Dogs and Table Food: Are They a Good Mix?

With a dog in the house, it seems the kitchen floor is always clean. They love to lick things up after the kids have spilled. They also love a little treat from the table when the family is eating supper. Are these good habits to instill in your dog? Is table food healthy for your dog?

The Problem With Table Food for Dogs

Giving table food to your dog isn’t always the greatest idea. There are a lot of problems it could cause, sometimes including death. The following are some other problems with table food for dogs.

• It Encourages Begging – Whether you’ve spent time and money on obedience school, or have just worked a lot with your dog to train him not to beg, giving him table food is going to encourage negative behavior. Once he’s had a taste of human food, he’ll want more. When everyone is sitting around the table, old Fido will know what’s up. He’ll walk around the table, sometimes putting a paw on it to sniff around, and begin to beg, even in the slightest. This is not a behavior you want to encourage.

• It Causes Obesity – Your dog needs a healthy diet if you want him to stay healthy. Many small portions of table foods for a dog will have a large caloric equivalent to some of the large meals a human eats. Your dog is likely still eating his regular dog food as well, so he’s now getting a lot more than he needs to stay at a healthy weight. Weight gain also leads to heart disease and diabetes.

• It Creates Stomach Problems – Your dog’s digestive system is not the same as your digestive system. Some of the foods that your body can easily handle will not be handled by your dog at all. Human food high in fat or sodium can give your dog an upset stomach, cause him to vomit, have diarrhea and even get pancreatitis.

• It Causes Allergic Reactions – You won’t know if your dog has an allergy to table food until you give it to him and he has a reaction. It may be best to just not feed him scraps from the table. Some signs of an allergy include diarrhea, vomiting, skin rash, inflammation, a loss of appetite, a runny nose and watery eyes.

A List of Particularly Dangerous Foods for Dogs

There are some particularly dangerous foods you should be aware of. While humans can consume these foods on a regular basis, they are toxic to dogs. If you find your dog eating something he shouldn’t, contact your veterinarian immediately. The following are some dangerous foods to watch out for.

• Avocados – Not only is the fruit itself unhealthy because of an element called persin, the seed can choke a dog or get stuck in the stomach or intestines.

• Alcohol – You already know what alcohol does to a human brain and liver, and it has the same effect on a dog. The real problem is that a dog only needs a tiny amount for those effects to begin.

• Caffeine – You’ll find caffeine in coffee, chocolate, tea, sodas, energy drinks and medications. If your dog needs a boost in energy, toss him a toy instead of a caffeinated food item.

• Grapes – Surprisingly, grapes will cause a dog’s kidneys to fail. This also includes dehydrated grapes, or raisins.

• Raw Eggs – Just as a human could get sick from a raw egg, a dog can as well. Your dog could end up with salmonella or E. coli if he ingests a raw egg, even if it’s in cookie dough.

• Salt – Dogs often get something called sodium ion poisoning when too much salt is ingested. This could lead to seizures and death.

• Yeast – If you’re baking bread, do not let your dog snatch the dough. The yeast will continue to grow inside his stomach, causing a lot of pressure and pain. As the yeast ferments, it turns to alcohol and can poison your dog.

What it comes down to, is if you’re not 100% certain a certain food is safe, it’s not worth the risk. Keep dog food in the dog food bowl and table food on the table, out of reach of your canine friend.

Some Foods You Don’t Need to Panic Over

If your dog does snatch something off the table, there are some things you don’t need to panic over. Carrots, for example, can actually be good for your dog’s oral health. They remove plaque as the dog chews on them, and also contain vitamin A, which is good for your dog in minimal amounts. Don’t overdo, as too much vitamin A is not healthy.

Apples are also OK in moderation, helping regulate digestion and providing the dog with vitamins A and C. Small amounts of plain, cooked, white rice could be helpful when your dog has an upset stomach. A small amount of plain, unseasoned, boiled chicken could have the same positive effect for the stomach.

If you find yourself in a situation in which your dog has to eat human food, such as when you run out of dog food and it’ll be too long before you make it to the store, serve it the same as you’d serve his dry dog food . Cook some chicken, cut it into small pieces, add a couple apple slices and place it in your dog’s food bowl. Giving it to him from the table is only going to begin instilling those negative behaviors discussed previously.

In conclusion, you don’t have to panic over all table food, though there are some food items you should never allow your dog to get near. You should always try to give your dog treats and meals that are created just for his breed, his size and his age. This is the best way to keep your dog healthy and in good shape at all times.