Healthy human foods for dogs- Your best friend can eat well too!

Is your pup bored with the same old dried kibble, meal after meal, day after day? I don’t know about you, but personally, I would be sick to the teeth of it!

Firstly, I would just like to point out that humans and dogs have very different digestive systems, so while some foods are perfectly acceptable for humans, these same foods could prove hazardous for your beloved pet. With this in mind, I feel it is always worth researching before giving your dog any human food to consume, and if in doubt you can consult your vet for your true peace of mind.

Saying that, what alternatives are available to brighten up your furry little friend’s mealtime? There are many healthy human foods for dogs out there so let’s have a look at some of the best of them.

Carrots, green beans, cooked chicken breast, cooked boneless salmon, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, eggs, peanut butter, spinach, quinoa.

At perfectpuppypal.com, we are not qualified veterinarians or animal nutritionists. The information that we provide is general and educational information only and is not a substitute for professional advice.

Carrots

Carrots are great for humans and equally beneficial for your best friend. They are full of vitamin A which can help with your dog’s skin and coat, they are also helpful in boosting their immune system.

Munching on a raw carrot is not only a great low-calorie snack, additionally, it can also help with your pooch’s dental hygiene by removing plaque and tartar from their teeth.

To read more about the benefits of carrots for our canine companions CLICK HERE!

Green beans

Green beans are another healthy veggie which could prove to be a great addition to your dog’s diet. Green beans have a high fibre content whilst also containing very few calories meaning they provide Fido with a healthy, filling snack without the risk of putting on unwanted weight.

Because of this, green beans are a favourite for many dog owners who are trying to help their pets lose weight.

Cooked chicken breast

Chicken is perfectly acceptable to include in your dog’s diet and is a great source of protein. It’s important to remove all fat, skin and bones before feeding, this is why I only give my pup boiled skinless chicken breast.

Please remember that cooked bones are a definite no-no for dogs as they can splinter thus becoming a choking hazard, or if ingested can cause internal bleeding. Some owners do feed their dogs raw chicken bones as they are softer and easier to digest than cooked ones, but personally, I prefer not to take the risk with my baby.

Cooked boneless salmon

Salmon is a fabulous source of omega-3 fatty acids which promote healthy skin and coats and also help to improve your dog’s immune system. It’s important that you only feed your dog cooked salmon as raw salmon can cause salmon poisoning for your pooch. This is due to a parasite named fluke which can be found in raw salmon and can cause a bacterial infection in your dog, it can sometimes prove fatal.

Also, when giving salmon to your dog it’s very important to remove all bones first, no matter the size as they can, like cooked chicken bones, be a choking hazard or cause internal damage.

Pumpkin

Pumpkin is another fantastic addition to your favourite four-legged friend’s diet. Pumpkin is a great source of vitamins A, C and E and also contains helpful amounts of iron and potassium. Remember, when buying for your companion, plain canned pumpkin is fine, just check that there are not any additional spices or additives which could harm your dog’s health.

Personally, I prefer to buy fresh pumpkin, peel and cut into chunks, then either boil or steam them until tender and mash into a puree to add to my dog’s food. One of the most common reasons dog owners feed pumpkins to their dogs is to alleviate the problems of a loose stall (diarrhoea).

The high amount of natural fibre pumpkins contain, helps to decrease digestion time, adding much-needed solidness to an otherwise runny situation!

 

Sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes contain a healthy amount of vitamins A, B6, C, as well as calcium, potassium and iron along with their high fibre content which can aid in your pup having a healthy digestive system. It’s recommended that when feeding sweet potato to your furball it is well cooked and without the skin which if consumed is difficult for them to ingest and can potentially cause internal blockages.

Why sweet potatoes and not white ones you may ask? Well, white potatoes are actually a member of the nightshade family and contain a compound called solanine which is a toxin for dogs, so better avoided in my opinion.

 

Eggs

Well, where can we start with eggs as a nutritious treat or snack for your beloved? Firstly, they are a fantastic source of protein as well as containing a healthy amount of essential amino and fatty acids which are vital for your dog’s health. If feeding a holistic diet for your dog, sometimes, depending on the composition and makeup of the menu, calcium, as a very important part of Fido’s diet can be missing. Here egg shells can be very helpful.

Baked, ground up into a powder, and then mixed in with your dog’s food (the dosage depends on your dog’s size, age and activities of course) can become a suitable calcium supplement.

 

Peanut butter

Generally, peanut butter is a great, tasty snack for your pup. It’s the ideal food to fill your canine companion’s favourite hollow chew toy with in order to extend playtime. But please remember that care is important when selecting the brand or type of peanut butter to feed your dog.

It’s always best to check the ingredients before purchasing any human foods that you intend to give to your dog, and in the case of peanut butter, it is imperative that the list of ingredients does not contain xylitol.

Xylitol is a sweetener or sugar substitute which is becoming more and more popular in a number of human foods. For human consumption it is harmless, but for dogs, it poses a serious health risk and must be avoided at all times.

Spinach

Spinach is healthy food for humans and also for your dog. It is a very nutrient-rich vegetable, containing high levels of essential vitamins such as A, C, E and K as well as generous amounts of iron and magnesium.

Spinach does contain oxalates though, which when consumed in large quantities have the possibility to inhibit your pooch’s ability to absorb calcium and could even lead to kidney and bladder problems.

So, this veg has great benefits for your pup, but should only be given in small portions and not make up a significant part of their diet.

Quinoa

Quinoa has recently gained a reputation for being a super food for humans, but can it have the same proven benefits for your dog? Generally, the answer is yes. A lot of high-quality dried dog foods nowadays replace less nutritious wheat, soya or corn with quinoa to give a healthier option for your pup.

Additionally, quinoa contains healthy amounts of vitamins B1, B6, B12 and E which are all known to have many antioxidant properties as well as having a high protein and omega 3 fatty acid count which are beneficial in reducing inflammation in their skin and joints and also to improve kidney function.

So what are the best human foods you can feed to your dog?

All of the above-mentioned foods should be fine to include in your four-legged friend’s diet. Why not? They are great for us so can benefit your pooch too.

Remember, it’s always important to consult your vet before you make any serious changes to your dog’s diet just in case there are any health problems you may not be aware of. But with this in mind, I sincerely hope that I have given you a rough guide or idea as to what are healthy human foods for dogs.