7 Healthy Human Foods For Your Dog

While your canine companion may only be part of your life, you are everything to them. That includes being their primary (or only) source of sustenance. Therefore, it’s crucial that you feed them the right food. Needless to say, that the same bowl of dry, tasteless, devoid-of-anything-healthy kibble is anything but that. 

Granted, not everyone has the time or resources to provide their dog with a gourmet diet on a daily basis. But we can all incorporate a few of our own healthy foods every now and then. To help you make some wholesome additions, consider the following list of seven human foods that are perfect for your dog. 

Shrimp and Fish

According to the American Kennel Club, fully cooked shrimp with their shells removed is a great option. Fish is another seafood that you can consider occasionally feeding. Salmon and sardines are particularly healthy. They contain a generous dose of good fats and amino acids, as well as vitamins and minerals like calcium – not to mention protein. 

When providing any kind of fish, remember to remove all of the bones so that your pup doesn’t choke on the smaller pieces. Avoid undercooking or serving fish raw, and make sure to limit seafood to once per week. If you opt for tuna, make sure to avoid the oil and spiced variants. Tuna in water is fine. 

Poultry

Heading back to land, chicken and poultry are excellent additions to your canine friend’s diet. Cooked and unseasoned poultry serves a healthy amount of protein in addition to some vitamins and minerals. Avoid using any spices or garnishes as some seasonings, such as garlic, can be toxic to dogs. 

Before you throw in any turkey scraps, it’s a good idea to remove the excess fat and skin. Larger bones are acceptable, but smaller bones pose a risk, so they’re best removed in advance. 

Pork

Another hearty and highly digestible protein, pork is packed with nutrients as well as important amino acids that keep your pooch in tip-top shape. Compared to other meat options, pork has a lower likelihood of causing allergic reactions. Just don’t give your dog too much, as pork contains more calories than most proteins. 

Eggs

Now that the high cholesterol myth that once vilified eggs has been debunked, we can safely allow our dogs to join us for breakfast. Like the aforementioned foods, eggs are high in amino acids, which assist with muscle building and tissue repair. They’re also a useful source of calcium, which keeps your dog’s bones and teeth strong. 

Keep in mind that the minerals are contained in the eggshells, which you can grind up before serving. Chemicals and colourants are a common concern here, so be sure to look for organic eggs that aren’t from factory-farmed chickens. The yolks are where you’ll find biotin, which improves skin and coat health.

Raw Meals

The Best Dog food diets are made up of fully raw and natural ingredients like those that we’ve mentioned so far. We’ll list a few more below. For now, it’s important to note that you need to serve these foods in the right quantities. Too much or too little and you risk not providing your dog a complete and balanced diet. 

Unless you’re willing to do the research, you may want to consider subscribing to a service that delivers raw dog food to meals to your door. Bella & Duke is one of the leading options in the UK. They will take into account your canine companion’s nutritional requirements and develop a suitable raw diet from there. It’s quick and convenient. 

Carrots

Many owners are unaware of the fact that dogs can also eat certain vegetables. Carrots are a great example. Chewing on the veggie will naturally rid your pup’s mouth of harmful plaque and bacteria. Being high in fibre also makes carrots capable of improving their stools, while the beta-carotene (which is a precursor to vitamin A) improves eyesight. 

Yoghurt

This dairy product makes for a delicious canine treat. In summer, you can serve frozen yoghurt for a calcium-enriched meal that helps with bone and tooth health. As you may already know, yoghurt is also filled with probiotics, which are good bacteria that naturally occur in every dog’s gut. 

They aid with digestion and fight off disease. Probiotics also assist with the production and utilisation of nutrients. Dogs who lack sufficient amounts of healthy gut bacteria are more likely to suffer from infections. Remember to introduce foods like yoghurt slowly and in small quantities. It’s always better to do your research than to wing it. 

Here are a few more dog-friendly foods that you can add to your fur baby’s diet: pumpkins, peanut butter, coconut, oatmeal, cranberries, green peas, cashews and popcorn. Consult your local veterinarian before making any additions to avoid potential allergies or reactions. All dogs are different, so it’s best to be safe. 

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