A large part of caring for dogs is to make sure they are receiving the right amount of nutrition. Human food is generally not that great for dogs. This is because dogs and people have different internal structures, and what is good for our systems is commonly not ideal for theirs. Dogs are often humanised by people and seen as more than pets. While it is completely fine to treat your dogs like your children, making sure they receive the best nutrition usually means they need to eat a very different diet. So, which human foods can dogs eat?
As dogs look to humans for care, they’ll often have few issues with taking any food that we give to them. Unfortunately, this behaviour can lead to problems, especially with your dog eating foods that are not ideal for their body. Many foods are perfectly fine for a person to eat but can make a dog incredibly sick and possibly see them needing an emergency trip to the vet. Before you have other people look after your pet, it can be an excellent idea to have a list of allowable foods. While some people are fully aware of what dogs can and cannot have, making a list further reiterates what your pets are allowed to eat. This article will cover some commonly asked questions about what you can feed your pet and how certain foods may affect their body.
Can dogs eat chocolate?
Chocolate is terrific for people, but if you’re asking can dogs eat chocolate, then the answer is an absolute no. Chocolate is toxic for dogs, and although it is not commonly fatal, it can result in an illness that may take your dog some time to recover. It can be confusing to see that something so sweet and excellent for humans is so harmful to dogs. But it is one small chemical in the chocolate that does the most harm to dogs. The toxin in chocolate is Theobromine, and it acts in a similar way to caffeine. However, dogs cannot metabolize Theobromine like humans can, which explains why they are so sensitive to the effects.
If you’re thinking about having someone look after your dog, you should ask them, ‘can dogs eat chocolate?’. Their response to the question will be a good indicator if they are capable, as it is generally common knowledge in the dog minding community. The signs that your dog may have eaten chocolate will include vomiting, diarrhoea, restlessness, and tremors. Theobromine is more concentrated in darker chocolate, so be very careful when using baking chocolate and other dark chocolates Which human foods can their dog eat?
Can dogs eat avocados?
Avocados are a food that are entering many homes and making people ask, can dogs eat avocados? But the answer is not that straightforward. While avocados are very nutritious for people, they do contain a toxin that can affect many animals.
This toxin is a persin, which is a type of fungicide. Dogs are generally more resistant to the effects of persin. However, for the answer to can dogs eat avocados, the answer is generally yes, but they probably shouldn’t. If you are making a list of dog-safe foods, then leaving out avocado is a good option as there are many better foods available. Persin is present in all parts of the avocado plant, and if ingested in high qualities, it may present as vomiting, diarrhoea, and damage to the heart.
Besides the persin toxin you’ll find in avocados, there are other dangers. The seed in an avocado is large and presents a possible choking hazard for dogs. If you have an avocado plant and it drops fruit, you should collect these and not allow your dog to play with them.
Can dogs eat mushrooms?
One human food dogs can eat is mushrooms. Mushrooms are a funny part of our food intake, some are okay, and others can quickly put you in hospital. Generally, everyone knows that wild mushrooms are not suitable to eat unless you know what you’re doing. But what about our pets? Can dogs eat mushrooms? If you are going for a walk, and your pet sniffs and eats some wild fungi, how worried should you be? If your dog eats any wild mushrooms, you should consult with a vet. Let the vet know what they ate, and they’ll take you through what you need to do next. If you can, it is best to take a sample of the mushroom to your vet, and they’ll be able to determine the best treatment. Although there are only a few species of mushroom that are incredibly toxic, these are generally quite hard to identify.
Suppose you’re wondering about regular store-bought mushrooms and if they’re okay for your dog. Then, yes dogs can eat these mushrooms. However, the real question is not can dogs eat mushrooms, but rather should dogs eat mushrooms, and that answer is no. There is little nutrition that dogs can receive from mushrooms, and they are not a part of their natural diet. If you are cooking mushrooms, and you want to give your dog a slice, you can. However, there are better snacks you can give to them, such as a few slices of carrot.
Can dogs eat corn?
There have been some strong opinions around the idea of can dogs eat corn. If you ask some people, they may consider that corn in dog food is a filler and offer little nutritional benefit. But this view is generally false. In the premade dog kibble industry, there is a well-known brand that uses corn as its base ingredient. However, this is used mostly as a way to bind the other products into a digestible kibble. Corn is not a filler in food, and it does offer many nutritional benefits to the food.
If you are preparing fresh food and are wondering, ‘can dogs eat corn?’, then the answer is yes. Corn is highly nutritious and offers many benefits to your dog’s food. Corn is a grain, and dogs are known for being able to digest grains particularly well. There is a slight shift away from adding grains to dog food. However, this is driven by what humans want, and not the needs of your dog. Grains in dog food are not bad and are often better than grain-free options. Adding corn into your dog’s food will have several benefits, as they contain protein, carbohydrates, linoleic acid, antioxidants, and fibre. For a good snack on a hot day, you can give your dog a frozen corn cob, and they’ll chew on it for hours.
Can dogs eat bananas?
Everyone loves bananas, but can dogs eat bananas? Yes, dogs can happily enjoy these natural wonders. But, like all snack foods, they cannot be a major part of your dog’s diet. Moderation is best when feeding your dog bananas. When feeding large dogs, they can have half a banana daily, and small dogs can have a quarter of banana daily. Bananas are quite nutritious, but they should only be feed occasionally. The best way to feed a banana to your dog is fresh. However, for a cool snack on a warm day, you can freeze bananas.
While there is nothing in a banana that will harm your dog, there are still some dangers in feeding them. So, can dogs eat bananas? Yes, but not the entire banana. If you allow your dog to eat the peel of the banana it can become lodged in their stomach. To avoid this, always peel your bananas before giving them to any dog.
Can dogs eat onions?
Onions are extremely bad for dogs. They are not human food dogs can eat. As most households will use onions in cooking, they pose a significant threat to dogs. If you’re asking, ‘can dogs eat onions?’, then the simplest answer is definitely not. If you have dogs in the house it is important to make sure onions are kept out of reach; especially if you have a curious puppy. Most dogs are turned off by the smell and taste of onions. However, there is always that one that thinks they are a fun chewy toy.
All products in the plant family that belong to onions are bad for dogs. So, when thinking about can dogs eat onions, you need to add in all the other plants from that family of veg. Other plants to avoid that are similar to onions include garlic, shallots, chives, and leeks. All of these products contain the same toxin which is very harmful to dogs. The toxins you’ll find in onions are not removed by cooking, so it does not matter if you feed your dog raw or cooked onions the results can be the same. As onions are in many human dishes, you should be wary of ever feeding meals cooked for people to dogs. If you want to share something special you’ve cooked with your dog, you can always make a batch of specially prepared dog food.
If you suspect your dog has eaten onions, it is best to consult with a vet immediately. The vet will advise you of the next steps. Many people will grow onions in their vegetable garden. If you have a dog, it is best to keep the area well fenced so they can’t get in.
Feeding your dog human foods
This article has covered a few commonly asked questions about human foods dogs can eat. Check to see if the food your offering is okay for your dog before you feed. When you’re leaving your dog with new people, create a list of acceptable foods to feed them. On this list, you can include if your dog has any allergies. You can also let them know what to do in case of an emergency.
For the best results on having someone else feed your dog, you should list quantities and how often per day. Often people can easily over treat dogs; on your list, you can make suggestions for how many of each treat your dog can have each day. Before you leave your dog with another person, you can take them through the feeding routine. Anyone that looks after your dog will stick to what you have suggested. Give as much information as possible on the list and then you may relax as your dog is well looked after
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