Do you find yourself trying to stay strong with those puppy dog eyes but ultimately tossing some scraps your dog’s way because who can resist ‘the look’? While many ‘people’ foods are safe for dogs to indulge in, pet parents need to remember that just like our food moderation is key since dogs digestive systems are a little different from humans. There are a lot of ‘human’ foods that can provide important nutrients and health benefits for your dog, but there are also numerous foods to watch out for that can really disrupt your dog's health. As holidays approach, we wanted to give you a breakdown of which foods are considered ‘safe’ and which are a big no-no for your pup.

Let’s start with some safe ‘people’ foods that your dog can enjoy in moderation:

Fruits

Many of the fruits that we eat as pet owners can be shared as a treat with our pets since they contain antioxidants, vitamins and in some cases water, which is a great way to keep your pup hydrated. Just remember to remove the outside peels, pits and seeds before chopping into bite size pieces and letting your dog indulge. Check out this list of dog safe fruits:

• Apples

• Bananas

• Blueberries

• Cantaloupe

• Cranberries

• Mangoes

• Oranges

• Peaches

• Pears

• Pineapple

• Raspberries

• Strawberries

• Watermelon

Vegetables

The vegetable safe list for your dog may be a little shorter than the fruit one, but these couple vegetables can still bring some important minerals and vitamins to your dog along with being rich in protein and fiber. Another positive from some of these vegetables is the dental health benefits it can bring to your dog's mouth! Just remember, small quantities and no seasoning for these veggies is the key and try to avoid those canned vegetables with the added sodium - that’s really not good for anyone. Check out this list of dog safe vegetables:

• Broccoli

• Brussel sprouts

• Carrots (crunching on raw carrots can help remove plaque!)

• Celery (this veggie is known to freshen dog breath!)

• Cucumbers (this low calorie snack can be great for overweight dogs!)

• Green beans

• Peas

White Rice

Some cooked, plain white rice can be a great option for a dog with an upset stomach since it’s so easy to digest and helps to bind their stool together. This can also be a great treat to add some dog safe vegetables too (all plain with no seasoning of course) so your pup can indulge a little while still getting some great nutrients. Pet owners with dogs that have diabetes should be aware that they should only give their dogs small amounts of while rise as it can cause blood sugar levels to rise.

Dairy products

Very small quantities of milk, cheese and plain yogurt is okay for dogs; eating too much dairy can cause digestive problems due to dogs having low levels of lactase, a digestive enzyme that breaks down the sugars in milk. 

Fish

Salmon, shrimp and tuna are all great sources of protein for your pup. Salmon and tuna are rich sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which can help to keep your dog’s immune system, coat and skin healthy. Shrimp contains vitamin B, which can also help maintain your dog’s digestive system and promote healthy blood circulation.

Chicken

Plain, boiled chicken is the way to go if you want your dog to indulge with this protein. This can also be a great option when your dog has an upset stomach.

Peanut butter

What dog doesn’t love peanut butter?! The unsalted peanut butter with no sugar added is the best option for your dog to eat in moderation. Vitamins E and B, niacin, healthful fats and protein are all contained in peanut butter, making it a great treat for your pup. Pet owners do need to make sure that they grab the peanut butter that does not contain the sweetener xylitol, which is highly toxic to dogs.

Plain popcorn

Popcorn that doesn’t contain salt, butter or sugar can be a very nutritional treat for dogs as popcorn contains minerals such as magnesium, phosphorus and zinc. Make sure if you are giving this as a treat that your dog doesn’t eat any unpopped popcorn kernels since they could choke on them.

Pork

Pork should only be consumed in small portions since the high fat content is hard for dogs to digest. Unseasoned, cooked pork is the safest for dogs to eat. Pet owners should refrain from feeding bacon or processed ham to your dogs due to the high salt contents.

Turkey

Plain, unseasoned and cooked turkey is safe for dogs to eat and many commercial dog foods already contain turkey in it as it is a good source of protein. To keep it safe and healthy, remember to remove the fat first before giving it to your dog because too much fat can cause pancreatitis issues.

Not all foods can be shared with your canine companion, so take a look at this next list to be aware of what foods contain toxins that are dangerous to your dog’s health:

Fruit pits and seeds

While fruits can be a safe food for dogs, the pits and seeds are what you need to watch out for. Certain agents within the seeds and pits can be dangerous and contain cyanide while also disrupting the digestive tract.

Yeast dough

If your dog ingests raw yeast dough, Basic Baking 101 says the uncooked dough needs to rise and will rise inside your dog's stomach, causing swelling and severe pain. The yeast can also ferment and create alcohol, which is risky business when it comes to dogs as well. 

Fat trimmings and bones

Both cooked and uncooked fat trimmings can cause pancreatitis while the bones are seen as a choking hazard and can also splinter and puncture a dogs throat or digestive tract.

Macadamia nuts

Consuming as little as 2.4 g/kg of macadamia nuts can cause clinical signs of poisoning that include muscle tremors, weakness, paralysis of the hindquarters, vomiting, fever and a rapid heartbeat. Combining these nuts with chocolate, aka white chocolate macadamia nut cookies, can increase the risk of death if your pup gets hold of a cookie.

Onions and garlic

Both onion and garlic contain a substance that can damage and/or destroy your dog’s red blood cells, potentially leading to anemia. This risk can be found in all forms of garlic and onion - raw, powdered, cooked or dehydrated.

Avocados

There is a toxin contained in avocados called ‘persin’ that is completely safe for human consumption but can be very poisonous to dogs. The toxin can be found in the avocado fruit, pits, leaves and bark. If this toxin is consumed, fluid can build up in the lungs and heart, leading to fatal complications.

Grapes and raisins

The smallest amounts of grapes or raisins ingested by your dog should be taken seriously as symptoms for eating either of these foods can range from rapid kidney failure to death. Pet owners should note that poisoning can happen from eating raw grapes and raisins OR from eating them as ingredients in baked goods such as cookies, cakes and snack bars. 

Nutmeg

The toxic compound in nutmeg, called myristicin, can cause disorientation, increased heart rate, high blood pressure, dry mouth, stomach pains and seizures when consumed in large amounts by dogs. Pet owners should be very careful with baked goods around dogs that contain nutmeg.

Lemons and limes

The skins of lemons and limes contain a substance called psoralen, which can cause dogs to have gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. If your dog consumes these in large amounts, the symptoms can range from muscle tremors to liver failure and death. 

Chocolate, coffee and caffeine

Never, never, never give chocolate, coffee or caffeine products to your dog. These products contain chemicals called methylxanthines, which are highly toxic to dogs and can cause vomiting, an abnormal heart rate, seizures and sometimes death.

One of the best ways to remember what to give your dog if you want to treat them to some ‘human’ food is to not give your dog something that you wouldn’t eat. When veterinarians say to not feed your dog the table scraps, they mean don’t feed them the leftovers that are supposed to go into the garbage disposal; these often contain the ends, fat and not so good parts of the food you didn’t like. Just remember that if you wouldn’t eat it, you’re dog probably shouldn’t eat it either. Stick to the healthy products and their dog food to keep them on the healthy track so they can live as long of a healthy life as possible.

→ Holidays can be a  c r a z y  time for everyone, leaving your furry friend sometimes left in the back of your mind when it comes to getting their energy under control during the colder months. Thankfully, Going Mutts Pet Services is here for all of our pet owners in the Lancaster, PA area and want to help you help your furry friends! Contact us to get your dog on a daily walk or playtime schedule with one of our paw-some dog walkers as a way to show how thankful you are to your best furry friend this holiday season. Set up a  Meet ‘n Greet today by contacting us so we can help customize a plan for you! ← 

Sources:

https://www.thefarmersdog.com/digest/the-most-dangerous-foods-for-dogs/

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-foods-fatal-to-dogs#TOC_TITLE_HDR_2

https://www.hillspet.com/dog-care/nutrition-feeding/can-dogs-eat-table-food-or-scraps

https://dogtime.com/dog-health/general/1251-giving-people-food-to-dogs

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324453#summary

https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/fruits-vegetables-dogs-can-and-cant-eat/