We dog owners love our pets and generally try to give them everything, especially when they ask for it using those cute puppy eyes. However, while there are a lot of things you can share with your dog, some things can be dangerous or even deadly.
Several of the foods on this list can be given freely while others should be limited based on dietary reasons, but also keep in mind your dog’s individual preferences and allergies. To avoid your pooch something you shouldn’t, keep reading!
Can Dogs Eat Fruit?
While some of the foods further down this list have to be given in moderation due to weight concerns, most fruits and berries are safe to give without restriction. They’re high in nutrients, vitamins, and fibre, so you don’t need to worry about your dog’s diet.
Some of the fruits you can share are pineapples, apples, mangos, bananas, and oranges. Make sure to avoid apple seeds, which have cyanide. Coconut is also safe, but it can be doubly useful if you want to use the coconut meat as a source of protein for your pooch.
A good rule of thumb to follow with all of these as well as foods further down the list is to remove seeds, rinds, or skins. Skins and rinds can be hard to chew through and seeds can usually pose a choking hazard.
There are 2 fruits that are safe with an asterisk: Tomatoes and cherries. Tomatoes need to be ripe because green tomatoes have tomatine which can affect everything from your dog’s muscles to its heart.
Like apple seeds, cherry pits contain cyanide and can also choke your dog. On top of that, too many will cause nausea or diarrhoea so only give a few for a snack.
Can Dogs Eat Berries?
Berries for your dog are pretty much the same as they are for humans: A great, low-fat source of vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants. None are better than blueberries, but your dog can also devour blackberries and strawberries safely.
These can also serve to help with digestive problems, so they’re completely safe to give to your dog and will boost their immune system.
Can Dogs Eat Melon?
One of the best things about melon, in general, is the fact that it’s usually low in fat or calories and high in water and vitamins, making it a very healthy snack for your pet. Seedless melons are the safest option since seeds can be choked on or cause issues with digestion.
Watermelon is a favourite, but dogs seem to love cantaloupe. Another good option is honeydew but avoid special or exotic melons. They can carry toxins or just have a negative reaction with your small friend.
Make sure that you remove the rind from any melon slices or pieces you give, too. The rind can be hard to chew through and cause choking problems.
Can Dogs Eat Meats?
Most of the meats that you eat can be shared with your dog since most of them are already in the store-bought dog food. Chicken, pork, turkey, and beef are all excellent sources of protein and other essential nutrients that your dog needs for muscles and bone density.
It probably goes without saying, but avoid giving your dog raw meat. Uncooked meat can carry bacteria that can cause digestive and health problems, just like with a human.
You can also add meats to rice for a healthy meal, but one meat does stand out as low-calorie and high-protein: Fish. Traditional fish and shrimp are safe, but salmon and sardines are especially great compared to every other meat and fish.
Can Dogs Eat Dairy?
One of the best things you can give your dog is a cooked egg, because of the nutritious elements it provides. Eggs are also a great source of protein, but make sure you don’t give them to your dog raw.
Cheese is another dairy product that’s safe to give your dog in moderation. Most dogs like the occasional cheese slice or cottage cheese, but too much can cause digestive issues, bloating, and bad gas. It’s also easy for your dog to get fat quickly by overindulging their love of cheese.
Can Dogs Eat Bread?
White and whole grain bread are both safe foods, though they can make your dog gain weight if you’re not careful. Also, be sure that your bread is plain.
The best bread to give your dog is rice bread because it’s low in calories and is very easy for your dog to digest. In fact, rice bread has been known to help with an upset stomach.
Can Dogs Eat Vegetables?
Like fruits, vegetables can bring a lot of benefits and positives to your dog’s diet. For example, two spoons of corn are healthy to give your dog but never on the cob as this poses a choking hazard.
Carrots and celery are recommended as long as you cut them into small pieces. They’re low in calories and have a good amount of nutrients. The same goes for green peas, but keep them fresh or frozen. Canned peas usually have preservatives or high salt content.
Broccoli is another low-calorie option, but it can cause digestive problems if your dog eats too much. If your dog already has a digestive issue, you may want to give broccoli a pass. Cut-up, cooked potatoes are safe, but raw potatoes aren’t due to their solanine concentration.
Sweet potatoes are a double-edged sword because of the amount of vitamin-A they have. While it’s good for eyesight and an immune booster, too much of a good thing can negatively affect your dog’s bones and muscles so be careful.
Other Foods
Some of the things that are safe for you to share with your dog don’t fall into any of the above categories, like oatmeal. One of the most important things to keep in mind is to limit how much salt is your dog’s diet, though.
Too much salt is always bad, so even though foods like popcorn and peanut butter are entirely safe for your dog to eat you should still watch the amount of salt. Low-sodium popcorn is best if you go that route.
Can Dogs Eat Nuts?
There are nuts that you can share, but they tend to be high in salt. Cashews, peanuts, and almonds can all be given to your dog, but they’re also high in fat and calories so the key is moderation but that applies to almost all human food we give our dogs.
However, never give your dog a macadamia nut. They contain a toxin that, while not fatal, will have a number of negative effects on your dog and can lead to long-term issues. If you’re worried about this, it might be best to just avoid nuts altogether.
The 7 Foods Your Dog Should Avoid
Limited ingestion of some of the 7 foods here won’t always prove fatal, but it’s still best to avoid feeding them to your dog
Can Dogs Eat Chocolate?
Chocolate is probably the most well-known food to avoid, but you might not know why. Even a small amount of any kind, even the “healthy” dark chocolate, will cause stomach issues that result in diarrhoea or vomiting. Too much chocolate can be fatal, so keep it away from your companion.
Can Dogs Eat Mushrooms?
There are a handful of store-bought mushrooms, like portobello, that your dog can eat, but in general, mushrooms should be avoided. This is because of a toxin that can poison your dog, so it’s best to get in the habit of just not sharing mushrooms.
Can Dogs Eat Grapes?
Grapes and raisins are 2 foods that should be avoided at all costs because they are fatal to a dog. Since raisins come from grapes, both have a negative impact on your dog’s kidneys. This can lead to death through kidney failure that can happen very quickly.
Can Dogs Eat Avocado?
Every part of an avocado has something known as persin. While it’s safe for humans, persin essentially causes a dog to drown because it causes a liquid to form in their lungs. It’s not always lethal, but can be extremely painful and make it hard for your dog to breathe.
Can Dogs Eat Cooked Bones?
Some owners are tempted to share the bones from their cooked meats, thinking they’re safe because they’ve been cooked. While they won’t contain dangerous bacteria, cooked bones tend to break into small pieces. The resulting splinters can get lodged in your dog’s throat passage or stomach or even pierce their insides, causing all kinds of negative things and in worst-case scenarios, death.
Can Dogs Eat Mouldy Food?
Mouldy food contains mycotoxins, which can cause mild to severe seizures in your dog. These seizures can end up killing your dog if they’re not treated, so it’s best to avoid the whole situation by watching out for mould.
Recap
Hopefully, this list helps you know what you can share with your dog. There are a lot of safe foods, but remember to limit salt and choose seedless options when possible. Also, watch out for foods that can cause weight gain or digestive issues.
The 7 foods to avoid giving your dog entirely are mushrooms, chocolate, raisins, grapes, mouldy food, cooked bones, and avocados. If you accidentally give one of these to your dog, get it to the veterinarian as soon as possible just in case. Better safe than sorry.
On that note, if you’re ever not sure whether or not you can give something to your dog you should consult a vet. Even if it’s “safe” you should still try to give it to your dog in small amounts, especially if it’s the first time your dog is trying the food. They don’t have tummies as resilient as ours.
That will help you avoid allergic reactions and find out what your dog prefers and can handle. It’ll also help control weight gain, so use this list and share food with your healthy dog!