This entry will be focused on provided quality, healthy, balanced and most importantly (for the dogs at least) tasty treats and foods to incorporate into his/her diet to maintain a strong heart, lean muscles, full shiny coats of fur (or hair), and feeling “regular”.
Much like humans, dogs should not be fed junk food, and certainly not food scraps from the kitchen table. It’s important to understand that although “Fido” is looking adorable and pathetic staring at you with his big brown eyes while wagging his tail, hoping to get a piece of that steak, he should not be fed from your plate. Dogs are omnivores, yet they still cannot process the same foods we can eat. Unless an owner of a dog is aware and educates everyone in his or her household, there is a lot of potential for accidental problems that may occur if a dog is fed the wrong types of foods.
It’s a pretty well known fact that dogs should never be fed chocolate as it is a heart stimulant and contains the alkaloid theobromine, which acts similarly to caffeine. But did you know that dogs should also never be fed any type of onions, apples (unless cored – remove all seeds), avocados, grapes, and even various types of bones?
The DON’Ts
Chocolate – cannot process the chemical theobromine nearly as quickly as humans can, and kill them if fed too much.
Avocados (yes even guacamole) – This fruit contains persin which is EXTREMELY toxic to animals. From the skin you peel right down to the seed.
Grapes & Raisins – The toxicity of both can cause acute renal failure (kidney disease) with the lack of urine production causing severe dehydration. Regardless if the grapes are seeded or seedless, never feed your dog the fruit.
Bones – Splintered bones can get caught in the esophagus of your pet, stomach and intestinal tract causing severe bleeding. If you’re going to give your dog bones, ensure they are the large cow bones and monitor him/her if the bone starts to become brittle or sharp. Avoid all bird bones (turkey, chicken, duck, and other fowl) and especially do not feed boned fish to your dog as the bones can get stuck in the gums, throat and stomach.
Onions – Completely indigestible. The levels of thiosulfate and allyl propyl disulfide will cause permanent red blood cells damage resulting in oxygen deprivation and anemia, possible liver damage, difficulty breathing, discolored urine, and many other serious and fatal health issues.
Alcohol – This goes without saying, you may have a high tolerance for it, but your pets have much smaller body masses therefore are unable to process the alcohol resulting in hitting them harder physically, potentially killing them.
Garlic – Contains the same harmful chemical thiosulfate that is found in all forms of onions.
Rhubard & Wild Mushrooms – both contain toxins.
Corn – A very common allergen among pets. Grains in general are not the most healthy due to the high concentration of carbohydrates to give to dogs or cats, however if your dog has an upset stomach or diarrhea, brown or white rice with some chicken broth works wonders soothing your furry baby’s tummy.
Citrus fruits – Lemons, limes, grapefruit, persimmons may cause an upset stomach (possible vomiting).
So what can you feed “Fido” when you want to reward how he’s done a good job obeying your commands? Here is a list of wonderful healthy and wholesome treats both you and he can share together.
The DO’s
Many of the fruits and veggies contain the same vitamins and antioxidants which are necessary for a strong and healthy dog.
Spinach – high in antioxidants and nutrients such as fiber, calcium, potassium, vitamins A, B6, and K.
Carrots – Vitamins, A, B, C, D, E, and K, calcium, iron, potassium, phosphorus, and carotene.
Pineapple – manganese and vitamin C.
Apples (seeds MUST BE removed as they are extremely toxic) – potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, iron, sodium, copper, and zinc.
Blueberries – potassium, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, iron, sodium, copper, and zinc.
Apricots
Bananas
Cantaloupe
Mango
Oranges
Pear
Raspberries
Strawberries
Broccoli
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Celery
Cucumber
Green beans
Lettuce
Pumpkin (lose dosage – no more than ¼ tsp for small dogs & 1tbs for large dogs)
Dogs also enjoy vitamins and supplements in pill form such as fish and flaxseed oil, chondroitin and glucosamine which help with their joints. Speak to your veterinarian for more information on what would be the appropriate doses to give your dog.
****Remember to wash the fruits and veggies as you would before you eat them. Consult your veterinarian in case you are uncertain if your pet may be allergic to specific fruits and veggies. Keep an eye on persistent licking, biting or scratching as a dog may show signs of allergies to foods given (store bought or homemade).
An inexpensive treat you think that is OK for your dog can turn into hundreds or even thousands in veterinarian costs and heartache for both you and your family. Avoid giving the “no-no” foods to your pooch, period.
Here’s a short video of my furry baby Lily enjoying her spinach. She’s quite handsy when it comes to eating it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJeFK1JfQMs
Fur Paws Sake Pet Sitting Services is a member of Pet Sitters Associates (PSA), To learn more about PSA, visit www.petsitllc.com.