Fundamentals

Human foods that are safe for dogs

Dogs and humans have very different dietary requirements. Some of the foods that humans can eat without issue – are potentially lethal for canines. However, a lot of human foods are also perfectly fine for your beloved pooch to eat. If you aren’t sure what to do with your leftovers and have thought that maybe giving them to your dog would be a good idea – well we’re here to make your life easier. In this post, we give you the lowdown on a range of common human foods, and how safe they are to feed to your dog. Read on to find out more.

Carrots

Carrots, being high in minerals, vitamins and fiber – and low in calories – are a great food for humans to eat, and the good news for you dog lovers out there is that they are also fine for canines to consume. In fact, carrots are almost as healthy for dogs as they are for humans. Whilst your pet pooch may not relish carrots in large doses, you will have no problem feeding them to him or her as an occasional snack. Make sure when doing so that you first slice the carrots into bite-sized chunks in order to keep your dog from choking.

Peanut butter

Yes, peanut butter! Taken in moderate amounts, peanut butter is perfectly safe for dogs. Just as with humans, though, your dog should avoid eating peanut butter to excess, as it is high in fat and in calories, so that your beloved dog may put on weight if he consumes too much. Try to feed your dog the plain type of peanut butter – not the variety with lots of additives, including salt.

Eggs

Eggs are also 100 percent safe – and nutritious – for canines to eat. A single egg already contains a multitude of minerals and vitamins, and a heap of protein as well. According to some authorities, eggs may also be able to help treat nausea in canines – as yet though, there is no hard evidence from science backing this assertion. Also, whilst eggs are absolutely healthy and safe for your dog—this is only when they are cooked! Feeding raw eggs to your dog comes with a risk of infecting him with Salmonella.

Salmon

Salmon is another good human food to give your dog – so long as it boneless, as well as cooked. A fine source of omega-3 fatty acids – very effective at treating inflammation – salmon can also help your dog maintain a shiny, lustrous coat and healthy skin. Once again, you shouldn’t feed your dog raw salmon, as it is suspected to harbor a certain parasite that can poison humans and canines alike, resulting in the worst of cases in death.

Blueberries

Blueberries are a healthy and safe option for dogs, as they are rich in antioxidants – known to prevent cancer – and contain a wealth of minerals, vitamins, and dietary fiber, all of which will do wonders for your dog’s health. Small in size and low in calories, you can feed blueberries to your dog without worrying about him stacking on the kilos, as well.

Popcorn

Believe it or not, popcorn is another food which is very safe to feed to your dog. A word of warning though: make sure it is the plain, unsalted version that doesn’t contain extra ingredients. Butter, oil, and salt – these are often added to popcorn to enhance the taste, but whilst they may make your taste buds tingle, they are extremely harmful to the rest of your body – whether human or dog. For this reason, you should only feed the plain kind of popcorn to your dog. Also, popcorn kernels can get stuck in your pet’s fangs, and can even cause choking, so you should only feed him or her the fully-popped sort of kernels as well.

Pineapple

Fresh, sweet pineapple makes a delicious and refreshing treat for your dog – and for you, his owner! Besides that, it is also very healthy – containing many minerals, vitamins, and fiber. It is also a very nutrient-dense food, so small amounts can work a world of wonders for your dog. But another reason for giving your pet only small servings of pineapple is that he or she may come down with diarrhea or nausea if it is eaten to excess.

Watermelon

Watermelon makes another refreshing snack for dogs, especially on a hot summer day. Be sure though, when serving your pooch to a side of delicious watermelon, that you have first removed the seeds and the rind. Both of these are choking hazards to your dog, and in addition, they make also cause him or her digestive problems. Otherwise, though, watermelon is very beneficial to dogs – it’s low in calories, and is packed full of nutrients like vitamins C and A.

Bread

Bread is also safe for dogs to eat, so long as it is given in moderation. Whole grain bread and plain white bread are the best types of bread to feed to your dog. Avoid serving bread with additional ingredients – like currents or raisins – to your dog, as these can potentially cause him a lot of harm. Keep in mind also that bread is rather high in calories, so if your dog eats too much of the stuff, he might put on weight.

Blackberries

Blackberries, as well as blueberries, are safe to feed o dogs. Serve fresh or frozen – either way, blackberries are low in calories, and high in minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants. They are a very good source of dietary fiber also.

Foods to limit…

Some foods are safe to feed to dogs only sparingly and in small quantities. These include salt (as touched on already), cheese, tomatoes, most varieties of nuts, and cinnamon.

What to avoid…

On the other hand, here are the foods to avoid feeding to your dog at all costs: grapes and raisins (toxic to dogs); chocolate (contains caffeine and theobromine, two stimulants dogs cannot properly metabolize); macadamia nuts; onions; avocado; garlic; coffee and tea.

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