ORLANDO, Fla. — Most owners know not to give their pets chocolate, alcohol, and expired food, but there are side effects to giving Fido the wrong foods.
While you should always work to stick to dog food, everyone is guilty of giving their best friend a little leftover under the table every now and then.
If you don’t know what human foods are safe to give your dog try fruit. It can be used to hide medicine. But steer clear of fat from meat as it may give them pancreatitis. And don’t throw your dog a bone, because it may cause them to choke if a piece gets stuck or it could chip their teeth.
Other foods to avoid include onions and garlic, which can kill red blood cells and cause anemia.
And not all fruits are safe. Grapes and raisins might lead to kidney failure. But some peanut butter, popcorn and bread are safe.
Watch the calories. Dogs should eat between 25 to 30 calories per pound in order to maintain their weight. So, if you have a ten-pound dog, they should only eat between 250 to 300 calories in the day.
Have a cat instead of a dog? Cats enjoy steamed veggies such as carrots, broccoli and asparagus which adds fiber to their diet. But don’t give them milk. Though they can digest the dairy product as kittens, many lose their ability to consume it as they grow older. Also, don’t share too much liver which might cause Vitamin A toxicity, or yeast dough because it might cause your cat’s stomach to expand as the dough rises. And if you have both a dog and cat, don’t give the cat your dog’s food and vice versa.
