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Avoid Table Scraps in Your Dog's Diet
Why dogs should stick to dog food
Those puppy dog eyes are hard to resist, aren't they? They sit there looking like they haven't been fed for days even though you fed them first. It might seem like an act of love giving your dog food off your plate, but you do need to be careful feeding your dog table scraps.
Health
Did you know that less than 1% of human diseases are genetic? That means 99% are related to diet, environment, and lifestyle.
Also, in countries like the USA and UK, upwards of 60% of the adult population are overweight. Do you know what the second most overweight animal (relative to what it should be) is? Yep, domesticated dogs. Guess what? They also suffer from a lot of the same diseases that people do.
Dogs must be kept at a weight appropriate to their size and breed. This is because obesity increases the risk factor of every disease in dogs… just like it does in people.
It might sound a bit harsh, but if you are overweight and have underlying health issues like diabetes, you should not give them the scraps off your plate.
Bad behavior
Giving your dog's table scraps in the home may lead to destructive behavior. If they know that begging works, then they will keep on doing it. Then they might start begging for food all the time, or begging for food when in public, or begging for food from other people, which can be embarrassing.
You are much better at establishing a feeding routine for them, where they eat in the same place, eat from the same bowl, and when they have finished, they know they are not getting more.
Size differences
You also need to realize that dogs are generally much smaller than a person is. A male human can easily be in the 80 to 90kg range, whereas a medium-sized dog could be around the 15kg mark.
So, if you think about it logically, they could only need around a fifth of what you need if you give them their regular food and then some of your food. Even if you think it is only a small amount of scraps, then you might have given them a lot more calories than they need.
Dietary differences
Humans and Dogs are both omnivores which means that they can eat meat, fish, fruit, and vegetables. The funny thing is if you ranked all animals from most carnivore to most herbivore, we would be a lot closer to carnivore than an herbivore.
We are both very good at digesting animal protein like meat and fish. However, there are some differences. For example, people are much better at digesting fats and dairy than dogs are. Also, humans are better at digesting carbohydrates than dogs are.
HERE ARE OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DRY DOG FOODS
Wag Dry Dog/Puppy Food, 35% Protein, No Added Grains
Nutritious vegetables like lentils and peas provide vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and phytonutrients; salmon oil and flaxseed provide omega-3 fatty acids, including long-chain DHA
Blue Buffalo Life Protection Formula Natural Adult Dry Dog Food
Blue Buffalo foods always feature real meat as the first ingredient; High-quality protein from real chicken helps your dog build and maintain healthy muscles; Plus they contain wholesome whole grains, garden veggies and fruit
Hill's Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Adult, Sensitive Stomach & Skin Recipes
This adult dry dog food promotes digestive health while nourishing skin A source of prebiotic fiber to support a balanced gut microbiome in your grown dog
Some human diets are better than others.
Thinking about whether you should feed table scraps to a dog requires you to think about the way you eat. If you only eat French Fries and Pizza, then you shouldn't feed your dog any scraps.
However, if you enjoy and follow low-carb diets like Paleo, Ketogenic Diet, Atkins, or the Carnivore Diet, then you are much more likely to be eating food that would be ok to give to your dog.
Also, if you are Vegan because you are against animal cruelty, then I respect your decision. However, never feed your dog a vegan diet. Yes, they will survive on it for a while, but they will not thrive, and you could be setting them up for a life of health issues. If feeding a dog animal products troubles you, then please get a Rabbit instead.
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What leftovers are ok for dogs
If you are eating fresh and lean meat or fish, I do not see a cooking problem for them. You could also include some lightly cooked vegetables or some freshly prepared fruit.
However, you much make sure you factor this into their daily food consumption. If you are cooking them some chicken for dinner, then make sure they had less for breakfast.
Also, make sure you remove any cooked bones, especially if you give them cooked fish. Bones are ok in a raw dog food diet but are not ok cooked.
What leftovers should be avoided
Even if you are excellent at calorie counting for your dog, some foods should never be given to dogs.
Any processed or fried junk food should always be avoided. Anything with spices or excessive amounts of fat should also be avoided.
However, there are also some fresh fruit and vegetables that should not be given to dogs. For example:
- Garlic
- Onion
- Grapes & Raisins
- Peaches
- Avocados
- Unripe tomatoes
- Raw potatoes
- Chocolate
- Anything with Xylitol in it (which is a natural sweetener)
Final thoughts
If you are unsure whether you should feed your dog scraps, then don't. Only feed them scraps if you are 100% sure it is a healthy option for them and not overfeeding them.
There is nothing wrong with cooking an extra salmon fillet for them if you also have salmon because you could give them less of what they usually have. That is different from you eating three-quarters of your lasagne; you feel stuffed, so you let your dog finish the plate even after they have already eaten.
