As a dog owner, every decision you make for your pet will affect his health and well-being. This is especially true when it comes to dog food.
Yet, many expert dog owners have yet to fully grasp the best and worst foods for their dogs. While we may think the fruits and vegetables we eat can make for a wholesome meal for our dogs, we could never be more wrong. While we can digest such foods, dogs cannot – at least not properly. Only a few human foods can be added to a dog’s diet that cause no harm.
This, again, brings us to the question, what are the best and worst foods for your dog?
Let’s get right into it, then, shall we?
The foods on this list are okay to eat for your dog and might not be best for your dog in particular in some cases. So, before you pick anything from here, consult your vet or pet nutritionist.
Bread is a yes. If given in small amounts, without any spices or raisins, is not harmful to your furry friend. However, bread will not necessarily be nutritious for your dog either. It comes jam-packed with carbohydrates and calories and will do the same for your dog as it does for you. If you really think your dog should get a taste of bread, then make some at home, for the store-bought alternative has many preservatives that just won’t unfold well in the stomach. It is better if avoided bread altogether, keeping it only as an emergency snack.
Cheese can also be given to dogs as it is not harmful to them. However, some dogs are lactose intolerant – a very rare thing for dogs to have. Apart from that, cheese can be quite the treat for dogs. Cheese, though, comes in several varieties, and most of these are high in fat content. Going for low-fat cheese like cottage or mozzarella is safe. There are also some dog cheese brands out there like the Himalayan dog chew, which we would rather not recommend.
Coconut is also okay for dogs to eat. In fact, we can go so far as to calling it best for your dog. Coconuts contain lauric acid, which is perfect for combating bacteria and viruses found in animals – dogs specifically. Dogs experience certain skin conditions like flea allergies, hot spots, and itchy skin. Coconut milk and oil help remedy that when given to them to eat or applied on the surface area. However, make sure your dog has no access to the furry outside of a coconut – this can get stuck in their throat if they swallow it.
Corn happens to be the core ingredient in most boxed dog food out there, which is why you can feed your dog corn in raw form, too. Never give your dog a cob because that will not only be hard to bite and chew but also difficult to digest. So, make sure if you have corn off the cob or squeaky corn instead.
And now, for the worst foods.
By worst, we mean they cannot, in any capacity, be added to your dog’s diet. Let’s get into a few of those quickly.
Ice cream is an absolute no-no for dogs. As sweet and refreshing ice cream can be, it is too sugar-rich and can cause many health problems and issues for your dog. Also, some dogs can be lactose intolerant, and eating ice cream can cause digestive problems and complications. Many pet parents treat their dogs with dog ice cream that is “completely safe.” Avoid ice cream at all costs.
Chocolates are another no-no you cannot at all afford to give your dog. Whether it is an urban legend or not, chocolates contain methylxanthines, which are toxic stimulants that can cause your dog’s metabolism to pause for unknown hours. Even if given in small amounts, be it dark chocolate or completely harmless chocolates, eating them can cause diarrhea, vomiting, and constipation. Chocolates in excessive amounts can cause, of course, irregularity in cardiac activity and even death in worse cases. Keep chocolates away from your dogs and come up with another reward food instead.
Cinnamon is not toxic to dogs; however, experts say it should be avoided, which will be for the best. Cinnamon and the oil it secretes can be harmful to the insides of a dog’s mouth, causing swelling and making your dog sick. Your dog’s blood sugar can also be dangerously lowered, leading to diarrhea, increased or decreased heart rate. If your dog catches a whiff of cinnamon in powder form, say when you are baking, it can cause difficulty breathing if the amount inhaled is too much.
Say NO to cinnamon.
And finally, garlic.
Much like vampires, dogs also find garlic toxic. Like onions, chives, leeks, etc, garlic is also part of the Allium family, plants from which are quite toxic to dogs. Have you heard of dog anemia? Garlic can cause that in your dog’s blood. Garlic poisoning in dogs comes with delayed, slowed symptoms. So, if you prepare your dog’s food at home, make sure you have not used garlic in home cooking or add garlic to your dog’s food by accident.
Your dog is your responsibility.
And that was a wrap on the best and worst foods for your dog. We hope you learned from this blog and are eager to implement it in your dog’s life.
Happy dog parenting!
by Bobby J Davidson || You can’t buy love, but you can rescue it™ .
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