These days, dogs are a part of the family. These exceptionally loyal animals want to be by our side through all of our day’s activities, and they want to share everything we do.
Combine their love for us with a delicious meal, and there is likely to be a lot of canine begging at your dinner table. But no matter how much you want to see him happy, eating table scraps can be very detrimental to your dog’s health. Here’s why.
Why are Table Scraps Dangerous for your Dog?
There are several reasons why you should never feed your dog table scraps, no matter how much he begs.
- First and foremost, human food can make your dog very sick. Dog food is specially formulated for their dietary needs and digestive capabilities, but table food is often far too fatty for a dog to process. Often a dog will experience diarrhea, vomiting, and in extreme cases, pancreatitis.
- Dogs who routinely eat off the table begin to shun their dog food. This means that not only are they ingesting food that can make them sick, they are no longer getting the food they need to stay healthy.
- There are several foods that are toxic and even poisonous for your dog. Caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, large amounts of garlic and onions, or macadamia nuts are all known to cause grave problems for dogs, and can even be fatal.
Other Reasons to Avoid Table Scraps for Dogs
- Bones in food from your dinner table can get lodged in the gastrointestinal tract, and may break, scratch or ever tear at internal organs.
- Obesity in dogs can cause many ongoing health issues, as well as premature death. Fatty foods from your dinner table are likely to cause obesity when given as a steady diet.
- If you allow your dog to beg from your dinner table – and you reward him for that behavior with table scraps – you are setting up a lifelong bad behavior for your pet. If you do choose to give your dog healthier table scraps, be sure to put them in the dog’s regular feeding dish, in order to keep him from begging at your table.
Are There Any Human Foods Safe to feed My Dog?
There are some foods from your dinner table which are safe to feed your dog. Although some of these may not be a part of your diet, you can use them to convince your pet that he is indeed eating from the forbidden table. These foods include:
- All natural peanut butter: A great sourced of protein and fiber for your pet. Look for a brand without the ingredient xylitol.
- Greek yogurt: Also a great source of protein. Look for a brand low in added sugars.
- Lean proteins (chicken, turkey and beef): Your dog’s food probably has these ingredients already, but if you feed them off your table be sure they weren’t cooked in sauces or wine.
- Salmon: Omega 3s are great for your dog’s skin and coat, and salmon will also be a healthy source of protein.
- Sweet Potatoes, Apples and Pumpkin Seeds: Will keep your dog’s digestive system healthy, while adding Vitamin A and beta carotene.
- Whole grain pastas: Will give your dog healthy energy.
If you want to teach your dog not to beg at the dinner table, you can trust the experts at Gulf Coast K9 Dog Training to help. In fact, you can contact us for all of your dog’s behavioral issues or obedience challenges, from puppy to adult. If you are a Sarasota, Bradenton or Lakewood Ranch dog owner, give us a call
today.
