Whether your dog is the type of pup who gets their own Sunday roast or occasional scraps from the table, sharing our food with our dogs is nothing new. 

But is human food actually bad for your dog? Well, it depends. 

Human foods your dog can’t eat

Your digestion system is different from your dogs, meaning there are lots of foods that you eat that just aren’t suitable for them. Plenty of common ingredients in people food, like onions or garlic, can prove deadly to our furry friends, so it’s important you know what they can and can’t eat.

Whilst the list of foods that your dog can and can’t eat can be quite long, here are a few common ingredients to watch out for:

• Onions
• Garlic
• Chives
• Grapes and raisins
• Chocolate
• Foods that are high in sugar
• Foods that are high in salt
• Avocado
• Corn on the cob
• Alcohol
• Artificial sweeteners, like Xylitol

If your dog does eat any of these ingredients, contact your vet immediately.

Human foods your dog can eat

There are plenty of foods that we eat that our dog also loves, from meats and veggies. That means our fridges are full of great treats for our pups. 

Meat and fish

Your dog can eat most of the meat and fish we do as long as it isn’t seasoned, and any cooked bones are removed. 

Dairy products

Dairy products such as cheese, natural yoghurt and ice cream make a great treat for lots of dogs, but it’s best to keep them as treats due to their high-fat content. Additionally, some dogs may be lactose-intolerant – if they get smelly farts, sloppy poops and vomiting after eating dairy, it’s best to cut back.

Fruit and veg

Fruits and veggies aren’t universally loved by dogs, but they make fantastic treats thanks to being low in calories and full of goodness. Get them started with different fruits and vegetables whilst they are puppies, and you’ll have lifelong fans who’ll be jumping for joy at the thought of a frozen carrot.

Feeding your dog human food versus dog food

If dogs can eat human food, why do we feed them dog food at all? 

It comes down to ensuring they have a nutritionally balanced diet. When you only feed your dog table scraps, it’s much more difficult to ensure they’re getting all the right nutrients in the right proportions. Nutritional deficiencies can have both short- and long-term effects on your dog’s health, so it’s not something to be taken lightly.

Complete dog food is developed so that your dog gets exactly what they need to stay fit and healthy, so you don’t need to worry. The expert nutritionists behind PitPat Food are constantly tweaking their recipes according to the latest science, which then goes through rigorous testing to the most stringent standards. The end result is food that is not only super tasty but also top-quality, to help your dog live a healthy and happy life.

Given the importance of ensuring your dog gets a balanced diet, it’s best that the bulk of their diet is made up of a complete dog-specific food. That said, it’s perfectly fine to offer your dog human food that is safe for them to eat in the form of occasional treats or enrichment. 

Ready to join the feeding revolution? Start feeding PitPat Food and get precise feeding recommendations based on your dog’s age, breed, weight, sex and activity levels, all in the PitPat App.

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