Human foods dogs can eat

You’ve seen it before: you’re munching on your snack, while your pup zeros in on you with wide eyes and a sweet, innocent face. It’s hard to say no! There are many human foods dogs can safely eat, but some human foods are toxic to dogs. Keep your dog happy and healthy by learning they can and cannot eat, as well as how often you should give your dog human food (hint, it’s all about moderation).

Are Strawberries Good for Dogs? Can Dogs Eat Pears? And Other Burning Pet Parent Questions:

Yes, strawberries are safe for dogs to eat. And yes, dogs can eat pears–just don’t give them the seeds as those can be toxic. See below for our full list of dog-safe human foods.

Human Foods Dogs Can Eat:

• Carrots
• Apples
• White rice
• Plain popcorn
• Milk
• Cheese
• Yogurt
• Fish (ex: tuna, salmon, or shrimp)
• Chicken, plain, boiled, and unseasoned
• Pork, plain, cooked, unseasoned
• Turkey, plain, boiled, and unseasoned
• Unsalted peanut butter
• Berries (blueberries, strawberries, black berries)
• Bananas
• Pineapple
• Green peas
• Sweet potatoes (cooked)
• Cucumbers
• Watermelon
• Green beans
• Plain bread
• Oatmeal
• Eggs
• Corn
• Pumpkin
• Coconut
• Cashews

Importantly, dogs should only eat many of these human foods in limited quantities. For example, salty foods like peanut butter can do harm if dogs eat too much. Likewise, excessive quantities of some milks, yogurts, or cheeses are not beneficial; rotten apples can actually poison dogs. Meanwhile, white rice in excess can dangerously elevate your dog’s blood sugar levels.

Healthy Human Foods for Dogs

That said, on the above list of human foods dogs can eat, several of the foods provide much-needed vitamins and minerals like magnesium, vitamin K, vitamins A and C, and B vitamins. Omega-3 fats are found in fish as are essential proteins for your dog’s cardiovascular, muscular, respiratory, digestive, and other systems. Typically, human foods that have known health benefits for dogs are found in dog foods that are made with natural ingredients, so there’s no need to overcompensate with human food.

But if you are keen on adding some toppers to your dog’s bowl or keeping them satiated between meals, here are some of the healthiest choices (again, moderation is key):

• Carrots
• Green beans
• Eggs
• Salmon
• Yogurt
• Chicken
• Pumpkin
• Berries (blueberries, strawberries, blackberries)
• Pineapple
• Sweet potatoes
• Rice
• Oatmeal
• Coconuts

Human Foods That Are Toxic to Dogs

While small amounts of unsalted peanut butter and cashews are in the clear, almonds and macadamia nuts are no-nos as they can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and other health complications.

In addition to nuts, you should not give your dog the below human foods:

• Chocolate
• Cinnamon or nutmeg
• Ice-cream
• Onions, garlic, and alliums
• Grapes and raisins
• Cherries
• Avocado
• Uncooked yeast dough
• Excessive cheeses (including cottage cheese)
• Coffee or tea
• Xylitol
• Alcohol
• Lemons and limes
• Raw eggs
• Excess sodium

Respectfully, while many of the foods on this list of human foods that hurt dogs won’t inspire immediate, certain death, they may—if consumed in excess or at all—lead to serious health complications and could be fatal.

How Often Should Dogs Eat Human Foods?

Thus, when it comes to human foods, moderation and limitation are vital. Teaching your dog to not beg for table scraps and rarely indulging the plea for human food are great habits to enact. Of course, it’s sometimes impossible to stop your dog from snatching a morsel off the counter or the floor or from just giving your dog a little nibble.

It cannot be stressed enough that dogs should only eat human foods in limited quantities and only if foods are fresh, cooked, unsalted, and unseasoned.

If proper nutrition is a concern, then your best bet is to feed your dog food that is healthy, nutrient rich, and natural. This kind of dog food is made with safe quantities of those delicious human foods dogs can eat in the right balance for your dog’s unique size, age, and health.

Wellness Pet Food knows how important comprehensive nutrition is for you and your dog; dogs need all of the essential vitamins and nutrients that come from human foods, which is why we at Wellness craft delicious, natural dog food recipes that keep your dog equally healthy and happy.