When it comes to finding the right food for your canine companion, it can be hard to know what’s best. As much as dogs love treats and human food, it’s important to be mindful of what is healthy for them. Here is a guide to help owners decide what human food is safe for their dog and which foods should be avoided.
Safe Foods:
One of the most important things for a dog’s diet is protein, which can come from lean meats like chicken and turkey. These can be cooked and served as a treat or added to their regular dog food.
Other sources of protein include eggs, fish, cottage cheese, yogurt, and peanut butter. When preparing meals with these ingredients, try to avoid adding salt or other seasonings.
Fruits and vegetables are also an important part of a healthy diet for dogs. Apples, blueberries, carrots, squash and sweet potatoes are all great sources of vitamins and minerals that can be given in small amounts as treats or incorporated into their regular meals. Make sure to remove any pits or seeds before giving them to your pup.
Unsafe Foods:
Though there are many human foods that are safe for dogs to consume in moderation, there are some that should never be given at all due to potential toxicity or health risks. Chocolate is one example; it can cause digestive upset in small doses but can lead to serious health problems if consumed in large quantities.
Grapes and raisins have also been known to cause kidney failure in some dogs so they should always be avoided. Onions and garlic contain compounds that can damage red blood cells so they should not be given either. Finally, nuts such as walnuts, almonds or macadamia nuts can cause vomiting or intestinal obstruction if ingested.
Conclusion:
When choosing foods for your pup make sure they are safe and healthy options like lean meats like chicken and turkey; fruits like apples; vegetables like carrots; eggs; fish; cottage cheese; yogurt; peanut butter – but stay away from chocolate; grapes/raisins; onions/garlic; nuts such as walnuts/almonds/macadamia – as these present potential health risks.