Should You Ever Feed Your Dog Table Scraps?

That headline is really the question, isn’t it? There are some pet owners who willingly feed their dogs anything from their plates. There are others who feed only table scraps. And then there are some on the opposite end of the spectrum who never give their dog table scraps.

Since we know, up front, that dogs can be trash cans occasionally, we decided to see what some veterinarians thought about giving your dog left overs.

The General Rule

For the most part, if your dog has already eaten supper – which means she has enjoyed a balanced meal – experts say that occasional leftovers are not a problem. But there’s a caveat: It really depends on what you’re giving her.

Foods You Should Never Give Your Dog

Here’s a list of foods you should never give your dog under any circumstances:

  • Alcohol
  • Caffeine
  • Chocolate
  • Cooked bones
  • Grapes and raisins
  • Macadamia nuts
  • Onions and garlic

The reason these foods should never be given to your dog is because some of them are toxic and others are dangerous, like cooked bones that can splinter and get stuck in your dog’s throat and gastrointestinal tract.

Related: 10 poisonous foods you should never feed your dog

More Foods You Should Never Give Your Dog

There are three more foods to add to the “never” list …

  • Persimmons, peaches and plums
  • Corn on the cob
  • Very fatty foods

Veterinarians Michael W Fox, DVM and Char Wilson, DVM concur in their opinion of table scraps for dogs. It’s important that they have their regular food first and that the food you give them is healthy like lean protein, some vegetables and a bit of starch.

The Problems

Persimmons, Peaches and Plums:  The reason you don’t want to give your dog persimmons, peaches or plums is because they are considered “stone fruits” and the pits could be dangerous for your dog.

Corn on the Cob:  A corncob can easily get stuck in her small intestine leading to surgery. If the cob gets stuck in there for too long, this can be fatal.

Gobs of Fat:  Too many fatty foods can cause pancreatitis in your dog which is an inflammation of the pancreas and can be a serious illness.

How to Do It

To avoid your dog getting into the habit of begging at the table, veterinarians suggest that you place table scraps into food dishes rather than feeding them right from the table.

Remember, dogs are our families and we’d like to treat them that way. Lean protein and vegetables occasionally are all right for your dog to enjoy but not on a steady diet.

Photo Credit: istockphoto.com

Do you feed your dog table scraps?


1 COMMENT

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.