Do you know what happens if your dog eats table scraps? Are you sure that what it is eating is safe? Knowing the answers will help you take better care of your dog.
Most of the time, you give your dog part of your food to satisfy the hungry look in its eyes. Occasional table scraps will not hurt a dog that eats a nutritious, balanced diet, but it is not a good idea for the following reasons.
Behavioral Problems
When your dog eats table scraps, it develops a habit of regularly coming to the table, expecting to find human food full of fat and flavor. This behavior will be difficult to stop as your dog will associate begging for food with reward.
Do not allow your dog to be comfortable under the table because it is best to know from the beginning that begging for food is bad behavior.
Table Scraps Are Not A Balanced Diet.
It is not good to feed your dog from the table because eating table scraps is not the same as eating a balanced diet. Dogs don't have the same biological makeup that we do and can't handle all of the food that we eat. Excessive table scraps may cause stomach problems, diarrhea, and allergies for your dog.
A diet consisting of only human leftovers doesn't give your dog the fuel it needs to thrive. High-quality dog foods contain required levels of protein, minimal fat, and beneficial plant-based ingredients. Food for people is more varied. Some foods are incredibly fatty and made purely for enjoyment, while others fit specific food categories.
Weight gain is a problem for a dog who eats table scraps. This is because it contains much higher levels of fat and sugar than dog food. Obese dogs are susceptible to many additional health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and pancreatitis, which can cost your dog's life.
Foods your dog can eat
Dogs can find nutritional benefits in foods like vegetables, pasta, rice, and some fruits. Be careful when feeding your dog watermelons or other similar fruits if they have hard skin and seeds.
Boiled beef is also good. Do not add any fats or oil to the beef while cooking. Just add salt and let it boil. You can then give it to your dog together with rice.
The quantity of food depends on the size of the dog.
Effects of the wrong kind of foods
Eating the wrong type of food can cause health problems for your dog, including things we eat every day. Dogs can be poisoned from table scraps. The symptoms vary from vomiting, kidney failure, or even death. If you notice any of these symptoms, seek medical help from your vet immediately. Here's a list of some foods that should be avoided.
Bones
People have the habit of throwing a bone from their meal to a dog. This is dangerous. If the dog swallows broken pieces of the bone, it could puncture the stomach lining or intestines and cause bleeding, infection, and death. Do not give your dog chicken bones because they could choke your dog.
Give your dog only bones that are specifically made for dogs.
Chocolate
Avoid giving your dog chocolate. It contains caffeine and theobromine, which are toxic to animals. The bodies of animals cannot break them down like ours. Chocolate in any form is dangerous. Chocolate ingestion risk depends on the size of the dog. The smaller the dog, the higher the risk. In some cases, one ounce of chocolate can be fatal.
Xylitol
Xylitol is an artificial sweetener used as a sugar replacement. Even small amounts can result in liver failure and death.
Sodium
Salt is in nearly every food and is more common in fried and processed foods. While a small amount of salt is beneficial, a sudden increase can lead to severe dehydration for your dog, as well as seizures, and death.
Onions and Garlic
These alliums are found in many pre-prepared meals because of their unique flavor but can wreak havoc on a dog's body by destroying their red blood cells. This can lead to anemia and difficulty breathing.
Grapes
Grapes and raisins also have harmful effects on your dog. They are dangerous because they can cause kidney failure. Always put them out of reach of your dog.
Spoiled Food
Dogs like hunting through the rubbish area when left on their own. Ensure that the garbage cans are tightly closed and that the garbage area is restricted so your dog cannot access it.
Alcohol
Don't give your dog alcohol. Immediately wipe up any alcohol that is spilled on the floor.
Conclusion
Generally, table scraps are a bad idea for your dog. As a responsible dog owner, you need to research foods that are harmful to your dog. You can also get information from the Animal Poison Health Control Centre, where you will find the latest information on dog health.
