Table Scraps: Healthy Dog Treat or Canine Catastrophe?
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Time to read 6 min
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Time to read 6 min
We pet parents all consider our furiends part of the family. So it makes sense that we would want them to partake in family dinner, right? Wrong! Well, usually, anyway.
While some human table scraps are okay for pet tummies and make safe and even healthy dog treats, most of the time this is a no-no. Dog digestive systems are not like ours. While they are capable of ingesting many things in the wild that would make us sick, by the same token there are many human foods that could make most doggos sick, have a reaction, choke ā or worse. Even though the safest choice for a healthy pet treat is one made especially for them of high-quality ingredients, likeĀ oursĀ at Farm to Pet, there are some human foods we can share with our fur babies. Here, we break down parts of the human diet to identify some of the foods that are okay to share with Shirley the shih-tzu, others that are off limits for Ollie the otterhound, and why.
Even though dog tummies are much higher in acids that can break down a lot more materials and microbes than human stomachs can, that doesnāt mean that they are garbage disposals! Dog constitutions are meant for simple sources of nutrition. As we have learned from our past blog posts on the subject, limited-ingredient foods and single-ingredient treats like our turkey and chicken chips are the best choice for low-calorie, high-nutrient meals and healthy pet treats. Not only do doggos not need extra seasoning, aroma, or texture from salt, pepper, herbs, spices or added fats, many of these things we use to flavor our foods can cause adverse reactions in dogs ā and others can be downright dangerous. Some of the problems that can be caused by feeding dogs from our human tables include:
Digestive issuesĀ ā complex combinations of foods or foods your dog has never eaten before can upset her stomach, vomiting or diarrhea. This is usually caused by new flora introduced into her digestive system that simply donāt gibe. While they usually resolve on their own, these symptoms can linger and cause dehydration and even more long-lasting issues, so as with any of these adverse reactions, itās best to play it safe and seek the help of your veterinarian.Ā
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Allergic reactionĀ ā again, new foods or those hidden inside a complicated recipe can cause an allergic reaction in your pup. While most allergies to proteins like beef and dairy are already known to us pet parents, we might not know if our dogs are allergic to soy or wheat. Plus, allergies are more likely when multiple ingredients are combined together, like in human dishes, rather than eaten singly. Exposure to allergens usually causes itching and rashes, and can also trigger diarrhea and vomiting.
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Weight gainĀ ā sometimes, the threat of eating human table scraps is longer term, as with weight gain. It may not happen overnight, but feeding our pets fatty human foods, or even too much of a good thing, can show up in a thicker waistline. This is dangerous for many reasons, including joint and back issues, diminished respiratory capacity, and even pancreatitis. Sticking with a balanced, low-fat, and high-nutrient diet is best for all of us, whether four-legged or two!
Choking or BlockagesĀ ā the risk of choking and blockages usually come from similar things, namely bones or pits that a dog might chomp down before you can get it away from him. Even though dogs might love a bone and they are fine for wild canines, for domesticated pups even uncooked bones can splinter or break. This can present a choking hazard, and if your dog manages to swallow it, can pose a threat of perforating intestines or getting stuck in the digestive tract ā both of which could require surgery. A better choice for healthy dog chew is an elk antler, like ours , which are much less likely to break but provide the chewing satisfaction and nutritional value of a bone.
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ToxicityĀ ā this is the most important thing we need to protect our fur babies from. So many things that seem like an innocuous or even healthy dog treat can actually be uber dangerous or quickly lethal. Below are the top threats to our petsā well-being that we need to avoid at all costs. Seek veterinary help immediately if your pup ingests any of them.
Many of us have trained our dogs ā or perhaps vice versa! ā to think they get to eat every time we do. We whip up breakfast, and there they are. When we make lunch, they are lingering at our feet. And dinnertime? That is prime begging time! They look at us with those (literal!) puppy dog eyes, and we think āhow can I resist that face? A little bit wonāt hurt.ā Unfortunately, sometimes it can hurt ā a lot. And whatās more, it is bad behaviorally for several reasons.Ā
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First, it undermines us as the pack leader by allowing our pet to command us to act instead of vice versa. Additionally, it creates bad habits of begging from guests and even strangers who might offer something our dog might wolf down but that isnāt healthy for her. Lastly, it also increases the risk of exposing our precious puppos to table scraps or other foods they shouldnāt eat even accidentally from spilling or dropping or leaving something unattended that they donāt have the control to resist because they think the world is their buffet!
We can create good habits and behaviors by signaling what is acceptable and rewarding it, such as by limiting feeding to certain times of day or certain activities or as a reward, as well as only feeding meals and snacks directly from their bowls rather than the kitchen counter or dinner table. Still, if you want your fur baby to eat when you do, here are some options to use as healthy pet treats using foods you might be eating yourself at mealtimes.
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As you can, see there are some safe ways to incorporate human table food as healthy pet treats. As long as we avoid table scraps and foods and ingredients that are dangerous or even toxic to our beloved pet, limit the amounts, and present them in behaviorally appropriate ways, we can treat them to some of the foods we enjoy ourselves every day. Of course, the safest and best treats for our canine children ā and those sure to avoid catastrophe! ā are those that are explicitly made for them using high-quality, responsibly-sourced and limited or one ingredient, like our Farm To Pet turkey and chicken chips. So we encourage you to treat ā and your dogs to crunch ā away!