Safe Foods for Your Dog

Safe Foods for Your Dog

May 2, 2022

When you have a fluffy canine friend (or a four-footed fur child, as some would say), you probably want to know what foods are safe for dogs to eat. After all, the wrong table scraps could send your puppy to the emergency vet’s office. When determining a list of safe foods for dogs, there are a few guidelines dog owners can follow to make sure Fido is only eating foods that are safe for his system.

What foods are safe for dogs to eat?

Dogs are carnivorous, but they are not considered obligate carnivores. This means that dogs tend to eat mostly meat-based diets, but they are capable of digesting some plant-based foods. Generally, dogs can safely consume chicken, pork, lean beef, fish such as salmon and sardines, turkey, eggs, cottage cheese, hard cheese (in moderation), and yogurt as a snack. 

It’s worth noting that owners should remove all bones from meat before presenting it to a dog, as bones can be a choking hazard for puppies and adult dogs alike. Also, meat should be thoroughly cooked before giving it to a dog. Otherwise, it could expose the dog to harmful bacteria. Dogs are lactose intolerant, but their systems tend to process yogurt, cottage cheese, and hard cheeses better than other dairy products because of how these foods are processed.

Although the high sugar content in fruit makes it so that you shouldn’t feed it to a dog all the time, occasional exposure to fruit is safe for dogs. Dogs can eat a wide range of fruits. Bananas, apples, seedless watermelon, limited amounts of tomato, pumpkin, carrots, peas, and more are all suitable to serve in small portions to your dog.

If your dog has an upset stomach, a portion of bland food like white rice might be a soothing option to mix into his or her regular protein-rich diet. White rice, in particular, can help bind loose stools and promote easy digestion. Use moderation with rice, though — the high carb content can raise a dog’s blood sugar dangerously high. Whole grains such as quinoa and oatmeal are an important addition to a balanced canine diet, regardless of whether they’re experiencing digestive troubles or not.

You may have heard of giving a dog peanut butter as a treat or to help a dog take medicine. While unsalted, unsweetened peanut butter can make a great occasional treat for a dog, you should give your puppy peanut butter with caution. Read the list of ingredients carefully first and scan the peanut butter label for “xylitol.” Xylitol is a popular alternative sweetener that is highly toxic for dogs.

What are not safe foods for dogs?

Foods that dogs should avoid at all costs include cinnamon, almonds, chocolate, garlic, ice cream, and macadamia nuts. Some of these foods, such as chocolate, garlic, and macadamia nuts, are highly toxic to dogs. Others, like cinnamon, almonds, and ice cream, aren’t necessarily toxic, but they can irritate dogs’ stomachs and mouths.

 

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