It Can Lead To Weight Gain
Typically, dogs who are fed table scraps also eat regular daily meals. While you might think that a bite or two here and there won’t cause your dog to gain weight, you might be surprised by how little it takes. To a 20-pound dog, a single ounce of cheddar cheese is the caloric equivalent of one and a half hamburgers. Small bites can quickly add up and lead to weight gain that can cause a whole host of health problems, like diabetes and heart disease. Your dog should never consume more than 8-10% of their daily caloric intake from treats or other human foods.
Myth #: Real Meat Is Always Healthier Than Meat Meal
Real meat just sounds more natural than meat meal, but this does not mean its better. In fact, if we talk about meat nutrients , meat meal is just as nutritious as pure meat, but with water and fat subtracted. Simply put, a chicken meal would be a highly concentrated meat-nutrient source that is just lighter than real chicken meat due to the lack of water and fat.
Benefits Of Feeding Your Dog Fresh Real Food
Over the past decade weve wised up, swapping microwaved TV dinner trays for fresh vegetables and balancing yoga poses with lean protein. Our evolving perspective on the traditional American diet has bolstered our understanding of the undeniable power that food has on health.
This journey to better health has been all-inclusive, spanning across multiple generations and taking shape in schools and communities across the country. But while weve become skilled at deciphering labels in our grocery store aisles, our dogs have been eating from the same bulky mystery bags for years.
Commercial pet food brands yes, even the organic or all-natural varieties are all so highly processed that the nutritional value of any individual organic ingredient is lost by the time it hits your dogs bowl. Feed grade ingredients require heavy processing to kill bacteria, whereas human grade ingredients are packed with fresh, natural nutrients.
While dogs can survive on traditional dry or canned dog food , they experience vast health benefits when they eat fresh, human grade food.Here are a handful of the improvements you can expect when you start to add fresh, real food to your dogs diet:
1. No more guessing games
Fresh food means real ingredients you can actually see in your dogs bowl. Goodbye, mysterious brown balls of kibble.
2. Better, faster, stronger
3. Healthier digestion
4. Better skin and coats
5. More time with your best friend
6. No additives
Recommended Reading: Darwin Pet Food Reviews
Chocolate Coffee And Caffeine
Never give chocolate, coffee, or anything containing caffeine to dogs.
These products contain chemicals called methylxanthines, which are highly toxic to dogs. The chemicals can cause vomiting, an abnormal heart rate, seizures, and sometimes death.
Chocolate treats are available for dogs, but these contain a special chocolate substitute that is safe for them to eat.
Why You Should Feed Your Dog Human Food
![Better For Them, Easier For You. Better For Them, Easier For You.](https://www.dogfoodtalk.net/wp-content/uploads/better-for-them-easier-for-you-healthy-pet-food-real.png)
Welcome back to my continuing series on feeding dogs. Part I was an overview of the problem with conventional dried dog food and why you should feed your dog a raw diet. Part II was about some common obstacles to feeding your dog raw.
And today, Part III, Im going to introduce you to my friend Eric Letendre whos going to show you why you should feed your dog human food. Eric is a dog trainer here in western MA and has over 25 years of experience training dogs. Eric has an online dog training business known as The Amazing Dog Training Man and his popular YouTube channel has over 300 videos with over 10 million views.
And hes also learned quite a bit about dog nutrition along the way.
So lets get started!
Hey Eric, thanks for taking some time to share some insights with us today. Real quick, tell us how long youve been a dog trainer and how you got into it.
Sure thing. I took a security job in 1988. They had a canine unit and I wound up doing canine security for 7 years where I learned all about training dogs. I enjoyed it so much that I went to dog training school in Newington, CT to further my education.
I decided to open my own business as a dog trainer in 1995 and then in 2007, in an effort to reach more people, I started my online dog training business, The Amazing Dog Training Man.
OK great. So lets get right to it. How did you learn about nutrition for dogs? And give us your perspective on what dogs should eat and why.
I thought you were going to say that.
Read Also: What Does Dog Food Taste Like
The Farmer’s Dog Fresh Pet Food
With a slogan that reads, Smarter, Healthier Pet Food, The Farmers Dog meal delivery service keeps each recipe simple but guided by science.
Its a company that was founded in 2016 by two dog lovers who hated the idea of highly-processed food for dogs being touted as healthy and natural, so they decided to create a pet food line that is nutritionally complete for dogs but perfectly safe to eat for humans.
The two founders, who were roommates, got the idea for the business after a pet dog of one of them became sickly. They experimented with homemade recipes and found the dog getting much better after feeding on healthy, natural foods.
From homemade recipes, The Farmers Dog formulas now are crafted based on the advice of top vet nutritionists.
Each meal is made with human-grade meat and veggies in USDA kitchens to ensure the highest quality safety and quality standards for your pet. Plus, its tested on humans!
Everything is made fresh to maintain nutritional integrity, which by the way, exceeds the industry standards for dogs set by AAFCO.
The brand pre-portions the calories and servings based on your dogs profile that you will create. Everything is customized to your pets exact needs, so you dont have to worry that its not enough.
You can also rest assured that all ingredients are properly identified and labeled with no preservatives or fillers that can cause harm.
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Reasons To Feed Human Food To Dogs
Human food, which going forward will be defined as clean sources of meat-based proteins and some organic plant matter, is not only fine for dogs to consume but in some cases necessary. Of course, there are some restrictions. Foods like chocolate, grapes and nuts are fine for humans, but we all know that they are toxic and fatal to dogs.
ALSO READ: 16 Things You Didnt Know About Prescription Dog Food
The human food for dogs conversation must change and evolve to include facts, scientific evidence and actual proven cases. Next time a debate arises regarding dogs consuming human food, refer to the following four reasons you feed your Fido some human foods.
Also Check: Dr Pol Animal Feed
Pet Plate Fresh Pet Food
Pet Plate is a service similar to Nom Nom in that they sell custom meals for pets. The company was founded after the owners dog died in the wake of the largest pet food recall in history, all with the goal of providing pet parents with safe, high-quality foods to feed their pets.
Pet Plate offers a selected line of pet food and treats that are lightly cooked and made with human grade ingredients.
The quality of the ingredients and the gentleness of the cooking process ensures the quality and nutritional integrity of the food itself. The founder of the company states that, nothing goes into our products that we wouldnt eat ourselves. This company sources almost all of their ingredients directly in the USA, their kitchen is in NYC and it often checked for quality.
Not only are Pet Plate foods made with premium ingredients, but they are nutritionally balanced and easily digestible. In addition to meat-rich proteins, this company formulates their recipes with fresh fruits and vegetables for nutritional balance.
While human-grade dog food may be at the top of the list when it comes to quality, there are plenty of other wonderful options out there for your dog. If you have the money to spend on this type of food, it is definitely worth it but dont feel guilty if you can only afford a 3-star or 4-star dry food. What is really important is that you give your dog the love he deserves and the highest quality diet you can consistently afford.
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Meat And Animal Products
Meat and animal products are some of the most valuable protein sources. They are a concentrated source of the essential vitamin B12, choline, iron, selenium and many other minerals.
Meats need to be cooked because it carries the risk of infecting dogs with various microbial, viral and parasitic diseases .
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It Encourages Unwanted Behavior
Another problem with table food for dogs is that it reinforces begging behavior. And while you might find it cute, dinner guests may not appreciate your dog hovering over their plates. Your dog might also decide that, since they’re fed from the table, it’s fine to take a bite of food sitting on the table or kitchen counter. Some dogs may even start refusing to eat their own food when they fill up on human food.
Good Enough To Eat The Truth About Human Grade Pet Food
Several years ago a new trend started in pet food. Some pet food companies wanted to advertise that their food is made using “human grade” ingredients. Pet food had always been made with “feed grade” ingredients.
What’s the difference? “Human grade” sounds like what it is. Fit for human consumption. Although, technically, there is no legal definition for this term. “Feed grade” means that the food cannot be legally sold as food for humans. Up until this time, dog food was for dogs. Cat food was for cats. And people food was for, well, people.
Your pets are a part of your family. So, you want to feed them the best food possible. You may like the idea of feeding your pet something that you could eat yourself. But when it comes to pet food, what does “human grade” really mean? Does a food labeled “made with human-grade ingredients” mean the food is better? What, if any difference does this mean for the health of your dog and cat?
Food is either fit for human consumption or it is not. In order for a pet food to be labeled human grade, all ingredients in the final product must be approved for people to eat. Very few pet food companies can make this claim.
What is the difference between human grade and feed grade? Feed grade is used in pet foods. Feed grade means that it cannot legally be sold as human food. One of the reasons is that the finished product may contain by-products.
Also Check: Royal Canin Gastrointestinal Low Fat Ingredients
Why Are Avocados Bad For Dogs
The leaves, fruit, seeds and bark of avocados contain persin, which can cause vomiting and diarrhea in dogs, and more serious signs in other animals due to a wide range in sensitivity across species. Avocado toxicity can cause serious signs in birds such as: weakness, depression, feather pulling and agitation.
We Arent The Only People That Have Converted To Making Homemade Dog Food And Are Loving The Results Check Out The Links Below For More Homemade Dog Food Recipes Your Pup Will Love
![The Farmer The Farmer](https://www.dogfoodtalk.net/wp-content/uploads/the-farmers-dog-human-grade-dog-food-dog-food-delivery-scaled.jpeg)
Easy Crockpot Dog Food from Damn Delicious || This simple homemade dog food recipe combines ground beef, brown rice, kidney beans, butternut squash, carrots, and peas in the slow cooker so you can set it and forget it!
Homemade Dog Food Recipe from College Housewife || Elizabeths sweet dog Rascal suffered from all sorts of health issues which led them to having him allergy tested. Turns out Rascal was allergic to all sorts of things even beef! So, Elizabeth developed a homemade dog food recipe that is just perfect for Rascals sensitive belly that is filled with ground turkey, sweet potatoes, carrots, and zucchini squash and macaroni noodles!
DIY Homemade Dog Food from Damn Delicious||Chungahs dog Butters battle with stomach issues led her to start making dog food at home. This recipe is easy to make and super good for your pups too! It combines a delicious blend of 50% protein, 25% veggies and 25% grains and is made of ingredients like ground chicken, brown rice, shredded zucchini, spinach, carrots, and peas.
Also Check: Can You Buy Dog Food With Food Stamps
If You Want To Indulge Your Pup Here Are The Foods That Can Actually Be Healthy For Your Spoiled Canine Friend
Fruits your dog can eat
Human food dogs can eat include many fruits. Most dog owners know that grapes and raisins can make their dog sick, but they dont know which fruits are actually beneficial. If one fruit is toxic to your dog, you may fear that all fruits are poisonous. Luckily, thats not the case. Fruit can be a nutritious and tasty treat for your dog, says Kelly Ryan, DVM, Director of Veterinary Services for the Animal Medical Center of Mid-America. So what human food can dogs eat? Here are your dogs best options.
Watermelon
It is a health-food powerhouse, low in calories and packed with nutrientsvitamins A, B6 and C and potassium, according to The American Kennel Club. Watermelon is also a great snack to give your dog on a hot day, as it is mostly water. Pro tip: Freeze some watermelon cubes for your dog to make for an even better cool-down.
Blueberries
Blueberries are absolutely packed with antioxidants, making them extremely healthy for mans best friend and one of the best human food dogs can eat. Depending on your dogs size, however, choking might be a potential risk try cutting up the berries for smaller dogs.
Apples
Veggies your dog can eat
Carrots
Carrots are wonderful snacks for your pup. Purina says that dogs can eat carrots several ways: raw, cooked or even with the green tops still on them. But remember, theyre just a small part of your pets complete diet. Read up on 27 more people foods you can share with your pup.
Green beans
Pumpkin
Raw Or Steamed Vegetables
Carrots, green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, peas, Brussels sprouts, among others are some of the vegetables that are good and healthy for dogs.
There are other vegetables, such as onions and garlic, which should be avoided at all costs. The vegetables should mimic nature and hence be blended or pulverized.
Also Check: Where To Buy Darwin’s Dog Food
How Do You Suppress A Dogs Appetite
Here are four tips for dealing with your dogs insatiable appetite:
What Are The Healthiest Foods For Dogs
The good news is there are tons of great human foods you can give your dog!
Some of the best foods to serve are:
- Meats: turkey, chicken, pork
- Fruits: apples, bananas, seedless watermelon
- Peanut butter
However, keep it in mind that its all in moderation. While table scraps are fine every now and then, it shouldnt be an everyday event. Your dog has unique nutritional needs, so simply making another serving of your familys dinner and giving it to your pup can be risky if youre not paying attention.
Here are some examples:
- While carrots are an awesome treat that can even help remove plaque from your pups teeth, too much Vitamin A can be toxic.
- White rice can help with an upset stomach, but too much can cause a rise in blood sugar.
- Potatoes can be a great treat, but its better to mix with fiber-rich sweet potatoes.
- Eggs must be fully cooked, as raw eggs can lead to biotin deficiency in dogs.
- If youre serving fish, take special care to remove all bones, which your dog can choke on.
- Peanut butter should be unsalted, with no added sugar or sweeteners.
Read Also: Can Chickens Eat Wet Dog Food
A Word Of Advice About Trying New Foods
Before you introduce a new food to your dog, theres one other thing that you should take into consideration: the begging factor!
In our household, weve noticed that our dogs tend to beg for people foods any time they smell something theyre familiar with. On the other hand, if theyve never tasted it before, then they dont beg for it.
For that reason, we have only introduced 2 human food items to our dogs: peanut butter and bread:
They get those on a fairly regular basis as treats usually mixed in with regular dog kibble in their Kong toys. When it comes to filling Kongs, we layer ingredients inside the Kong toy using various combinations of those 2 human foods and other store-bought dog foods, treats, and Kong-friendly products made specifically for dogs.
To give you an example, any time we crack open a jar of peanut butter or open a loaf of bread, our dogs start salivating and licking their lips in anticipation of getting some. Yet we can hold a big ol steak in front of them, and they dont blink an eye!
So just remember, once you introduce a particular food to your dog, theres no going back. Theyll always want some of yours whenever youre eating that food in the future.
On a related note, heres a list of plants that are not safe for dogs .