How to Safely Feed ‘Human Food’ To Dogs

Sometimes it can be difficult to say no to those puppy-dog eyes during a family meal. After all, your pet is a part of the family, too! While food can be a symbol for love and affection, some foods can be dangerous for pets. Here are our tips and tricks on how to safely feed your pet the food you love.

Feed Pet-Safe Foods

Make sure any items your pet is eating are non-toxic. A few good examples are:

• Cooked lean proteins such as beef, turkey, chicken, lamb, fish, and eggs. 
• Vegetables such as green beans, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, and green peas. 
• Fully cooked carbohydrates such as rice, potatoes, and pasta.
• Common toxic foods include:
• Chocolate and caffeinated items
• Xylitol (a sugar-free sweetener)
• Grapes and raisins
• Onions and garlic
• Macadamia nuts

Before preparing that Pinterest-worthy treat recipe, double check the ingredients are safe. When in doubt, check with your veterinarian at Companion Pet Hospital or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.

Balance Your Pet’s Nutritional Needs

Dogs have slightly different nutritional needs from people, and dramatically different needs from their wolf ancestors. Keeping nutrients in balance can be tricky, and without a way to communicate their cravings, pets depend on us to create appropriate meal plans.

Use treats in moderation – aim for at least 90% of your pet’s calories to come from a completely balanced food, with a few low calorie treats for fun. Be aware of calorie density- A dog biscuit may look small, but they can pack a big punch calorie-wise. Check packaging and manufacturer websites to find the details. Make a commercial or veterinary nutritionist-approved diet the cornerstone of your pet’s nutrition

Be Aware of Common Risks — And How To Avoid Them

Beyond toxicity (see above), some human foods can pose other risks to our pets:

• Food-borne pathogens - Raw foods and ingredients carry a small, but real, risk of food-borne pathogens such as Salmonella and Listeria. If considering raw foods or treats, make sure to:
• Wash your hands thoroughly and disinfect surfaces after handling raw foods
• Don’t let your pet lick your mouth or face after eating
• Be aware that pets can carry food-borne pathogens without being obviously ill, and that young children and immunocompromised individuals can contract infections through casual contact with pets. Ideally, keep pets eating raw food items isolated from these community members
• Store, thaw, and dispose of any raw food according to manufacturer guidelines
• Avoid cross contamination by storing pet and human foods in separate areas
• Healthy teeth -  Hard items such as bones (raw and cooked) are tough on teeth. Dog’s teeth are similar to our own and just as prone to breaking. A fractured tooth may die, or develop a painful root infection. Avoid items you wouldn’t be happy to chew on and you should steer clear of this risk.
• Choking -  Bones can also get stuck in the jaws or throats of pets, necessitating emergency intervention. Be sure to avoid sharp bone fragments that can get lodged in the intestines.
• Intestinal obstruction - “Foreign body ingestion” is the veterinary way of saying, “My dog ate something not intended for digestion,” and can cause obstruction when that item gets lodged in the intestines.
  Common culprits include corn cobs, fruit cores, rinds, and avocado seeds, as well as wrappers of all kinds. Watch out around Halloween, when candy wrappers can be found all around residential areas.
• Upset stomachs - High fat foods are delicious, but wreak havoc on dogs’ digestive systems. Pancreatitis, an acute and dangerous inflammatory condition, is often caused when pets eat high fat foods. We commonly admit sick pets to the hospital around holidays, when these scrumptious table scraps abound. Stick with lean table foods when you can’t say no to your pup.

So, can pets eat table food? Pets will eat, and enjoy, a number of foods. But just because they’ll eat it doesn’t mean it’s good for them. As an informed pet parent, you can help your pet stay healthy by restricting what you allow them to eat. 

While it might be hard to say no to those big, pleading eyes, remember that it’s for their own good. As always, here at Companion Pet Hospital, your pet’s health and well-being is our top priority. If your pet becomes ill after ingesting table food, please call our office for assistance.