Is not it so hard to resist offering treats to your beloved canine companion, more so when you two are spending some quality time at home? Devoted dog owners find it tedious not to offer whatever they are munching on to those furry, cuddly pets. However, the truth is you should not be careless about offering food and snacks to your dogs. Those innocent eyes and gaze can be hard to resist but remember there are several things you eat with an abandon that can be harmful to your dog. So, before you share snacks and any food you gorge on with your furry companion, think if it is safe for the animal or not.
Listed below are the foods and snacks that are deemed safe for dogs.
Fruits and vegetables– The good thing is if you eat plenty of vegetables and fruits, many options are there for your dog. You can safely offer some fruits and vegetables to your dog, in part or whole. You can offer the pet options like apples, bananas, watermelon, mango, cucumber, cooked potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, spinach and lettuce. Some dogs may prefer crunchy vegetables and fruits to others. Ensure the fruits offered to the dog are deseeded carefully to evade choking hazards.
Meat and fish– Dogs love gorging on fish and meat types. You can offer baked and grilled meat and fish to your dog, mostly. Evade offering raw or half-cooked meat as it can cause food poisoning. Offering the pets salmon slices will be a good idea. Chicken and turkey meat are food options, as are beef and shrimp. Ensure the meat pieces do not contain large-sized bones for safety.
Dairy– Unless your beloved dog is lactose intolerant, you can offer cheese cubes. However, ensure you do not go overboard here. As for dairy products, offer milk in moderation. When it comes to yoghurt, evade the flavoured variants. It is better if you give the dog low-fat cheese and cottage cheese cubes for snacking.
Biscuits and cookies– Unless you are sure it is whole-grain based, do not share your cookies and biscuits with your dog. Some cookies and biscuits contain cream and colouring, which may not be suited for canine creatures. To stay on the safe side, use dog biscuits when they get hunger pangs in between meals.
Grains– generally, dogs digest pasta and rice but ensure you offer them variants with no artificial ingredients. Cooked oatmeal is something you can offer the dogs without woes.
What foods to evade offering to the dogs
Do not be like those careless dog owners who think whatever they munch on should be shared with their dogs! Evade offers the following foods to your dogs at any cost.
Chocolate – It is downright toxic for the dogs and so do not offer chocolate in any form, even chocolate frosting on the Xmas cakes!
Caffeine– Offer plain water or milk to your dogs rather than sharing tea or coffee with them. Any caffeine-laced drink can be toxic for animals.
Candies and gums– These contain a substance called Xylitol which is very harmful to dogs.
Onions and garlic– These vegetables can be very toxic to dogs.
Grapes and Raisins– Dogs eating Grapes and raisins may vomit and face kidney problems. In older and ailing dogs, it can lead to untimely demise as well.
Summing it up
Offering snacks to the dogs comes naturally to dog owners. However, do not let your love and affection for the pet override the logic. Before you offer any snack to the dog, ensure it is safe. This is applicable to both household dishes as well as foods bought from stores.
