Knowing which foods your dog can and can’t eat can be the first steps to improving your dogs diet, getting them to loose weight and lead fitter, healthier, happy lives.
I found it really tricky knowing which were good and which foods were bad and it really put me off experimenting. I kick myself now wishing I had done more research and gave my dog Elsa more fresh food as a puppy because she probably wouldn’t be so fussy now and a lot more healthier but hey ho! We’re on it like a car bonnet and both on our way to happier and healthier microbiome!
Please be aware that just like people dogs can have reactions to any foods. Everybody, including dogs are different and what one dog may have no issues with, another dog may react to, so take it easy, experiment with little bits at a time, keep an eye out for any reactions and most importantly have fun with it.
I like to tease Elsa a little bit and tell her she can’t have it, of course! she’s straight in there when I’m not looking. Naughty Elsa! It's all tricks and bribery with dogs.
Fresh Foods You Can Give Your Dog
Alfalfa
Apples
Apricots (not dried)
Asparagus
Banana
Basil
Bell peppers
Broccoli (small amounts)
Brussel sprouts
Buckwheat
Blackberries
Blueberries
Cabbage
Cashews (small amounts)
Chicken
Cheese
Cranberries
Carrots
Cauliflower
Courgettes
Celery
Cucumber
Chia
Eggs
Flaxseed
Fish
Honey (very small amounts)
Linseed
Liver
Lettuce (in small amounts)
Mango
Marrow
Mellon
Molasses (very small amounts)
Oats
Oregano
Oranges
Parsley
Pear
Pineapple
Pumpkin
Peas
Rasberries
Sweet potato
Salmon (skin in very small amounts)
Sardines
Spinach
Tomatoes (ripe)
Tuna (very small amounts)
Turmeric
Watercress
Zucchini
Foods Your Dog Can't Eat
* = poisonous
Alcohol *
Almonds (in large amounts)
Avocado *
Cooked bones
Brazil nuts (in large amounts)
Cacao *
Caffeine *
Cherries
Chives *
Chocolate *
Cocoa *
Corn on the cob
Currents *
Dates
Garlic (in large amounts)
Green tomatoes *
Grapes *
Grapefruit
Lemons and limes
Macadamia nuts *
Milk and milk products
Mould *
Mushrooms *
Mustard seeds
Nutmeg *
Xylitol Aspartame *
Pecan nuts
Pistachio nuts
Saffron
Salt
Sultanas *
Sugar
Sweeteners *
Walnuts *
Yeast Dough
Animal fats
Animal skin
Of course, this is not an exhaustive list and you may wonder why some foods haven’t been added like ham or beef, these won’t kill your dog and they’re not terribly bad but they can contribute to bad health if give to much, where as white meats and fish will be much better.
Most dried fruit will be bad because of the very high sugar content and will lead to pancreatitis and so will with animal fats.
If you’re not sure about a certain food, I would find a canine nutritionist or ask your vet. A web search may find an answer but I would get an overall view from lots of sites and only feed your dog a very small amount to start of with.
Why not try the Cainine Diet Challenge on my previous blog to help your dog have a healthy life and help them to prevent illnesses like cancer.
I tried the challenge with my Saluki Elsa. Elsa is skinny! We all know that’s her breed but I was finding it tough to get food into her. She eats an enormous amount of food, nearly double what she should be on because I take her on my extra long dog walks - The Big Adventure. The vets have checked her out and are happy with her weight and said that she is built like an athlete! I wish I was too!
If you want your dog to be like an athlete check out my dog walking services and give me a call.
