Attention dog owners! These food tips could save your dog’s life. As pet owners, we want to share our food with our dogs, especially when we see them begging or hanging around our legs, while we are preparing a meal in the kitchen.
There are some foods that you can offer to dogs without them becoming ill. But, it is important to make sure that you give them a small amount and that the foods are free of salt and artificially sweeteners.
Below you will find a list of toxic foods that you should not feed your dog. But first, here are some items that you can safely feed to your pooch:
Cooked chicken, yogurt and cheese are three of my dog’s favorites.
Fully cooked chicken which is free of bones is also a great source of protein. Shredded chicken mixed with dogs’ food is a great way to coax them to eat. You can also slip any medication into a small piece of chicken, if you don’t like to give your dog pills.
A teaspoon of cottage cheese or yogurt is a special treat for your pooch.
Yogurt is an excellent source of protein, calcium and great for their digestive tract. But any yogurt must be plain. Do not feed your dog yogurt with artificial sweeteners or sugar.
Low-fat cheese is a good treat. Make sure your dog is not lactose intolerant. To check, first give only a small amount. Cheese is also a sneaky way to feed your dog any medication.
Raw, unsalted peanut butter is a great source of vitamins E and B. Do not feed your dog diet or sugar-free peanut butter. These contain xylitol, which is toxic for your dog and can cause severe illness.
Fresh baby carrots, green beans and apple slices are also good snacks for your dog. All of these treats are good for your dog’s teeth and provide vitamins. It is important that the green beans are salt-free and the apples do not have seeds.
Cooked salmon, free of fish bones, and a scrambled egg are good for your dog’s coat.
Cooked oatmeal is a natural laxative for older dogs who might have bowel issues. Just make sure the oatmeal is fully cooked and it does not have sugar or flavor additives.
Foods that are toxic to your dog include:
• Chocolate
• Coffee
• Raw eggs
• Grapes and raisins
• Garlic and onions
• Avocado
• Macadamia nuts
• Alcohol
If your dog ingests any of the listed toxic foods, it is important to contact your veterinarian or take your pooch to the veterinarian hospital immediately. These foods can cause serious illness, and even death, in your dog.
Reviewed July 12, 2016
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith