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We love our dogs, and they make great companions that enjoy being with us and taking part in family activities, including joining us at the dinner table. Most of us are familiar with our pets begging for scraps, but you might not know what foods are safe to give your dog if you are a new owner and would like to make sure your pet stays healthy.
The 17 Common Human Foods Safe for Most Dogs
Being safe does not necessarily mean that certain foods are appropriate or beneficial for canines, and some may still lead to health problems if offered in excess or given to dogs with diabetes, food allergies, digestive issues, pancreatitis, or other medical conditions. When it comes to introducing new ingredients to your dog’s diet, always consult your veterinarian first, as their recommendations will vary based on your pet’s individual nutritional requirements and underlying health. In the context of this article, safe indicates that a food ingredient is not toxic to dogs per se, but it may still be harmful depending on an individual dog’s health status, pre-existing conditions, and food allergies and sensitivities.
1. Plain White and Wheat Bread
The safety of bread for dogs depends on the ingredients used. Most dogs will be fine eating a piece of plain white or wheat bread, as long as they don’t have certain food allergies, such as a wheat allergy. However, eating bread will bring your dog little benefit, and too much of it can cause a stomach upset or in the long term, predispose them to obesity.
Also, not all bread is safe for dogs. Bread dough is particularly dangerous because it can lead to life-threatening bloat and alcohol poisoning in dogs, so ingestion requires emergency veterinary care. Bread containing garlic, raisins, nutmeg, macadamia nuts, and/or other toxic ingredients for dogs should be strictly avoided. If your pet got on the table and stole a piece of white or wheat bread, they will likely be fine, but you should avoid making it part of their regular diet. If they ate any other bread with toxic ingredients, please contact your vet immediately.
2. Cashews
Cashews are safe nuts that your pet can eat on occasion as special treats, and many dogs enjoy them. They have antioxidants and are high in protein. However, like many nuts, cashews are also high in fat, which can lead to weight gain and other health issues, so they are only suitable as treats and should never be a regular part of a dog’s diet.
While cashews may be advantageous for a human’s health, the number that dogs would need to eat in order to benefit from them is too high to be safe and would only lead to severe digestive and other health issues. Your dog will get everything that they need from their complete and balanced diet, with the occasional cashew treat on the side. Dogs struggling with obesity and those on a particular diet or prone to pancreatitis should not be given fatty treats like cashews.
3. Cheese
Many of us have cheese in the home and might be surprised to find that it makes a great treat for some dogs in moderation. That said, canines with lactose intolerance will only tolerate cheese to a certain degree, and those with food allergies to dairy products should stay away from cheese entirely.
You can purchase sliced cheese, so it is easy to portion, and it contains plenty of protein and calcium. The downside to cheese is that many varieties are high in fat, so we recommend choosing a low-fat brand. Since many dogs are lactose intolerant, you will need to introduce it slowly to make sure your pet doesn’t have any digestive problems.
4. Coconut
Coconut can be a healthy occasional snack for your pet, though there is limited research on its potential benefits for our canine friends. As with everything, it’s important to offer it in moderation and avoid commercial coconut products that may contain artificial sweeteners, such as xylitol, which is toxic to canines.
You can offer a small amount of fresh coconut meat cut into bite-sized pieces, coconut oil, or coconut water to your pup as a snack. If your dog has food allergies or an underlying health condition, speak to your vet first.
5. Corn
Corn is perfectly safe for your dog to eat, and it’s a common ingredient in many dog foods. Your pup can eat it without worry as long as there is no salt or butter on it. Corn provides various health benefits for canines and can be offered to your pet raw, cooked, frozen, or removed from the cob, but you should never give corn on the cob to your dog. Eating a piece of the cob can lead to a gastrointestinal blockage that will require surgery.
6. Eggs
Eggs are fantastic for most dogs to eat when they’re prepared appropriately. They’re commonly found in many commercial dog foods, are high in protein, and can help settle an upset stomach. However, you must fully cook the eggs to eliminate the risk of Salmonella and other foodborne illnesses. Dogs with food allergies to chicken eggs should not have them on their treat menu.
7. Fish
Fish is a great food for your dog, as it’s high in protein and omega fats that have numerous health benefits. The only downside about feeding fish to your pet is that it can contain bones that could lodge in their throat or cause serious digestive issues, so you will need to be careful about what type of fish you serve. Opt for cooked fish, as it’s healthier than fried fish; avoid any seasonings, salt, or oil; and remove all the bones before offering it to your pup. Always avoid raw fish because it can be contaminated with bacteria and parasites and make both you and your dog sick.
8. Ham
Ham is a common food in many households, and it’s safe for your pet to eat in very small amounts, depending on the type. However, ham is high in salt and fat and often has many additives, so it can lead to health concerns if you provide it too frequently. Certain types of ham may contain garlic and should not be offered to your dog.
9. Honey
Honey is high in sugar, but it also has plenty of vitamins and minerals that are important to your dog’s health. However, you should not offer honey to diabetic or obese dogs. This ingredient has had many uses throughout history. Medical-grade Manuka honey is often used as topical medication to provide relief from burns and to aid in the healing of certain skin wounds.
10. Milk
Some dogs can drink milk in small amounts without experiencing any ill effects, but many dogs are lactose intolerant or have food allergies to dairy products, and they may develop a stomach upset after drinking milk. As such, it is best avoided by most dogs, but if they accidentally have a lick, they may not necessarily experience any significant health effects. That said, some dogs will have excess gas or may develop vomiting and diarrhea.
11. Peanut Butter
Many brands of peanut butter are safe for your dog to eat, but they must be free of added sugars and xylitol, which is an artificial sweetener that’s highly toxic to canines. Peanut butter is a popular treat because dogs love it and it’s easy to work with, so you can hide medication in it or fill one of your dog’s chew toys with it. Offer it in moderation, though, as it’s high in protein and fat, and excess may lead to a stomach upset.
- See Also: Can Dogs Eat Peanuts?
12. Popcorn
Popcorn is a popular treat for movie night, and you will be happy to know that it’s safe to share with your dog, albeit in strict moderation. You will need to make sure that there is no salt or butter and that the popcorn is plain and air cooked, rather than oil cooked. Never give any unopened kernels to your pup, as these may present a choking hazard.
13. Pork
Pork is safe for most dogs to eat as long as they don’t have a food allergy to pork. Ideally, meat should be thermally processed in order to avoid bacterial contamination and food-borne illnesses. Avoid giving pork bones to your dog because these may injure their mouth and teeth, get dislodged at the back of the throat, or cause a gastrointestinal blockage if swallowed whole. Pick lean parts of the meat, as the high-fat content in pork cuts may cause a stomach upset in some dogs or predispose them to pancreatitis.
14. Salmon
Salmon is a great source of protein and omega fatty acids, which will help your pet stay healthy and happy by providing these and other beneficial nutrients. However, you will need to fully cook the salmon to avoid potentially dangerous bacteria and parasites that can upset your dog’s digestive system, leading to diarrhea, vomiting, and dehydration.
15. Tuna
Tuna in spring water is a great source of protein and omega fats. However, it can also contain high levels of mercury and salt, which can cause health problems if your pet eats it too frequently.
16. Turkey
Turkey is good for your dog unless they have turkey food allergies, and you can find it as an ingredient in many dog foods. It’s high in protein but can also contain plenty of fat, so you’ll want to choose something lean or cut the fat off before giving it to your pet.
17. Yogurt
Yogurt is a healthy food that you can provide your dog in moderation. However, as with the other dairy products on this list, there is a risk that your dog may be lactose intolerant or have dairy allergies, so feeding them this food may result in your pet having diarrhea or other digestive signs.
The 6 Common Human Foods to Avoid
1. Almonds
Almonds present a choking hazard for canines, so we recommend leaving them out of your pet’s diet. They are also high in fat and calories, making them inappropriate for most dogs.
2. Chocolate
Chocolate is a food you should avoid giving to your pet at all costs. Even a small amount of dark chocolate can have serious side effects due to its impact on your dog’s body. Diarrhea and vomiting are common, but your pet can also experience hyperactivity, restlessness, panting, increased thirst, tremors, rapid heartbeat, and in severe cases, seizures. If your dog ate some chocolate when you weren’t looking, you will need to call the vet or poison helpline immediately to ask for recommendations for next steps.
3. Cinnamon
Cinnamon is not toxic to your dog like chocolate is, but eating too much of it can cause stomach upset and lower blood sugar levels and then lead to weakness or even collapse and liver disease. It may also cause lung irritation if inhaled.
4. Garlic, Onions, and Chives
Your pet cannot eat garlic or any of its relatives from the Allium genus, including onions, leeks, shallots, and chives. These foods are considered toxic to canines and can cause life-threatening anemia in your pet. Signs include pale gums, weakness, collapse, diarrhea, abdominal pain, panting, and loss of coordination. Unfortunately, the situation can be complicated because the effect of eating this food might not occur right away. It can take several days for problems to occur, so you need to contact your vet immediately if you think that your dog may have ingested garlic.
5. Ice Cream
While ice cream might be a favorite human snack, it’s best to avoid giving it to your pet even if they like it. Ice cream is high in fat and sugar, which can cause digestive problems for your pet, including the signs associated with lactose intolerance. A regular offering of ice cream will likely result in diarrhea and weight gain.
6. Macadamia Nuts
Macadamia nuts are toxic to canines, so you should never feed them to your dog. They can cause lethargy, vomiting, fever, joint stiffness, tremors, inability to walk, and a rise in the body temperature and increase the risk of your dog developing pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, you can share certain human foods with your pet to help them feel more like one of the family, but you’ll need to be mindful that even the safe choices are not always healthy or appropriate and can lead to unwanted digestive side effects. We recommend that you primarily give dog food to your pet and opt for high-protein foods like boiled fish, pork, and turkey (with the fat trimmed off and all the bones removed) and small amounts of xylitol-free peanut butter as occasional treats. Start with small portions when serving products with lactose, and watch out for increased flatulence, soft stools, or diarrhea. If none of these signs are present, you can increase the portion size slightly and repeat the process. Always avoid giving your dog any foods off the bad list, especially chocolate, macadamia nuts, and garlic.
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Featured Image Credit: Bhitakbongse Leesothikul, Shutterstock
