Dog Food Do’s and Don’ts

By: Denise & Melissa Stewart

We’re all guilty of feeding our pups some of our food. Their puppy-faces are just too cute to resist the begging. Some kinds of human food are okay for dogs to eat, but others that you may not realize are big no no’s. Here are the do’s and don’ts of what to feed your four-legged friend:

Do 

• As you’re enjoying your oatmeal for breakfast, you can give some to your pup without having to worry. Oatmeal has great health benefits because it is an excellent source of fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Just make sure to not add any sugar to your pup’s oatmeal.
• Carrots and a perfect, healthy puppy snack because they are high in vitamin A and fiber. If your pup is on a doggy-diet, carrots are the perfect low-calorie treat. Not only are they healthy, but they are also good for your pup’s teeth from all the chewing on them.
• Rice is great for helping with dogs’ stomach issues. Both brown and white rice are good for dogs, and they each have their own benefits. White rice is easy to digest, and brown is high in protein.
• Peanut butter is a food that all dogs love, and it has health benefits for dogs just like it does for humans. Give your dog some peanut butter for protein, vitamin B, vitamin E, and healthy fats. If you especially want your pup to be healthy, get unsalted peanut butter. Also, watching dogs eat peanut butter is so cute because they will be licking their mouths endlessly.
• Canned pumpkin without any sugar and spices is a perfect treat for your pup. It helps with upset stomachs and digestion and is high in fiber. So, if you’re enjoying pumpkin during the holiday season, you can give your pup some too.

 Don’t

• Although you might think bacon is a good, yummy treat for dogs, it is really bad for them. Bacon is very high in fat and salt. Too much salt can lead to doggies drinking too much water, which causes bloating.
• Grapes and raisins are a big no for dogs. They cause dogs’ kidneys to fail. A few grapes or raisins that your dog accidentally eats are fine, just be sure this isn’t a usual snack.
• Although avocado is one of the most popular human foods today, it is not good for your pooch. Avocado leaves, seeds, bark, and the actual fruit have persin, which isn’t harmful to humans, but large amounts of it can be very harmful to dogs. So, if you have an avocado tree in your yard, make sure your pup isn’t snacking off the tree.
• Macadamia nuts are a food that many wouldn’t realize are bad for dogs, but they are one of the worst. This snack can cause vomiting and weakness in dogs, even a little bit. Macadamia nut poisoning is a very serious sickness for dogs, so make sure to not give your dog any foods with macadamia nuts, like trail mix or cookies.
• Chocolate is known as a bad food for dogs, and this applies to all kinds of chocolate. Dark chocolate, especially, is bad for pups. Chocolate can cause dogs to have stomach issues, heart problems, and seizures.

For information on pet-friendly condos in the South Florida area, please contact Denise at 866-783-6011 or denise@condo.net