You are happy with your dog because s/he eats all the leftovers in your house, so that you don’t have to bear the smell or keep the food in refrigerator and remember to eat it the next day! But have you ever thought about can dogs eat ketchup, cocoa, garlic, grapes or such things, you toss towards him or her? If not, you should! These things actually can be toxic for your most loyal four-legged friend!
Before you happily serve your dog all your leftovers, please check these two lists of safe and unsafe foods for dogs and then proceed.
What is the Safe Food for your Dog?
Actually we too don’t eat all healthy foods! Do we? We munch chips, gums, candies, and lots of such things. There are very few people who are careful about their food habits; otherwise most of us eat whatever tastes good. Here, a rule of thumb is whatever is good for us, is good for our dogs too. So, if you know well what is good for your own health, you can feed your dog good food. However, these have exceptions too. You might think that grilled chicken or ground beef is good for her/him; but not always! If they are prepared with certain oils, onions or wines, they are poisonous for dog. The following foods have been shown green signal for feeding your Fido by ASPCA.
Green Beans and Peas – These two are great sources of vitamins C and K and potassium respectively for your dog.
Peanut Butter – Peanut butter offers fiber and protein to your dog. If you add a spoonful of it to her/his dry food, s/he can eat it happily.
Apples – Apples too are sources of vitamins like A and C for your dog.
Salmon – Dogs love fish! And if you feed your pup salmons, it will be more than happy, in addition to getting something healthy. Salmon offer omega-3 fatty acids, which is good for us too! It makes the skin and coat of the dog healthy.
Pasta and Rice – Pasta made of whole wheat and plain rice too are great energy sources for your pup. Avoid adding fatty and acidic sauces to them.
Yogurt – Yogurt and particularly Greek yogurt provides ample protein to your dog. Avoid brands rich with sugars and preservatives.
Sweet Potatoes and Pumpkins – These two provide plenty of beta carotene and vitamin A to your dog, which keep your dog’s digestive system healthy.
Lean Proteins – Beef, turkey and chicken come under these. They are ingredients of your dog’s dry and wet foods anyway and are full of proteins and healthy fats which are needed to maintain a healthy weight and energy level of your dog. Just ensure that they are not cooked with oils, wines or vegetables which are not good for her/him.
In addition to these, there are more foods too that you can safely feed your dog. Just discuss with your veterinarian and decide what to choose.
Unsafe Food
As you know about healthy foods, you should also know unhealthy foods for your dog, so that you can avoid them. Check this list too.
Chocolate and Cocoa – These are your favorites! And you may feel that you should share the joy with your best friend! But be careful! These two are proven toxins for dogs, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, irregular heartbeat, seizures, tremors and even death!
Gum – The sweetener, Xylitol, in gums and candies is the cause of liver failure and hypoglycemia in dogs. Moreover, dog’s digestive tract cannot break down gums like that of humans; so, it can lead to blockage of the system and you can imagine what comes next. It can even lead to death!
Avocadoes and Grapes – Your dog may lick its lips and wag tail when you eat avocadoes or grapes, which can tempt you to toss some towards your dear Fido; but beware! Avocadoes contain persin which causes vomiting and diarrhea in dogs, while grapes cause kidney disease in most breeds of dogs, especially if the dog is older and sick.
Dairy – These are not harmful if given in small amount; but can certainly be harmful when given in excess. Cheese and milk can disturb the digestive system of dogs, because it doesn’t have enzymes that break lactose in milk, like than in humans.
Onions and Garlic – If you are feeding your dog dishes made tasty with these two spices, stop that! If s/he consumes them in large amounts, they can irritate their digestive system and harm red blood cells, which can result into anemia.
Coffee – Coffee is utterly harmful for the doggy. Just a sip and s/he will show restlessness, racing heart and bleeding in her/him, while large doses can even lead to death.
So, henceforth while throwing your leftover food towards your pup, wait and think, whether you are really doing good!