The Best and Worst Foods You Can Feed Your Dog
Updated: Aug 7, 2022
We are prone to giving our furry family members a bite or two of human food but make sure you are giving them the right food to avoid a bigger mistake.
It's hard to resist the temptation of puppy dog eyes as you indulge into your dinner. Although we try not to give in and feed our furry friends bits and pieces of our food to stop the begging, it's sometimes impossible.
However, when deciding to share or not to share, it's important to know foods that they can have and foods to avoid giving to them.
No matter if your dog has a stomach of steal or not, giving your dog the wrong foods can have long-term effects later on. Avoid the guilt trip by reading these healthy alternatives to traditional dog food!
Human Food that Dogs Can Eat
· Fruit
Apples, bananas, berries such as strawberries and blueberries
· Vegetables
Carrots, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin puree
· Grains
Rice, cooked oatmeal, and wheat
· Protein
Chicken, eggs, and of course peanut butter
These foods will not only make your dog happy but their health happy too with the benefits they provide. Unsweetened yogurt is also great to give your dog in small doses for probiotic benefits for their gut. A spoonful over their regular dog food in the morning is a routine we personally do almost every day. Yogurt can be flavored and have a high amount of sugar so be sure to read the label before you buy.
Health Benefits
Fruits that are rich in antioxidants are proven to improve brain health in your dog as they age and provide a good source of hydration.
Veggies are packed with vitamins such as fiber and iron. These vitamins help with bone heath, nerves, and kidneys.
Grains such as wheat is commonly found in most dog food formulas. Grains have many components that are good in any diet such as fats, carbohydrates, and antioxidants.
Protein supplies amino acids to your dog's diets which plays a main role in hormone production. This helps with hair growth, skin, nails, muscles, and ligaments, and cartilage.
Human Foods That Dogs Shouldn't Eat
· Fruit
Grapes, avocados, mushrooms
· Nuts
Macadamia nuts, cashews, almonds
· Vegetables
Onions, garlic, corn
These foods (among others) are dangerous to dogs. Foods such as macadamia nuts can potentially even be fatal to dogs. It is important to look up certain foods before feeding it to your favorite companion to make sure you are doing better than harm.
Some fun tips and tricks for incorporating these human foods into your dogs diet include: adding chicken and rice to their bowl, hiding medicine in peanut butter or bananas, adding pumpkin into their dinner, and giving out these healthy options as treats!
After reading what foods are fine and what foods are not, let's get cooking! Nothing is better than a home cooked meal for both you and your pet to enjoy.
Disclaimer: Children With Whiskers is not a veterinarian, doctor, nutritionist, or dietician. We love your dog just as much as you so please consult your pet’s health care provider regarding any health-related decisions. Any products mentioned in Children With Whiskers blog/website are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. We do not hold any affiliates with brands or companies mentioned in this post. The statements contained in this website or blog have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.