weight, and activity level. Your dog needs protein, carbohydrates, minerals, essential vitamins, and healthy fats, in their diet to live a healthy life. Consult your veterinarian if you are feeding your dog homemade food because it is very important that your dog is getting all the major nutrients they need.
I hope this article helps you choose the best diet for your dogs and little puppies. However, please note that we don’t encourage feeding your dog’s human food directly from the table. We want your dog to get a healthy, delicious, and homemade diet. If there is a food item in your mind that you are not sure of, ask us in the comment section below, we’ll be happy to answer you if it is safe for your pup or not.